Chapter Trans 261

Trans 261.02   Definitions.

Trans 261.03   Permit application.

Trans 261.04   Permit amendments.

Trans 261.05   Eligibility.

Trans 261.06   Validity.

Trans 261.07   Registration requirements.

Trans 261.08   Driver and operating requirements.

Trans 261.09   Maximum size and loading limitations.

Trans 261.10   Equipment requirements.

Trans 261.11   Times of operation.

Trans 261.12   Route limitations.

Trans 261.13   Transfers.

Trans 261.14   Insurance and liability conditions.

Trans 261.15   General conditions and requirements.

Trans 261.155   Multiple trip manufacturing process permits.

Trans 261.16   Denial, suspension or revocation of permit.

Trans 261.01 Trans 261.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and procedures for the issuance of multiple trip mobile home and modular building section permits, pursuant to s. 348.27 (7), Stats.

Trans 261.01 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.02 Trans 261.02 Definitions.

Trans 261.02(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 261.02(2) (2) As used in this chapter:

Trans 261.02(2)(a) (a) “Issuing authority” means the department of transportation.

Trans 261.02(2)(b) (b) “Permit” means multiple trip mobile home and modular building section permits authorized under s. 348.27 (7), Stats.

Trans 261.02 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.03 Trans 261.03 Permit application.

Trans 261.03(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 261.03(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 261.03(2)(a) (a) In person, at the department’s central or region offices.

Trans 261.03(2)(b) (b) By mail, addressed to the department’s central office.

Trans 261.03 Note Note: Permit application procedures are in s. Trans 250.025.

Trans 261.03 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.

Trans 261.04 Trans 261.04 Permit amendments.

Trans 261.04(1) (1) An application for an amendment to a permit shall be made to the authority which issued the original permit.

Trans 261.04(2) (2) An application for an amendment may be made in the same manner as an application for an original permit.

Trans 261.04(3) (3) The request shall specify the permit number of the permit to be amended.

Trans 261.04 Note Note: Limitations on the amendment of permits are in s. Trans 250.10.

Trans 261.04 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.05 Trans 261.05 Eligibility.

Trans 261.05(1) (1) Any vehicle or vehicle and load to be considered as operating under a permit shall satisfy the requirements for a permit under s. 348.25, Stats.

Trans 261.05(2) (2) 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 261.05(3) (3) A permit may not authorize the operation of more than 2 vehicles in combination.

Trans 261.05(4) (4) A permit for a power unit used to transport an oversize mobile home may be issued only to mobile home transportation companies, licensed mobile home manufacturers and licensed dealers over highways in the ordinary course of their business.

Trans 261.05 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.06 Trans 261.06 Validity.

Trans 261.06(1) (1) A permit is valid only for the vehicle described in the application and permit.

Trans 261.06(2) (2) An issuing authority may suspend a permit, or any of its conditions, because of seasonal highway conditions.

Trans 261.06 Note Note: Examples of seasonal highway conditions include spring thaw, flooding, and traffic congestion.

Trans 261.06(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 261.06(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 261.06(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 261.06 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.07 Trans 261.07 Registration requirements.

Trans 261.07(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 261.07(2) (2) All other operational permits required by the department, the office of the commissioner of transportation or other agencies having jurisdiction shall be obtained.

Trans 261.07 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 261.08 Trans 261.08 Driver and operating requirements.

Trans 261.08(1) (1) The driver of a vehicle operating under a permit shall carry the approved 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 maintenance of the highway being used.

Trans 261.08(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 vehicle with the permit and any vehicle the driver is following, unless actually engaged in overtaking and passing another vehicle.

Trans 261.08(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 261.08(4) (4) Unless a lower speed is specified in the permit, a vehicle operating under a permit may be operated at the posted speed limit.

Trans 261.08 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 261.09 Trans 261.09 Maximum size and loading limitations.

Trans 261.09(1) (1) A mobile home or modular building section may extend beyond the front, the left and right sides, and the rear of the undercarriage, if the overhang is minimized.

Trans 261.09(2) (2) Wheels on one side of a transporting vehicle may not carry more than 60% of the total gross load.

Trans 261.09(3) (3) The width authorized by a permit refers to the outside-to-outside dimension of the towed unit not including roof overhang. The maximum width for the bottom of the roofline of the towed unit shall be measured separately.

