2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE
December 29, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Petrowski, Ainsworth,
Albers, Bies, Hahn, Hines
and Kestell, cosponsored by Senators A. Lasee and
Kedzie. Referred to Committee on Highway Safety.
AB898,1,4 1An Act to amend 194.01 (2), 194.41 (1), 194.46, 346.95 (4), 348.26 (2) and 348.28
2(1); and to create 346.45 (1) (f), 346.924, 346.94 (8s), 346.95 (9), 348.26 (4m) and
3348.27 (12m) of the statutes; relating to: transporting buildings on the
4highways and providing penalties.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, with limited exceptions, a person who transports
passengers or property for hire by motor vehicle on the highways (motor carrier)
must operate under a certificate or license (certificate of authority) issued by the
Department of Transportation (DOT) or issued under federal law authorizing
operation of a vehicle as a motor carrier. Various state laws govern motor carriers,
regardless of whether the motor carrier is operating a commercial motor vehicle
(CMV). Federal law, including federal motor carrier safety standards, also governs
certain motor carriers and DOT has authority under state law to promulgate rules
regulating the operation of all motor carriers, including rules implementing federal
motor carrier safety standards for motor carriers operating in intrastate commerce.
Under current law, with certain exceptions, no person may operate a CMV
unless the person holds a commercial driver license (CDL). A CMV is a motor vehicle
designed or used to transport passengers or property and that is, among other things,
a single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, registered weight, or actual gross
weight of more than 26,000 pounds or a vehicle combination with a gross
combination weight rating, registered weight, or actual gross weight of more than
26,000 pounds (inclusive of a towed unit of more than 10,000 pounds).

Current law also imposes size, weight, and load limits on vehicles that travel
on the highways. DOT and local highway officials may issue certain permits
authorizing the permittee to operate a vehicle that exceeds these limits on vehicle
size, weight, or load.
This bill prohibits a person from operating a vehicle transporting a building on
a highway unless all of the following apply: the vehicle is a CMV and the person holds
a CDL; and the vehicle is operated under a valid motor carrier certificate of authority,
for which all motor carrier insurance requirements are satisfied. For purposes of this
prohibition, "building" means a dwelling or other structure (structure) or portion
thereof that, when measured to the extreme points of the farther of the structure or
the vehicle on which it is loaded, is more than 12 feet wide, more than 14 feet 3 inches
in height, or more than 100 feet long; that is transportable as a whole or in sections;
and that is raised and supported from an existing foundation and then moved and
placed on a permanent foundation. "Building" does not include a modular home or
manufactured home. A person who violates this prohibition is subject to a forfeiture
of $500 to $5,000 for each violation. In addition, a person may not operate a vehicle
transporting a building on a highway if any person is in the building. A person
violating this prohibition is subject to a forfeiture of $20 for the first offense and $50
for each subsequent offense. A person operating a vehicle transporting a building
must also stop the vehicle at any at-grade railroad crossing, and must forfeit not less
than $60 nor more than $600 for a violation of this requirement.
Under the bill, DOT may issue annual or consecutive month oversize permits
for vehicles transporting buildings on any highway. DOT and local highway officials
may issue single trip oversize permits for vehicles transporting buildings on
highways under their respective jurisdictions. DOT and local highway officials may
not issue these permits unless: the applicant identifies each potential operator of a
vehicle under the permit and provides proof that each such operator holds a valid
CDL, with any required endorsement; the applicant provides proof of a valid motor
carrier certificate of authority for each vehicle to be used to transport a building
under the permit; and the applicant files with DOT a certificate of comprehensive
general liability insurance with a total limit of not less than $500,000, in addition to
the motor vehicle liability insurance required of all motor carriers (with an
applicable total limit of not less than $750,000). In addition, DOT and local highway
officials may impose reasonable conditions on these permits and may deny these
permits for specified reasons.
The bill also specifies that vehicles transporting buildings for hire on the
highways are motor carriers, makes certain property damage insurance
requirements mandatory for these motor carriers, and allows DOT to suspend,
revoke, or alter any certificate of authority issued by DOT to such a motor carrier
based upon certain violations occurring while transporting a building.
The requirements of the bill are in addition to any applicable requirements
imposed on motor carriers, CDL holders, CMV operators, or oversize vehicle
permittees under current state or federal law.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB898, s. 1 1Section 1. 194.01 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB898,3,52 194.01 (2) "Contract motor carrier" means any person engaged in the
3transportation by motor vehicle over a regular or irregular route upon the public
4highways of property for hire, including the transportation of buildings, as defined
5in s. 348.27 (12m) (a) 1
.
