Home · DVIR Guides · States · Massachusetts
Last reviewed November 12, 2026.
This page summarizes what we could verify from official sources about how Massachusetts applies driver vehicle inspection and related vehicle-inspection rules. It is not a complete reprint of Massachusetts law.
Interstate operations
If you operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce to, from, or through Massachusetts, the federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) apply, including 49 CFR Part 396 and the DVIR rules in § 396.11 and § 396.13. State rules do not replace those federal interstate requirements. Start with What a DVIR is and who must complete one.
State agency
For Massachusetts-specific questions, including how the rules apply to operations that stay entirely inside Massachusetts, contact Massachusetts Department of Transportation / Registry of Motor Vehicles and Massachusetts State Police.
What official sources say about state adoption
Official Massachusetts regulations include 540 CMR 14.00, “Motor Carrier Safety and Hazardous Material Transportation,” published by the Commonwealth. During this review we identified that official regulation, but we did not independently retrieve and quote its full current text here.
Intrastate operations and variations
Read the current official text of 540 CMR 14.00 for Massachusetts’ adoption of federal motor carrier safety regulations, including Part 396 if adopted there, and for any intrastate modifications. Confirm with MassDOT, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, or Massachusetts State Police. This page does not invent a Massachusetts weight threshold or DVIR exception.
What we could not independently verify from official sources in this review:
- The current full official text of 540 CMR 14.00, including whether and how 49 CFR Part 396 is adopted and any Massachusetts-specific threshold or DVIR exception.
Please confirm those points with the state agency linked on this page before relying on them.
Related federal guides
Sources
- 540 CMR 14.00 (official Massachusetts government document)
- Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Need a printable form? DVIR.io offers free FMCSA-aligned PDF templates, including post-trip, pre-trip, bus and motorcoach, and intermodal reports.
Get the free DVIR templatesThis page is general information only. It is not legal advice, and it is not advice on any specific DVIR or vehicle-inspection requirement. Rules can change, and how they apply depends on your operation, your vehicles, and your location. Get advice in your own area on your specific state and federal requirements. If you have a question for DVIR.io, use the contact form.