Trans 261.09 Note Note: The outside-to-outside dimension of the unit encompasses protrusions such as windowsills, door knobs and other hardware.

Trans 261.09(4) (4) A permit may be issued for mobile homes and modular building sections having an outside-to-outside dimension not exceeding 15 feet in width, not including roof overhang. The maximum width for the bottom of the roofline of the towed unit shall be measured separately and may not exceed 16 feet. The maximum width of the roofline overhang on the left side of the towed unit may not exceed the maximum width of the roofline overhang on the right side of the towed unit.

Trans 261.09(5) (5) A permit may be issued for mobile homes and modular building sections that are not greater than 15 feet in total height.

Trans 261.09(6) (6) Vehicles and loads which, when reasonably divided, would not be oversize or overweight may not be transported under the permit.

Trans 261.09(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 261.09 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; CR 01-093: am. (3) and (4), r. and recr. (5), r. (6) and (7), renum. (8) and (9) to be (6) and (7), June 2002 No. 558, eff. 7-1-02.

Trans 261.10 Trans 261.10 Equipment requirements.

Trans 261.10(1) (1) Lighting. An oversize vehicle, or a vehicle with an oversize load operating during the hours of darkness, shall be equipped with the following additional lamps:

Trans 261.10(1)(a) (a) For a vehicle with a load which extends beyond the width of the vehicle:

Trans 261.10(1)(a)1. 1. At the outermost extremity of the foremost edge of the projecting load, an amber lamp visible from the front and side.

Trans 261.10(1)(a)2. 2. At the outermost extremity at the rearmost edge of the projecting load, a red lamp visible from the rear and side.

Trans 261.10(1)(a)3. 3. Any portion of an overwidth load extending beyond the width of the foremost or rearmost edge of the vehicle or load, shall be marked with an amber lamp visible from the front, both sides, and rear.

Trans 261.10(1)(a)4. 4. If the overwidth portion of the load measures 3 feet or less from front to rear, that portion shall be marked with an amber lamp visible from the front, both sides and rear, except that if the overwidth projection is located at or near the rear it shall be marked by a red lamp visible from front, side and rear.

Trans 261.10(1)(b) (b) For a vehicle with a load which extends more than 4 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle:

Trans 261.10(1)(b)1. 1. On each side of the projecting load, one red lamp, visible from the side, located so as to indicate maximum overhang.

Trans 261.10(1)(b)2. 2. On the rear of the projecting load, 2 red lamps, visible from the rear, one at each side; and 2 red reflectors visible from the rear, one at each side, located so as to indicate maximum width.

Trans 261.10(1)(c) (c) All required lamps shall be illuminated whenever a vehicle is operated during hours of darkness. All lamps shall be visible at a distance of 500 feet.

Trans 261.10(2) (2) Warning lamps. When required by a permit, warning lamps shall be operated as follows:

Trans 261.10(2)(a) (a) All mobile homes and modular building sections over 12 feet in width shall have an operating amber flashing or revolving warning lamp a minimum of 8 feet above the roadway at the rear of the towed unit near its center point, visible 500 feet to the rear, or 2 such operating amber flashing or revolving warning lamps, at the left and right rear extremities of the towed unit located a minimum of 8 feet above the roadway and visible 500 feet to the rear.

Trans 261.10(2)(b) (b) All amber flashing or revolving warning lamps shall have a reflector at least 6 inches in diameter and shall be bright enough to be clearly visible and attention-attracting at a distance of 500 feet under all conditions when the load is on the highway, except when visibility is obstructed by a hillcrest, a curve, or an object such as another vehicle.

Trans 261.10(2)(c) (c) All power units, when transporting a mobile home or modular building section over 81⁄2 feet in width shall have 2 amber flashing or revolving warning lamps mounted above the cab. Flashers shall be mounted at least 8 feet above the roadway and shall be visible to the front. When 2 lamps are provided, they shall be mounted at the same level, shall be separated laterally as much as possible, and shall flash simultaneously.

Trans 261.10(2)(d) (d) All warning lamps shall flash at a rate of 30 to 90 times per minute.

Trans 261.10(2)(e) (e) Strobe lamps may be used in lieu of flashing or revolving lamps.