When a Permit for an Overweight Reducible Load is Required

A permit is required to carry any load which together with the vehicle is in excess of the weight allowed by M.G.L. c. 90, § 19 or 19A and M.G.L. c. 85, §§ 30 and 30A. In general, a permit is required in the following instances: (1) A permit is required to travel on state highways or ways determined by the Department to be a through route for any motor vehicle having two axles which vehicle together with its load weighs more than 46,000 pounds, or for any motor vehicle, trailer, semi trailer, or semi trailer unit having three or more axles which together with its load weighs more than 80,000 pounds. 8.04: continued (2) In addition, notwithstanding any thing provided in 700 CMR 8.04(1) and (2), a permit is required for any motor vehicle, trailer, semi trailer or semi trailer unit which has a weight on any axle, measured on the ground, of more than 22,400 pounds, or if the axles are spaced less than six feet apart, more than 18,000 pounds. (3) In addition, notwithstanding any thing provided in 700 CMR 8.04(1) and (2), a permit is required for any motor vehicle, trailer, semi trailer and semi trailer unit where the overall gross weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles exceeds the gross weight (W) produced by computing the formula: (W = overall gross weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds, L = distance in feet between the extreme of any group of two or more consecutive axles, and N = number of axles in group under consideration, except that two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a gross load of 34,000 pounds each providing the overall distance between the first and last axles of such consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more). (4) Notwithstanding 700 CMR 8.04(1) through (3), the following vehicles may travel on a way while engaging in hauling construction materials, liquid petroleum products or bulk feed without a permit, provided that the gross vehicle weight at which they operate complies with the weight restrictions contained in M.G.L. c. 90, § 17A, does not exceed the gross vehicle weight rating established by the original manufacturer of the chassis and does not exceed the weight for which the vehicle is duly registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: (a) a construction type motor vehicle with two axles; (b) a motor vehicle carrying bulk feed; (c) a construction type semi-trailer or tandem unit or motor vehicle having three axles carrying construction materials; (d) a semi-trailer unit or motor vehicle having three axles carrying liquid petroleum products; (e) a motor vehicle having three axles and designed and used for hauling refuse.