Truck dispatch · MA

Truck dispatch in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a dense consumer market with a lot of inbound freight and short regional runs. Tolls are all electronic and Boston's tunnels have their own rules, so we plan every Massachusetts load around them.

First load free · then a % of each load · no contract

At a glance

  • Mass Pike tolls are electronic only: E-ZPass or a mailed Pay By Plate bill, no cash
  • All hazardous cargo and cargo tankers are banned from the Boston tunnels
  • Idling over 5 minutes is against state law, with some exceptions
  • Intrastate trucks of 10,001 lb or more need a USDOT number

Where the freight is in Massachusetts

BostonThe state's biggest market, with the Port of Boston and dense store and food deliveries inside I-95.
WorcesterCentral Massachusetts distribution where I-90, I-290 and I-190 meet, with I-395 south toward Connecticut.
Springfield / Pioneer ValleyWhere I-91 crosses I-90, linking New England with Hartford and New York.
I-495 beltWarehouses and manufacturing along the I-495 ring around greater Boston.
Fall River / New BedfordSoutheastern Massachusetts on I-195, with seafood and manufacturing freight.

Main corridors

The interstates most of our Massachusetts loads run on: I-90, I-95, I-93, I-495, I-91, I-84, I-195.

I-90, the Massachusetts Turnpike, runs from the New York line through Springfield and Worcester into Boston. I-95 and I-495 circle Boston, I-91 runs north-south through Springfield, and I-84 links Sturbridge with Hartford and New York.

Freight and seasons

Most Massachusetts freight comes in: groceries, retail goods and building materials for a crowded metro area. Outbound loads are lighter, so we plan reloads early, often back toward New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Winter storms slow I-90 and the Boston area, and holiday retail volume builds in the fall.

Massachusetts rules to know

Every interstate carrier needs a USDOT number, MC authority, UCR and, for most semis, IRP plates and an IFTA license. On top of that:

Tolls (Mass Pike and Boston crossings)

Massachusetts has no toll booths and takes no cash. Tolls on I-90, the Tobin Memorial Bridge and the Sumner, Callahan and Ted Williams Tunnels are charged by E-ZPass or by a Pay By Plate invoice mailed to the registered owner. Source

Hazmat in the Boston tunnels

All hazardous cargo and cargo tankers are prohibited from the Boston tunnels, the city's underground highway system. Placarded loads use the designated surface and outer-highway routes, such as I-95/Route 128. Source

Idling limit

State law bans unnecessary idling for more than five minutes while stopped. Exceptions include engines needed to deliver or accept goods, or to power equipment other than the truck itself, when no other power source is available. Fines run up to $100 the first time and up to $500 after that. Source

Intrastate USDOT number

Since September 1, 2018, Massachusetts carriers running only inside the state need a USDOT number on vehicles with a GVWR or GCWR of 10,001 lb or more, on placarded hazmat loads, and on vehicles built for more than 15 passengers. Source

Cities we cover in Massachusetts

Boston

How we dispatch here

  • We check that your truck has a working E-ZPass before booking loads on the Mass Pike, so toll bills don't pile up by mail.
  • Hazmat loads into Boston get a route that stays out of the tunnels.
  • Boston deliveries often have tight dock times, so we confirm the appointment and the receiver's rules before booking.
  • Outbound freight is thinner than inbound, so we line up the reload before you deliver.
Fleetorica is a dispatch service, not a broker or carrier. We book loads under your authority, in Massachusetts and the rest of the lower 48, and you approve every load.

Pricing

a percentage of the load's gross, quoted for your truck and lanes, charged only on loads we book. No contract and your first load is free. See full pricing.

Official sources

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with FMCSA, the IRS or your state before you file.

Questions carriers ask

Can I pay Massachusetts tolls in cash?

No. Massachusetts tolls are electronic only. Without E-ZPass, a Pay By Plate bill is mailed to the registered owner.

Can I haul hazmat through the Boston tunnels?

No. All hazardous cargo and cargo tankers are banned from the Boston tunnels. We route placarded loads around them.

Do I need a USDOT number for loads inside Massachusetts?

Yes, if the truck's GVWR or GCWR is 10,001 lb or more, or you haul placarded hazmat. Interstate carriers already need one.

Get dispatched in Massachusetts

CallFirst load free