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 8.17 - Conditions and Limitations
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
The following conditions and limitations are of general applicability and shall apply to all permits issued by the Department for motor vehicles and trailers operating in combination. The Department may apply additional conditions and limitations as in its exercise of discretion it finds necessary.
(1) No motor vehicle and trailer, operating in a combination under permit issued under 700 CMR 8.00, shall operate with a gross combined weight exceeding 85,000 pounds or exceeding the gross combination weight rating when such rating is less than 85,000 pounds.
(2) No trailer, operating in combination with a motor vehicle under a permit issued under 700 CMR 8.00, shall operate with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 25,000 pounds or exceeding the gross vehicle weight rating of the trailer when such rating is less than 25,000 pounds.
(3) No motor vehicle while operating in combination with a trailer under a permit issued under 700 CMR 8.00, shall operate with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 60,000 pounds or exceeding the gross vehicle weight rating when such rating is less than 60,000 pounds. While a motor vehicle is operating in combination under a Permit under 700 CMR 8.00, any other overweight permit issued for the operation of that motor vehicle shall be void and of no effect.
(4) No permit shall be valid for a motor vehicle and trailer combination length exceeding 65 feet.
(5) As provided in M.G.L. c. 85, § 30A, no motor vehicle or trailer, which is the subject of a permit issued under 700 CMR 8.00, shall be operated on any public way until the Registrar of Motor Vehicles shall have issued to the owner or lessee thereof the permit sticker as provided in M.G.L. c. 90, § 19D.
(6) The permit is issued under the provisions of M.G.L. c. 90, § 19, in that it allows an overall length of 65 feet for the motor vehicle and trailer operating in combination. The permit is issued under the provisions of M.G.L. c. 90 in so far as the weights provided in M.G.L. c. 90, may be exceeded only when permitted by the Chief Engineer.
(7) The penalties and punishments provided in M.G.L. c. 90, § 20, for convictions of violations of the terms of any permit issued under provisions of M.G.L. c. 85, § 30A, shall be applicable to Permits issued under the provisions of 700 CMR 8.00.
(8) Reasonable precaution shall be taken to prevent damage to the roadway surface, and where such damage does occur as a result of failure to take such reasonable precautions or while the motor vehicle or trailer is in violation of a statute, the permit, or 700 CMR 8.00, the permittee shall be held responsible for any damages or injury to persons or to any bridge due to or resulting from the operation of the motor vehicle or trailer.
(9) Permitted motor vehicles and trailers may be restricted from operating on State Highways where, in the opinion of the Chief Engineer, the safety of the traveling public would be compromised by such operation.
(10) All permitted motor vehicle and trailers shall be properly registered and shall comply with all legal requirements including operational and safety equipment requirements imposed by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Public Utilities, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and any other authorized public agency.
(11) No permitted motor vehicle and trailer shall operate at any time with a gross weight in excess of the registered weight for which such motor vehicle and trailer are registered, except in the case of a motor vehicle or trailer owned or leased by a carrier that is not domiciled in Massachusetts and which the permit allows to operate in excess of its registered gross weight.
(12) All operators of motor vehicles and trailers subject to 700 CMR 8.00 shall obey all bridge posting signs. No motor vehicle or trailer is to be operated on or over a bridge when that motor vehicle or trailer is carrying a gross weight including vehicle and load, in excess of the weight for which that bridge has been posted.
(13) The list of designated ways contained in 700 CMR 8.12 over which the permit authorizes travel shall be carried with the Permit in the motor vehicle at all times, and shall be presented to an appropriate law enforcement official along with the permit when that officer requests to see the vehicle's permit. Violation of 700 CMR 8.18 may result in suspension of the vehicle's permit for such period of time as the Chief Engineer or a designee may determine.
(14) Records. Permittees shall keep records of the operation of motor vehicles pulling trailers and shall furnish such records to the Chief Engineer or a designee upon request. Records shall include information regarding the days vehicles are operated, the routes travelled, accidents, citations for violations of applicable rules of the Department or of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, or State and Federal laws or other information as required by the Department. The Department may prescribe a form to be utilized by the permittee in preparing records.
(15) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, all State and Federal laws and rules shall be obeyed.
