Purpose

(1) 700 CMR 8.00 regulates activity and establishes procedures, requirements and penalties with the respect to the use of certain roadways that are under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT or Department) in relation to the application for and issuance of Permits for: (a) overweight vehicles carrying reducible loads; and (b) motor vehicles pulling trailers used in combination while transporting reducible loads upon any state highway or way determined by the Department to be a through route. (2) Where conflict between 700 CMR 8.00 and the issued permit exists the conditions and restrictions in the issued permit will prevail, unless otherwise provided in 700 CMR 8.00. (3) The legal weights of vehicles authorized to operate on the ways of the Department without a special permit are defined by Statute under the M.G.L. c. 90, §§ 19 and 19A and M.G.L. c. 85, §§ 30 and 30A. (4) Where these statutory weights are exceeded, the Chief Engineer may issue permits for travel on MassDOT Highways and ways determined by the Department to be through routes. (5) Provisions may be made to issue such permits for the purpose of permitting the necessary transportation of reducible loads which exceed the statutorily allowable weights. (6) It is the Department's intention to provide permits to those vehicles and loads to which sound engineering warrants issuance after careful study and review.