MASSACHUSETTS O/D PERMITS INFORMATION



PERMITS:
Permits valid for five travel days. Must have permit prior to entering the state.

OPERATING TIME:
Generally, vehicles under 12' wide and under 14' high may travel from Monday morning 12:01 a.m. through noon on Saturday and Sunday from 12:01 a.m. until noon. Vehicles between 12' and 14' wide, over 13'11" in height, and over 80' long (but not over 114' long) are only permitted for travel sunrise to sunset Monday through Friday except no travel allowed between 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. or between 3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

RESTRICTED TRAVEL:
No travel on major holidays, and some holiday weekends. Routes 95 and 93 in the Boston area are restricted to travel only daylight hours except no travel between 7:00-9:00 AM or 3:30-7:00 PM

Massachusetts Turnpike: Between NY line and I-95, no permit is required up to 10' wide, legal weight, and up to 80' long. Turnpike permits are issued for vehicles and loads up to 12' wide, 13'9" high, 80' long, and up to 99,000 pounds. (Lower limits apply to the Sumner, Callahan and Ted Williams Tunnels in the Boston area.) Permits to exceed these dimensions on the Turnpike require special engineering approval plus a $350.00 fee. Vehicles/loads over 12' wide, over 100' long or over 130,000 gross requires a police escort. The Turnpike phone number is: 781-431-5148.

LEGAL DIMENSIONS:
Width: 8'6" Length: 53' semi-trailer on Interstate and designated highways.
Weight: 80,000 Gross Single – 24,000 designated highways (22,400 other roads) Tandem – 34,000 Tridem – 36,000
Height: 13'6"

ROUTINE PERMIT LIMITS:
Height: 14'11” (Over 13'8" requires a height survey)
Width: 14'11”
Length: 115'
Weight: 130,000 pounds gross (see note below). Single, Tandem, Tridem – Depends on axle spacings

Loads exceeding these dimensions are treated as super loads. Over 130,000 pounds gross requires engineering company survey of structures. This can cost several thousand dollars, depending on the route and number of structures!
Note: the maximum superload width in Massachusetts is 16 feet.


ESCORTS:
Width: Over 12' – 1 escort; Over 13'6 – 2 escorts; 12'; Over 14’11”- 2 escorts plus state police
Height: Over 13' 8" – route/height survey + 1 front; Over 13'11" (depending on route) – 2 escorts. Over 14’11” – 2 front + state police escort.
Length: Over 80' – 1 escort; over 95' – 2 escorts; 115' or more – 2 State Police escorts; 134’ or more – State police + 2 escorts.

On Massachusetts Turnpike, over 12' wide, over 100' long or over 130,000 pounds gross requires a police escort.
In City of Boston, if over legal dimensions – 1 escort + city police.
On Cape Cod, width over 12' – 1 escort + State Police escort.


SIGNS, FLAGS & LIGHTS: "Oversize Load" sign required on rear of an oversize vehicle that does not require an escort. Mount red flags on extremities and corners for any over-width or over-length vehicle. For all O/D loads made during hours of darkness, a flashing amber light shall be in operation above the highest point of the vehicle and visible from the front and rear of the vehicle.

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