Wisconsin Legislature: Trans 255.03

Trans 255.01 Trans 255.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and procedures for the issuance of multiple trip oversize or overweight permits, pursuant to s. 348.27 (2), Stats.

Trans 255.01 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 255.02 Trans 255.02 Definitions.

Trans 255.02(1) (1) Unless otherwise stated, the definitions of words and phrases in ss. 340.01 and 348.01 (2), Stats., and s. Trans 250.02 apply to this chapter.

Trans 255.02(2) (2) As used in this chapter:

Trans 255.02(2)(a) (a) “Issuing authority" means the department of transportation.

Trans 255.02(2)(b) (b) “Permit" means multiple trip oversize or overweight permits authorized under s. 348.27 (2), Stats.

Trans 255.02(2)(c) (c) “Restricted-travel holidays" means days on which the department restricts the travel of oversize vehicles in anticipation of significantly increased traffic volume. The department shall issue and make available a list of restricted-travel holidays for each year by no later than November 30 of the prior year. In the event no list is published, “restricted-travel holidays" means January 1; the Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend; the last Monday in May and the immediately preceding Saturday and Sunday; July 4; the Monday after July 4, if July 4 falls on a Sunday; the first Monday in September and the immediately preceding Saturday and Sunday; the Saturday and Sunday initiating the Wisconsin gun deer hunting season; the fourth Thursday in November; the Saturday and Sunday following the fourth Thursday in November if that Sunday is the final day of the Wisconsin gun deer hunting season; December 24; December 25; and December 31.

Trans 255.02 Note Note: Oversize travel will typically be restricted on the peak travel days associated with the holidays listed in par. (c), as well as peak travel times associated with the department of natural resources traditional statewide gun deer hunting season. The list of restricted-travel holidays is available at http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov or by request to the DMV Motor Carrier Services Permit Unit, 4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Room 151, P.O. Box 7980, Madison, WI 53707-7980.

Trans 255.02 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; CR 13-093: cr. (2) (c) Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.

Trans 255.03 Trans 255.03 Permit application.

Trans 255.03(1) (1) An application for a permit shall be submitted to an issuing authority on a form approved by the department, and in accordance with s. 348.27, Stats.

Trans 255.03(1m) (1m) The application shall include all requested information, including the applicant's electronic mail address.

Trans 255.03(2) (2) An application for a permit for the use of a state trunk highway shall be made to the department in any of the following ways:

Trans 255.03(2)(a) (a) In person, at the department's central office.

Trans 255.03(2)(b) (b) By mail, addressed to the department's central office.

Trans 255.03(2)(c) (c) Online through the department's oversize/overweight automated issuance system.

Trans 255.03 Note Note: Forms used by the department in administering this rule are MV2612 multiple trip permit application and MV 2614 multiple trip permit information. These forms may be obtained in person at or by written request to the DMV Motor Carrier Services Section, Permit Unit, 4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Room 151, P.O. Box 7980, Madison, WI 53707-7980. These forms are also available online at http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov. Forms used by issuing authorities other than the department may be obtained from those authorities.

Trans 255.03 Note The department's oversize/overweight automated issuance system is available online at http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/business/carriers/osow-autosys.htm.

Trans 255.03 Note Note: Permit application procedures are in s. Trans 250.025.

Trans 255.03 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; correction in (2) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register February 2013 No. 686; CR 13-093: cr. (1m), am. (2) (a), cr. (2) (c) Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.

Trans 255.04 Trans 255.04 Permit amendments.

Trans 255.04(1) (1) An application for an amendment to a permit shall be made to the issuing authority which issued the original permit.

Trans 255.04(2) (2) An application for an amendment may be made in the same manner as an application for an original permit.

Trans 255.04(3) (3) The request shall specify the permit number of the permit to be amended.

Trans 255.04 Note Note: Limitations on the amendment of permits are in s. Trans 250.10.

Trans 255.04 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 255.05 Trans 255.05 Eligibility.

Trans 255.05(1) (1) Any vehicle or vehicle and load to be considered as operating under a permit shall satisfy requirements for a permit under s. 348.25, Stats.

Trans 255.05(2) (2) An issuing authority may not issue a permit for mobile homes or camping trailers under this chapter.

Trans 255.05(3) (3) An issuing authority may not issue a permit to transport loads or articles which could reasonably be divided in a manner as to allow transporting of loads or articles in 2 or more loads that are not oversize or overweight, nor may the permit be issued for the transporting of more than one article if the vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is overweight.

Trans 255.05 Note Note: This section prohibits, among other things, addition of an extra boom section to a load that is transported under a permit for an overweight vehicle, load, or vehicle and load. Transporting necessary blocking for a load, or transporting the necessary blocking on an otherwise empty vehicle to and from the origin or destination of the load, is not prohibited.

Trans 255.05(4) (4) An issuing authority may not issue a permit for a vehicle and load exceeding 100 feet in overall length when the rear supporting axle is at or near the rear of the load unless the rear support is separately steered.