AB898, s. 2 6Section 2. 194.41 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB898,4,167 194.41 (1) No permit or vehicle registration may be issued to a common motor
8carrier of property, contract motor carrier, or rental company, no permit or vehicle
9registration may remain in force to operate any motor vehicle under the authority
10of this chapter, and no vehicle registration may be issued or remain in force for a
11semitrailer unless the carrier or rental company has on file with the department and
12in effect an approved certificate for a policy of insurance or other written contract in
13such form and containing such terms and conditions as may be approved by the
14department issued by an insurer authorized to do a surety or automobile liability
15business in this state under which the insurer assumes the liability prescribed by
16this section with respect to the operation of such motor vehicles. The certificate or
17other contract is subject to the approval of the department and shall provide that the
18insurer shall be directly liable for and shall pay all damages for injuries to or for the
19death of persons or for injuries to or destruction of property that may be recovered
20against the owner or operator of any such motor vehicles by reason of the negligent
21operation thereof in such amount as the department may require. Liability may be

1restricted so as to be inapplicable to damage claims on account of injury to or
2destruction of property transported, but the department may require , and with
3respect to a carrier transporting a building, as defined in s. 348.27 (12m) (a) 1., shall
4require,
a certificate or other contract protecting the owner of the property
5transported by carriers from loss or damage in the amount and under the conditions
6as the department may require. No permit or vehicle registration may be issued to
7a common motor carrier of passengers by any motor vehicle, or other carrier of
8passengers by motor bus, except those registered in accordance with s. 341.26 (2) (a)
9and (d), and no permit or vehicle registration may remain in force to operate any
10motor vehicle unless it has on file with the department a like certificate or other
11contract in the form and containing the terms and conditions as may be approved by
12the department for the payment of damages for injuries to property and injuries to
13or for the death of persons, including passengers, in the amounts as the department
14may require. This subsection does not apply to a motor carrier that is registered by
15another state under a single-state registration system consistent with the standards
16under 49 USC 14504.
AB898, s. 3 17Section 3. 194.46 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB898,5,5 18194.46 Amendment, suspension, or revocation of certificate, license, or
19permit; hearing.
The department may at any time, by its order duly entered after
20a hearing had, upon notice to the holder of any certificate, license , or permit under
21this chapter and an opportunity to be heard, at which it shall be proved that the
22holder has willfully violated or refused to comply with any of the provisions of this
23chapter or s. 346.924, or any orders or rules of the department, alter, amend,
24suspend, or revoke the certificate, license, or permit. The department may suspend
25or revoke a certificate, license, or permit under this chapter if, after providing the

1holder thereof notice and an opportunity to be heard on the matter, the department
2finds that service under the certificate, license, or permit has been abandoned. A
3person who is aggrieved by an order of the department under this section may, within
420 days after the date that the order is issued, request a review of the order by the
5division of hearings and appeals.
AB898, s. 4 6Section 4. 346.45 (1) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,5,87 346.45 (1) (f) Every vehicle transporting a building, as defined in s. 348.27
8(12m) (a) 1.
AB898, s. 5 9Section 5. 346.924 of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,5,12 10346.924 Transporting buildings on highways. No person may operate a
11vehicle transporting a building, as defined in s. 348.27 (12m) (a) 1., on a highway
12unless all of the following apply:
AB898,5,14 13(1) The vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle and the person holds a valid
14commercial driver license.
AB898,5,17 15(2) The vehicle is operated under a valid motor carrier certificate or license of
16authority issued under ch. 194 or under applicable federal law, and all insurance
17requirements applicable to the vehicle under s. 194.41 or federal law are satisfied.
AB898, s. 6 18Section 6. 346.94 (8s) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,5,2119 346.94 (8s) Transporting persons in buildings. No person may operate a
20vehicle transporting a building, as defined in s. 348.27 (12m) (a) 1., on a highway if
21any person is in the building.
AB898, s. 7 22Section 7. 346.95 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB898,5,2523 346.95 (4) Any person violating s. 346.923, 346.925, or 346.94 (8) or, (8m), or
24(8s)
may be required to forfeit not more than $20 for the first offense and not more
25than $50 for each subsequent offense.
AB898, s. 8
1Section 8. 346.95 (9) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,6,32 346.95 (9) Any person violating s. 346.924 may be required to forfeit not less
3than $500 nor more than $5,000. Each violation constitutes a separate offense.
AB898, s. 9 4Section 9. 348.26 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB898,6,165 348.26 (2) Permits for oversize or overweight vehicles or loads. Except as
6provided in sub. subs. (4) and (4m), single trip permits for oversize or overweight
7vehicles or loads may be issued by the department for use of the state trunk highways
8and by the officer in charge of maintenance of the highway to be used in the case of
9other highways. Such local officials also may issue such single trip permits for use
10of state trunk highways within the county or municipality which they represent.
11Every single trip permit shall designate the route to be used by the permittee.
12Whenever the officer or agency issuing such permit deems it necessary to have a
13traffic officer escort the vehicle through the municipality or county, a reasonable fee
14for such traffic officer's services shall be paid by the permittee. All moneys received
15from fees imposed by the department under this subsection shall be deposited in the
16general fund and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.395 (5) (dg).
