Wisconsin Legislature: Trans 255.10(1)(a)

Trans 255.08 Driver and operating requirements.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

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

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

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

Trans 255.09 Maximum size, weight and loading limitations.

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

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

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

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

(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.

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

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

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

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

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

(b) The other articles transported do not cause the vehicle and load to be oversize in any manner differently from the largest single article.

Note: For example, if a storage tank which is overwidth and overheight (but not overlength) is the single largest article transported, then a toolbox which is not wider, and is not higher, and does not make the vehicle and load overlength or overweight may also be transported.

However, a beam placed crosswise which makes the overall width wider than the storage tank may not be transported as an additional article. Similarly, a beam placed lengthwise which makes the vehicle and load overlength may not be transported as an additional article.

Finally, if the vehicle and load were overweight, then no additional article may be transported.

(9) The load shall be properly secured and fastened to the transporting vehicle.

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

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

Trans 255.10 Equipment requirements.

(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:

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

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

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

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.

4. If the overwidth portion of a 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.

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

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

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.

(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.

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

(a) 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.

(b) All warning lamps shall flash at a rate of 30 to 90 times per minute.

(d) Warning lamps may not be operated when a vehicle is not operating under the permit.

(3) Flags.

(a) When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is overlength, a single flag shall be fastened at the extreme rear of the load if the overlength or projecting portion is 2 feet wide or less.

(b) When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is overlength, 2 flags shall be fastened at the rear of the load to indicate maximum width if the overlength or projecting portion is wider than 2 feet.

(c) When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is overwidth, a flag shall be fastened at each front and rear corner of the load. In addition, if any part of the load is more than 4 inches wider than the width of load or vehicle at the front or rear, then a flag shall be placed at the widest point of the load.

(d) Each flag shall be solid red or orange in color, and not less than 18 inches square.

(e) In order to wave freely, flags shall be securely fastened by at least one corner or securely mounted on a staff.

(4) Signs.

(a) When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is more than 10 feet wide or is overlength, 2 warning signs shall be displayed. One sign shall be fastened at the front of the power unit and the other at either the rear of the towed unit or at the rear of the load.

(b) Each sign shall state, in black letters on a yellow background,“OVERSIZE LOAD,” and may not be less than 7 feet long and 18 inches high. The letters of the sign may not be less than 10 inches high with a brush stroke of not less than 1.4 inches.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; CR 13-093: r. (5) Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.

Trans 255.11 Times of operation.

(1) Except as otherwise specified in a permit, a vehicle load, or vehicle and load that is overweight, but not oversize, may operate 24 hours a day, including weekends and restricted-travel holidays.

(2) Except as otherwise specified in a permit, no oversize vehicle or vehicle combination operating under a permit issued under this chapter may operate in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock, and Waukesha counties between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on any of the following days:

(a) Sunday.

(b) Any Friday in the period beginning on the 4th Friday in May and ending on Labor Day.

(d) The day before any restricted-travel holiday, except July 3 if that day falls on a Saturday.

(3) In addition to the conditions provided in sub. (2), no oversize vehicle or vehicle combination operating under a permit issued under this chapter that exceeds 12 feet in width, 131⁄2 feet in height, or 150 feet in length, may operate in any county:

(a) During the hours of darkness.

(b) During the period beginning at 12:00 noon on Saturday and continuing until sunrise on Sunday.

(d) During the period beginning at 12:00 noon on the day preceding and continuing until sunrise on the day following every restricted-travel holiday.

(4) In addition to the conditions provided in subs. (2) and (3), no oversize vehicle or vehicle combination may operate on any part of the Milwaukee county expressway system constructed pursuant to s. 59.84, Stats.:

(a) Monday through Thursday in any week at the following times:

1. Between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

2. Between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

(b) On any Friday between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

(4a) Subsection (4) does not apply to U.S. highway 45 between West Florist Avenue and West Hampton Avenue or to interstate highway 94 between the Waukesha county line and 108th Street.

Note: 108th Street is also known as Mayfair Road or State Highway 100 at the described location.

(5) An issuing authority may issue a permit for times other than those specified in subs. (1), (2), (3), or (4), under extraordinary circumstances when, in the opinion of the issuing authority, public health and welfare is better served, and may impose additional conditions to promote the safe operation of the vehicle and load.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; am. (4) (intro.), cr. (4a), Register, July, 1991, No. 427, eff. 8-1-91; correction in (4) (intro.) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2005 No. 594; CR 13-093: am. (1), (2) (intro.), r. and recr. (2) (a) to (d), am. (3) (intro.), (b). cr. (3) (c), (d), renum. (4) to (4) (intro.) and am., r. and recr. (4) (a) and (b), cr. (4) (c) Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14; correction in (4) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register July 2014 No. 703.

Trans 255.12 Route limitations.

(1) No vehicle, vehicle combination, or load exceeding 16 feet in width may be operated or transported upon any portion of the national system of interstate and defense highways unless the permit contains a special condition authorizing movement with a greater width upon the interstate highway system or portion thereof.

(2) No permit allowing the dimensions of a vehicle or load to exceed 14 feet in width, 141⁄2 feet in height or 150 feet in length is valid on any part of the Milwaukee county expressway system constructed pursuant to s. 59.84, Stats., except on U.S. highway 45 between West Florist Avenue and West Hampton Avenue and on interstate highway 94 between the Waukesha county line and 108th Street.

(3) Self-propelled carry-all scrapers operating under a permit may not be operated on the interstate highway system, the Milwaukee county expressway system, or on U.S. highway 41 from Green Bay to Milwaukee.

(4) An oversize or overweight vehicle may not be operated on a highway, whether loaded or empty, at any time that the permit is not valid.

(5) A permit authorizes the use of any of the highways of the state, subject to the limitations stated in the permit.

(6) A permit is not valid for the operation of any vehicle upon class“B” highways, as classified in accordance with s. 348.16, Stats., with gross weights exceeding those permitted by statute on class “B” highways unless written permission has first been obtained from the officer in charge of the maintenance of the highway.

(7) An issuing authority may issue a permit under extraordinary circumstances when, in the opinion of the issuing authority, public health and welfare is better served, and may impose additional conditions to promote the safe operation of the vehicle. Extraordinary circumstances include, but are not limited to, the construction and repair of the Milwaukee county Freeway System.

History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; emerg. cr. (7), eff. 2-1-05; CR 05-009: cr. (7) Register June 2005 No. 594, eff. 7-1-05; correction in (2) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register June 2005 No. 594; CR 13-093: am. (2) Register July 2014 No. 703, eff. 8-1-14.

Trans 255.13 Transfers. In the event of a breakdown or other circumstance requiring a change of the power unit identified on the permit, transfers to another vehicle, under the control of the permittee, may be made following the completion of a new application and the issuance of a new permit. The words, “This is a transfer from permit # ,” shall be written on the bottom of the application. The original permit shall be sent to the issuing authority with the transfer application.

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

Trans 255.14 Insurance and liability conditions.

(1) In applying for and accepting a permit, a permittee agrees to: