Chapter Trans 305

Trans 305.485(2)(i) (i) Section Trans 305.34, windshields.

Trans 305.485(2)(j) (j) Section Trans 305.35, windshield wipers.

Trans 305.485 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (2) (a), renum. (2) (b) to (e) to be (2) (f), (g), (i) and (j), cr. (2) (b) to (e) and (h), Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.

Trans 305.49 Trans 305.49 Axle control valves.

Trans 305.49(1) (1) When a vehicle is equipped with an axle or axles that raises or lowers by means of air pressure, spring force or hydraulic pressure, the control valves shall be installed as follows:

Trans 305.49(1)(a) (a) The control valve that regulates the amount of pressure shall be mounted outside of the driver’s compartment.

Trans 305.49(1)(b) (b) The control valve that regulates the movement of the axle or axles so as to raise or lower the axle or axles may be in the driver’s compartment.

Trans 305.49(2) (2) This section applies to vehicles manufactured commencing with the 1998 model year.

Trans 305.49 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (2), Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.

Trans 305.50 Trans 305.50 Bed and body on trailers and semitrailers. The bed or body of a trailer or semitrailer may not contain holes, cracks or other openings which would allow the vehicle contents to drop, leak or spill upon the highway.

Trans 305.50 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.

Trans 305.51 Trans 305.51 Brakes on heavy trucks, trailers and semitrailers.

Trans 305.51(1) (1) The brake system on every heavy truck, trailer or semitrailer required by s. 347.35 (3), Stats., to have brakes shall be maintained in proper working condition and in conformity with this section.

Trans 305.51(2) (2) Every heavy truck, semitrailer or trailer over 10,000 pounds gross weight and required to have brakes shall have braking ability on every wheel, except as exempted by s. Trans 327.03 (4) or other applicable law.

Trans 305.51(3) (3) No person may operate any heavy truck, trailer or semitrailer upon a highway if:

Trans 305.51(3)(a) (a) The vehicle stops with obvious side pull when brakes are applied;

Trans 305.51(3)(b) (b) The brake lining, pads, drums or rotors on any wheel are worn below the manufacturer’s recommended minimum operating level;

Trans 305.51(3)(c) (c) Any part of the brake system is missing, broken or disconnected;

Trans 305.51(3)(d) (d) The cables are frayed or hoses are abraded, damaged, deteriorated or leaking; or

Trans 305.51(3)(e) (e) There is visual evidence of leakage of grease, oil or brake fluid that may have contaminated the braking surface.

Trans 305.51(4) (4) This section does not apply to any trailer or semi-trailer when its actual gross weight is less than 3,000 pounds, or to farm trailers.

Trans 305.51 Note Note: Ch. Trans 308 establishes requirements as to the design, type and performance standards of brakes required by s. 347.35 (3), Stats., on trailers and semitrailers. Section 347.36, Stats., also establishes minimum performance standards for brakes on combinations of vehicles.

Trans 305.51 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (1) to (3) (intro.), Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.

Trans 305.52 Trans 305.52 Coupling devices.

Trans 305.52(1) (1) When 2 or more vehicles are operated in combination, the coupling devices connecting the vehicles shall be designed, constructed and installed and the vehicles shall be designed and constructed, so that when the combination is operated in a straight line on a level, smooth, paved surface, the path of the towed vehicle will not deviate more than 3 inches to either side of the path of the vehicle that tows it.

Trans 305.52(2) (2) Coupling devices and safety devices shall meet the requirements of s. 347.47, Stats.

Trans 305.52 Note Note: Ch. Trans 308 establishes requirements as to the type, design and strength of couplings, safety chains, leveling bars and cables required by s. 347.47, Stats., on trailers, semitrailers and mobile homes.

Trans 305.52(3) (3) When used as part of a fifth wheel assembly on a truck tractor, the king pin shall fit snugly into the upper and lower halves, but may not bind.

Trans 305.52 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (3), Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.

Trans 305.53 Trans 305.53 Fenders and mud guards. Every trailer or semi-trailer shall be equipped with adequate fenders to cover the tires, except when the construction of the trailer or semitrailer is such that the body, bed, load, or load-carrying area covers the tires. Semitrailers operated in intercity movement and not equipped with dump bodies shall have sufficient mud guards as specified in s. 347.46 (2), Stats., unless exempted under s. 347.46 (2) (c), Stats.

Trans 305.53 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.

Trans 305.54 Trans 305.54 Frames on heavy trucks, trailers and semi-trailers.

Trans 305.54(1) (1) No frame may be repaired, modified or altered, nor may additional support be added to a frame, if the structural integrity or alignment of the vehicle is adversely affected.

Trans 305.54(2) (2) No frame may be rusted, damaged or cracked to the extent that it no longer properly supports the vehicle or the load carried on the vehicle.

Trans 305.54(3) (3) No vehicle may be operated on a highway which is noticeably out of alignment.

Trans 305.54 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.

Trans 305.55 Trans 305.55 Lighting devices.

Trans 305.55(1) (1) Every vehicle shall be equipped with all lamps and reflectors required by ch. 347, Stats., and this section. Required lamps shall be capable of being operated at all times.