Trans 255.05(5) (5) An issuing authority may issue a permit only for a vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires.

Trans 255.05(6) (6) The issuance of a permit is not a guarantee of the sufficiency of any highway or structure for the transporting of the vehicle, load, or vehicle and load.

Trans 255.05(7) (7) A permit may not authorize the operation of more than 2 vehicles in combination except that a vehicle combination consisting of a truck-tractor and semi-trailer, operating under a permit, may transport a 2-axle carry-all scraper with the axle of the scraper power unit resting on the bed of the semi-trailer and the rear axle of the scraper resting on the roadway. The gross weight of the rear axle of the scraper may not exceed 35,000 pounds.

Trans 255.05 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 255.06 Trans 255.06 Validity.

Trans 255.06(1) (1) A permit is valid only for the vehicle described in the application and permit.

Trans 255.06(2) (2) An issuing authority may suspend a permit, or any of its conditions, because of seasonal highway conditions.

Trans 255.06(3) (3) No condition of a permit may modify any law or regulation limiting loads because of local conditions, including load limits on bridges and highways, seasonal weight restrictions, or load limits imposed because of construction.

Trans 255.06(4) (4) A permit is not valid during periods when adverse weather or road conditions, such as fog, smoke, heavy rain, snow or ice, or wind velocity, impair the safety of a movement under the permit.

Trans 255.06(5) (5) Operation under a permit includes the movement of an empty vehicle to and from the place of pickup or delivery of the permitted load.

Trans 255.06(6) (6) When a vehicle operating under a permit is overheight, the permittee is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle clear, by at least 3 inches, all overhead structures along the route. If an overheight vehicle hits an overhead structure, the permit becomes invalid immediately at the time the overhead structure is hit.

Trans 255.06 Note Note: Examples of overhead structures are bridges, overpasses, power lines, utility lines and traffic devices.

Trans 255.06 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; cr. (6), Register, November, 1997, No. 503, eff. 12-1-97.

Trans 255.07 Trans 255.07 Registration requirements.

Trans 255.07(1) (1) A vehicle operating under a permit shall be registered as required by Wisconsin Statutes, and shall be registered at not less than the permit weight or at the maximum available registration weight, whichever is less.

Trans 255.07(2) (2) All other operational permits required by the department or other agencies having jurisdiction shall be obtained.

Trans 255.07 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; correction in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, August, 1996, No. 488.

Trans 255.08 Trans 255.08 Driver and operating requirements.

Trans 255.08(1)(1) The driver of a vehicle operating under a permit shall carry the permit in the vehicle to which it applies and shall have the permit available for inspection by any police officer, representative of the issuing authority, or person in charge of the maintenance of the highway being used.

Trans 255.08(2) (2) The driver of a vehicle operating under a permit shall, whenever reasonable and practicable, maintain a distance of not less than 1,000 feet between the permitted vehicle and any vehicle the driver is following, unless actually engaged in overtaking and passing another vehicle.

Trans 255.08(3) (3) The driver of a vehicle operating under a permit shall allow traffic approaching or overtaking the permitted vehicle to pass, where it is safe to do so.

Trans 255.08(4) (4) The maximum speed of any vehicle with a load 16 feet or wider operating on highways without paved shoulders shall be 35 miles per hour.

Trans 255.08(5) (5) Except as provided in sub. (4), or unless a lower speed is specified in the permit, a vehicle operating under a permit may be operated at the posted speed limit.

Trans 255.08(6) (6) The right wheels of the towed unit may not leave the roadway, except to allow traffic to pass.

Trans 255.08 Note Note: A “roadway" does not include paved or unpaved shoulders. s. 340.01 (54), Stats.

Trans 255.08 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 255.09 Trans 255.09 Maximum size, weight and loading limitations.

Trans 255.09(1)(1) The maximum size, axle, axle combination, and total weight limitations authorized by a permit may not be exceeded.

Trans 255.09(2) (2) Property transported under a permit shall be loaded to minimize its size and weight.

Trans 255.09(3) (3) An oversize vehicle used for transporting loads under a permit shall be reduced to legal size whenever possible when being operated without load.

Trans 255.09 Note Note: Legal sizes are set forth in ch. 348 and s. 349.16, Stats.

Trans 255.09(4) (4) A load transported under a permit may not extend beyond the front of the power unit, beyond the left fender line of the transporting vehicle, or more than 6 inches beyond the right fender of the transporting vehicle, unless the overhang is minimized by suitable positioning of the load upon the vehicle.

Trans 255.09(5) (5) Loads consisting of more than one article, none of which are oversize, may not be transported under the permit.

Trans 255.09(6) (6) Vehicles and loads which, when reasonably divided, would not be oversize or overweight, may not be transported under the permit.

Trans 255.09(7) (7) Loads which, when reasonably repositioned on the transporting vehicle, would not be oversize or overweight, may not be transported under the permit.

Trans 255.09(8) (8) Loads consisting of more than one article, one or more of which are oversize, may be transported under a permit only if:

Trans 255.09(8)(a) (a) The vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is not overweight, and