Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 700 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION › Title 700 CMR 8.00 - Permitting, Operation, And Transport Of Overdimensional Loads And Certain Vehicle Trailer Combinations On Certain Massachusetts Department Of Transportation Roadways › Section 8.05 - Approval or Disapproval of Overweight Reducible Load Permit Applications

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(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.
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
			 8.06(4):
Table
			 1
. The Department specifies on the application the time and manner of
			 payment.
Table 1
Type of Permit
Fee
Irreducible Load Permit Exceeding Any Legal Limit for
							 Size and Weight Pursuant to
							 700 CMR 8.00
$400.00 - Annually
Irreducible Load Permit Exceeding Any Legal Limit for
							 Size and Weight Pursuant to
							 700 CMR 8.00
$40.00 - Per Trip
Super Load Weight >130,000 pounds - Detailed
							 Engineering Calculations Required
$300.00 - Single Trip
Reducible Load Permit Exceeding Any Legal Limit for
							 Size and Weight Pursuant to
							 700 CMR 8.00
$50.00 per every 1,000 pounds exceeding the Federal
							 Bridge Formula