Chapter Trans 260

Trans 260.01 Trans 260.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and procedures for the issuance of single trip mobile home and modular building section permits, pursuant to s. 348.26 (4), Stats.

Trans 260.01 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 260.02 Trans 260.02 Definitions.

Trans 260.02(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 260.02(2) (2) As used in this chapter:

Trans 260.02(2)(a) (a) “Issuing authority” means the department of transportation.

Trans 260.02(2)(b) (b) “Permit” means single trip mobile home and modular building section permits authorized under s. 348.26 (4), Stats.

Trans 260.02 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 260.03 Trans 260.03 Permit application.

Trans 260.03(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. 348.26, Stats.

Trans 260.03(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 260.03(2)(a) (a) In person, at the department’s central or region offices.

Trans 260.03(2)(b) (b) By mail, addressed to the department’s central office.

Trans 260.03(2)(c) (c) By the telephone call-in procedure, described in ch. Trans 275.

Trans 260.03(2)(d) (d) By authorized permit service.

Trans 260.03 Note Note: Permit application procedures are in s. Trans 250.025.

Trans 260.03 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 260.04 Trans 260.04 Permit amendments.

Trans 260.04(1) (1) An application for an amendment to a permit shall be made to the issuing authority which issued the original permit.

Trans 260.04(2) (2) An application for an amendment may be made in the same manner as an application for an original permit.

Trans 260.04(3) (3) The request shall specify the permit number of the permit to be amended.

Trans 260.04(4) (4) A request for an extension of a permit may be made any time until the 3rd day after the expiration date of the permit.

Trans 260.04(5) (5) An issuing authority may grant only one extension to a permit.

Trans 260.04(6) (6) Except as provided in sub. (7), a permit issued for less than 2 weeks may be extended not more than 2 weeks.

Trans 260.04(7) (7) An issuing authority may extend a permit not more than 2 additional weeks where highway or other conditions remain unchanged, or as the issuing authority deems necessary.

Trans 260.04 Note Note: Limitations on the amendment of permits are in s. Trans 250.10.

Trans 260.04 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 260.05 Trans 260.05 Eligibility.

Trans 260.05(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 260.05(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 260.05(3) (3) A permit may not authorize the operation of more than 2 vehicles in combination.

Trans 260.05 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 260.06 Trans 260.06 Validity.

Trans 260.06(1) (1) A permit is valid only for the route specified in the permit, which may include the return trip on the reverse route if requested and approved, and which includes the movement of the empty vehicle, whether or not oversize or overweight, to and from the place of pickup or delivery of the permitted load.

Trans 260.06(2) (2) A permit may not be used in combination with a multiple trip permit to authorize the movement of an oversize load.

Trans 260.06(3) (3) A permit is valid only for the vehicle described in the application and permit.

Trans 260.06(4) (4) An issuing authority may suspend a permit, or any of its conditions, because of seasonal highway conditions.

Trans 260.06 Note Note: Examples of seasonal highway conditions include spring thaw, flooding, and traffic congestion.

Trans 260.06(5) (5) 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 260.06(6) (6) 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 260.06 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 260.07 Trans 260.07 Registration requirements.

Trans 260.07(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 260.07(2) (2) All other operational permits required by the department or other agencies having jurisdiction shall be obtained.

Trans 260.07 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; correction made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 6., Stats., Register, August, 1996, No. 488.

Trans 260.08 Trans 260.08 Driver and operating requirements.

Trans 260.08(1) (1) The driver of a vehicle operating under a permit shall carry the permit in the vehicle to which the permit 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 260.08(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 260.08(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 260.08(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 260.08 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.

Trans 260.09 Trans 260.09 Maximum size and loading limitations.

Trans 260.09(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 260.09(2) (2) Wheels on one side of a transporting vehicle may not carry more than 60% of the total gross load.

Trans 260.09(3) (3) The width authorized by a permit refers to the outside-to-outside dimension of the towed unit not including roof overhang. The width for the bottom of the roofline of the towed unit shall be measured separately.

Trans 260.09 Note Note: The outside-to-outside dimension of the unit encompasses protrusions such as windowsills, door knobs and other hardware.

Trans 260.09(4) (4) A permit issued for mobile homes and modular building sections having an outside-to-outside dimension exceeding 15 feet in width, not including roof overhang or having a maximum width for the bottom of the roofline of the towed unit equal to or exceeding 16 feet is subject to the permit conditions applying to 16 foot wide mobile homes and modular building sections in s. Trans 260.16.

Trans 260.09(5) (5) Vehicles and loads which when reasonably divided would not be oversize or overweight may not be transported under the permit.

Trans 260.09(6) (6) Loads which, when reasonably repositioned on the transporting vehicle, would not be oversize or overweight may not be transported under the permit.

Trans 260.09 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91; CR 01-093: am. (3) and (4), r. (5) to (7), renum. (8) and (9) to be (5) and (6), Register June 2002 No. 558, eff. 7-1-02.

Trans 260.10 Trans 260.10 Equipment requirements.

Trans 260.10(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 260.10(1)(a) (a) For a vehicle with a load which extends beyond the width of the vehicle:

Trans 260.10(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 260.10(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 260.10(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 260.10(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 260.10(1)(b) (b) For a vehicle with a load which extends more than 4 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle:

Trans 260.10(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 260.10(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 260.10(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 260.10(2) (2) Warning lamps. When required by a permit, warning lamps shall be operated as follows:

Trans 260.10(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 260.10(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 260.10(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 260.10(2)(d) (d) All warning lamps shall flash at a rate of 30 to 90 times per minute.

Trans 260.10(2)(e) (e) Strobe lamps may be used in lieu of flashing or revolving lamps.

Trans 260.10(2)(f) (f) Warning lamps may not be operated when a vehicle is not operating under the permit.

Trans 260.10(3) (3) Flags.

Trans 260.10(3)(a) (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.

Trans 260.10(3)(b) (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.

Trans 260.10(3)(c) (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, a flag shall be placed at the widest point of the load.

Trans 260.10(3)(d) (d) Each flag shall be solid red or orange in color, and not less than 18 inches square.

Trans 260.10(3)(e) (e) In order to wave freely, flags shall be securely fastened by at least one corner or securely mounted on a staff.

Trans 260.10(4) (4) Signs.

Trans 260.10(4)(a) (a) When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is more than 10 feet in width 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.

Trans 260.10(4)(b) (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.

Trans 260.10(4)(c) (c) The sign message may not be displayed when the vehicle is not operating under the permit.