Approval or Disapproval of Overweight Reducible Load Permit Applications

(1) Reducible Load. Reducible load permits may be granted to allow the operation of a motor vehicle together with its load for gross weights up to 73,000 pounds for vehicles having three axles, 87,000 pounds for vehicles having four axles, and 99,000 pounds for vehicles having five or more axles. Triaxle vehicles will be considered as a special type of vehicle and will be given permits for 73,000 pounds if they meet the minimum distance from front axle centerline to rear axle centerline as provided in 700 CMR 8.13: Attachment B: Standard Permit Parameters Reducible Loads. The Department will grant permits to these vehicles for an additional 1,000 pounds, up to a maximum of 77,000 pounds for a triaxle vehicle measuring 19'6" or greater in accordance with the following schedule: 15'4" to 16'5", 73,000 pounds; 16'6" to 17'5", 74,000 pounds; 17'6" to 18'5", 75,000 pounds; 18'6" to 19'5", 76,000 pounds; 19'6" and up, 77,000 pounds. When the vehicle is carrying a permit load the movable axle must be fully engaged. Permits will only authorize travel on specifically designated state highways or ways determined by the Department to be through routes which have bridges, structures and pavements of a capacity sufficient to indicate that they will be able to safely support vehicles of these weights on the aforesaid number of axles. These specifically designated ways are enumerated in 700 CMR 8.12: Attachment A: List of Massachusetts Department of Transportation State Highways. These permits for travel over the designated ways do not under any circumstances allow travel over bridges which are posted for a weight which is less than the gross vehicle weight together with load which is then being carried. No permit will be granted for a weight in excess of the weight for which said motor vehicle, trailer, semi trailer or semi trailer unit is registered or in excess of its gross vehicle weight rating. 8.05: continued Permits will be issued on an annual basis unless otherwise indicated on the permit, but the Department specifically reserves the right to revoke any permit or class of permits, notwithstanding any expiration date contained on the permit to the contrary, when in its judgment and discretion public safety or sound engineering judgment warrant. (2) Delegation of Authority. Subject to the provisions contained in 700 CMR 8.08, the approval or disapproval of permits shall be delegated to the Chief Engineer. The Chief Engineer shall use 700 CMR 8.00 as guidelines in making determinations on permit applications. In addition, he or she shall make the final determination of whether a load is a reducible or irreducible load. (3) Forms and Certifications. Applications for reducible load overweight permits will be accepted only on a Department form which maybe obtained by and submitted to the Department. If the vehicle for which the permit is sought is within the parameters and tolerances provided in 700 CMR 8.13: Attachment B: Standard Permit Parameters Reducible Loads for loadings, axle spacings, wheel spacings and number of wheels, the application will be accepted for processing in a routine fashion without further individual engineering study and review. If the vehicle for which the permit is sought is not within the parameters and tolerances provided in 700 CMR 8.13 additional case by case engineering study and review will be required. In such cases the applicant will be required to submit additional information on a form provided by the Department or such additional information as the Department may request. In addition, more time may be required to analyze and evaluate the effect of these vehicles and loads on bridges, structures and pavements. (4) Fees. An applicant must pay the fee that is specified in the application and in 700 CMR