Massachusetts Truck Bans & Hazmat Routes
Boston hits you two ways. The DCR river roads, Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road, and Memorial Drive, are cars-only with a 10 ft limit, and 'Storrowing' a rental box truck is a rite of passage every college move-in weekend. Underground, the Ted Williams, Sumner, Callahan, and O'Neill tunnels ban hazmat (700 CMR 7.06). Bring placards in and you get backed out about two miles. Watch the posted 'CARS ONLY' signs.
Where Massachusetts keeps trucks out
Boston hits you two ways. The DCR river roads, Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road, and Memorial Drive, are cars-only with a 10 ft limit, and 'Storrowing' a rental box truck is a rite of passage every college move-in weekend. Underground, the Ted Williams, Sumner, Callahan, and O'Neill tunnels ban hazmat (700 CMR 7.06). Bring placards in and you get backed out about two miles. Watch the posted 'CARS ONLY' signs.
Key restrictions
- Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road, Memorial Drive: cars only, 10 ft height limit; 'Storrowing' is a box-truck classic.
- Ted Williams, Sumner, Callahan, and O'Neill/Central Artery tunnels ban all hazmat.
- Enter a tunnel with placards and you may be backed out about 2 miles.
- College move-in weekends (late Aug) are peak Storrowing; a car GPS will not warn you.
- Parkway / road ban: Greater Boston's DCR river roads are cars-only: Storrow Drive, Soldiers Field Road, and Memorial Drive ban trucks and buses under a 10 ft height limit (some spots near 9 ft). 'CARS ONLY' signs mark the on-ramps. These are DCR parkways, not truck-legal roads.
- Hazmat: Boston's Central Artery/Metropolitan Highway System tunnels ban hazmat under 700 CMR 7.06: Ted Williams (I-90), Sumner and Callahan (Rte 1A), and the I-93 O'Neill/Central Artery tunnels. Carriers follow posted surface HC detours like Atlantic Ave and Rutherford Ave. A placarded truck that enters can be forced to back out about two miles.
- Through-truck routes: Boston and other cities post local truck routes and weight-limited streets. A through truck stays on the arterials; a local delivery leaves them only for the direct path to its stop. STAA reasonable-access sets the floor.
- Fine: Cars-only parkway and tunnel-hazmat violations are enforced by DCR and State Police; a bridge or tunnel strike leaves you liable for the damage and the cleanup. Exact ticket amounts vary by offense and court, so confirm the current figure with MassDOT or DCR.
Massachusetts Truck Route FAQ
Are there roads that ban trucks in Massachusetts?
What are the hazmat restrictions in Massachusetts?
What is the fine for a truck on a banned road in Massachusetts?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/hazardous-material-route-designation. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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