AB898, s. 10 17Section 10. 348.26 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,6,1918 348.26 (4m) Permits for vehicles transporting certain buildings. (a) In this
19subsection:
AB898,6,2020 1. "Building" has the meaning given in s. 348.27 (12m) (a) 1.
AB898,6,2121 2. "Vehicle" has the meaning given in s. 348.27 (12m) (a) 2.
AB898,7,822 (b) Single trip permits issued under sub. (2) for vehicles transporting buildings
23may not be issued by local officials for use of state trunk highways. The requirements
24for issuance of a permit under s. 348.27 (12m) (c) shall also apply to issuance of a
25permit under sub. (2) for a vehicle transporting a building on the highways, and the

1department and those local officials who are authorized to issue permits under sub.
2(2) may not issue a permit under sub. (2) for a vehicle transporting a building unless
3these requirements are satisfied. The department and those local officials who are
4authorized to issue permits under sub. (2) may deny a permit under sub. (2) for a
5vehicle transporting a building if the department or local official finds that any of the
6circumstances specified in s. 348.27 (12m) (d) applies. The provisions of this
7subsection apply in addition to any other requirement imposed under this chapter,
8chs. 194, 343, 346, and 347, and federal law.
AB898, s. 11 9Section 11. 348.27 (12m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB898,7,1110 348.27 (12m) Permits for vehicles transporting certain buildings. (a) In
11this subsection:
AB898,7,1812 1. a. "Building" means a dwelling or other structure or portion of a dwelling or
13other structure that, when measured as provided in subd. 1. b., is more than 12 feet
14wide, more than 14 feet 3 inches in height, or more than 100 feet long; that is
15transportable as a whole or in sections; and that is raised and supported from an
16existing foundation to be moved and placed on a permanent foundation at a new
17location where the dwelling or other structure is to be delivered. "Building" does not
18include a modular housing unit or a manufactured home as defined in s. 101.91 (2).
AB898,7,2219 b. For purposes of subd. 1. a., width shall be measured from the farthest
20extremity of the vehicle and load on each side, height shall be measured from the
21ground to the highest point of the vehicle and load, and length shall be measured
22from the rearmost point of the vehicle and load to the frontmost point of the vehicle.
AB898,7,2323 2. "Vehicle" includes a combination of vehicles.
AB898,8,3
1(b) The department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for
2vehicles transporting buildings on the highways. A permit under this subsection
3may be issued only by the department, regardless of the highways to be used.
AB898,8,54 (c) The department may not issue a permit under this subsection unless the
5department determines that all of the following requirements are met:
AB898,8,96 1. The applicant identifies each potential operator of a vehicle under the permit
7and provides proof that each such operator holds a valid commercial driver license,
8with any endorsement required under ch. 343 for operation of the class and type of
9vehicle to be used to transport a building under the permit.
AB898,8,1210 2. The applicant provides proof of a valid motor carrier certificate or license of
11authority issued under ch. 194 or under federal law applicable for each vehicle to be
12used to transport a building under the permit.
AB898,8,1913 3. The applicant provides proof, by a certificate of insurance filed with the
14department, that the applicant, in addition to satisfying the insurance requirements
15described in s. 346.924 (2), maintains a policy of comprehensive general liability
16insurance, issued by an insurer authorized to transact business in this state, that
17provides bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage,
18including for building collapse and underground property damage, with a total limit
19of not less than $500,000 for each occurrence.
AB898,8,2120 (d) The department may deny any application for a permit under this
21subsection if the department finds any of the following:
AB898,8,2422 1. That the applicant, or any potential operator identified in par. (c) 1., has been
23convicted, within 3 years immediately preceding the date of application, of a
24violation of s. 346.924.
AB898,9,2
12. That the applicant, or any potential operator identified in par. (c) 1., has
2engaged in conduct endangering the safety of persons using the highways.
AB898,9,53 3. That the applicant has failed to provide reimbursement for damage, which
4is not paid for by the applicant's insurer, to a highway caused while transporting a
5building under a permit under this subsection.
AB898,9,86 4. That the applicant, or any potential operator identified in par. (c) 1., has
7abandoned a building on a highway or on public or private property without
8permission of the property owner.
AB898,9,109 (e) The provisions of this subsection apply in addition to any other requirement
10imposed under this chapter, chs. 194, 343, 346, and 347, and federal law.
AB898, s. 12 11Section 12. 348.28 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB898,9,1312 348.28 (1) Permits issued under ss. 348.25, 348.26 and 348.27 (1) to (10), and
13(12) and to (13) shall be carried on the vehicle during operations so permitted.
AB898, s. 13 14Section 13. Effective date.
AB898,9,1615 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after
16publication.
AB898,9,1717 (End)
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