Trans 305.55(2) (2) Every vehicle shall be equipped with clearance lamps, sidemarker lamps and reflectors as follows:

Trans 305.55(2)(a) (a) Truck tractors and road tractors shall be equipped with 2 clearance lamps on the front of the vehicle and with an amber side marker lamp on each side of the vehicle as far to the front as practicable.

Trans 305.55(2)(b) (b) Motor trucks, trailers and semitrailers whose overall width is more than 80 inches shall be equipped with 2 clearance lamps on the front and 2 clearance lamps on the rear of the vehicle; 2 reflectors on the rear of the vehicle; and on each side of the vehicle, 2 side marker lamps mounted so as to identify as nearly as possible the extreme length of the vehicle.

Trans 305.55(2)(c) (c) Motor trucks, trailers and semitrailers whose overall width is 80 inches or less shall be equipped with 2 reflectors on the rear of the vehicle and on each side of the vehicle, 2 side marker lamps mounted so as to identify as nearly as possible the extreme length of the vehicle.

Trans 305.55(2)(d) (d) Clearance lamps, sidemarker lamps and reflectors shall conform to the color, mounting and visibility requirements specified in ss. 347.17, 347.18 and 347.19, Stats.

Trans 305.55(3) (3) Three identification lamps shall be mounted horizontally at the vertical center line on the front and rear of every motor truck which is 80 or more inches in overall width, on the front of every truck tractor or road tractor which is 80 or more inches in overall width, and on the rear of every trailer or semitrailer which is 80 or more inches in overall width. A truck tractor or road tractor need not be equipped with rear identification lamps. The lamps shall be mounted as close as practicable to the top of the vehicle and at the same height. The color of front identification lamps shall be amber and the color of rear identification lamps shall be red.

Trans 305.55(4) (4) All lamps shall be permanently and securely mounted on a permanent part of the vehicle, except that temporary lamps mounted on projecting loads need not be permanently mounted.

Trans 305.55(5) (5) Reflectorized material extending across the full width of the vehicle which meets the mounting and visibility specifications of ss. 347.18 and 347.19, Stats., may be used in lieu of the reflectors required by s. 347.16, Stats.

Trans 305.55 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.

Trans 305.56 Trans 305.56 Rear end protection.

Trans 305.56(1) (1) Every vehicle, except truck tractors, pole trailers and vehicles engaged in automobile haulaway operations, manufactured after December 31, 1952 which is so constructed that the body or the chassis assembly, if without a body, has a clearance at the rear end of more than 30 inches from the ground when empty, shall be provided with bumpers or devices serving similar purposes which shall be so constructed and located that:

Trans 305.56(1)(a) (a) The clearance between the effective bottom of the bumpers or devices and the ground may not exceed 30 inches with the vehicle empty.

Trans 305.56(1)(b) (b) The maximum distance between bumpers, or devices, if more than one is used, may not exceed 24 inches.

Trans 305.56(1)(c) (c) The maximum transverse distance from the widest part of the vehicle at the rear to the bumper or device may not exceed 18 inches.

Trans 305.56(1)(d) (d) The bumper or device shall be located not more than 24 inches forward of the extreme rear of the vehicle.

Trans 305.56(2) (2) Bumpers or other protective devices shall be substantially constructed and firmly attached. No vehicle may be operated with missing, broken or weakened parts so as to render any required protective device ineffective.

Trans 305.56(3) (3) Motor trucks, truck tractors and road tractors constructed and maintained so that the body, chassis or other parts of the motor vehicle provide the rear end protection required by this section shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section.

Trans 305.56 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.

Trans 305.57 Trans 305.57 Suspension system on heavy trucks, trailers and semitrailers.

Trans 305.57(1) (1) All parts of the suspension system of a heavy truck, trailer or semitrailer, including the springs, shackles, shock absorbers and cross stabilization linkage, including torsion bars, air lines, air valves, air bags and all attachment parts, shall be in proper adjustment.

Trans 305.57(2) (2) No heavy truck, trailer or semitrailer may have any loose, disconnected, leaking or broken suspension parts.

Trans 305.57(3) (3) The suspension system of a heavy truck, trailer or semitrailer may not cause the vehicle to track noticeably out of alignment with the towing unit.

Trans 305.57 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.

Trans 305.58 Trans 305.58 Wiring.

Trans 305.58(1) (1) Wiring for both low tension and high tension circuits shall be constructed and installed so as to function reliably and adequately.

Trans 305.58(2) (2) Required lamps shall be connected to the power source with stranded wire.

Trans 305.58(3) (3) Wiring shall, when possible, be grouped together and protected by tape, braid, sheath, tube or other covering capable of withstanding surface abrasion.

Trans 305.58(4) (4) Wiring shall be properly supported.

Trans 305.58(5) (5) Wiring may not be located where it is likely to be charred, overheated or enmeshed in moving parts.

Trans 305.58(6) (6) The edges of all holes in metal through which the wiring passes, unless the wiring is metal covered, shall be rolled or bushed with a grommet of rubber or other suitable material.

Trans 305.58 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.