AB284: Bill Text

LRB-2823/1

EVM:jld:ph

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly BILL 284

August 7, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Spiros, Ripp, Ballweg, Brooks, Murphy, Vruwink and Weatherston, cosponsored by Senators Petrowski, Lassa and Olsen. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB284,1,4 An Act to renumber and amend 348.08 (1) (a); to amend 348.07 (4); and to create 348.01 (2) (au), (ay) and (bv) and 348.08 (1) (a) 1. and 2. of the statutes; relating to: the length limit for certain vehicle combinations operated on the highway without a permit.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, no person may operate on a highway any single vehicle with an overall length in excess of 45 feet or any combination of two vehicles with an overall length in excess of 70 feet, unless a specific exception applies or the person has a permit to exceed these lengths. Current law also generally prohibits any person from driving a vehicle on a highway while towing two or more vehicles unless the driver possesses a permit. One exception allows two or three vehicles to be towed, without a permit, when they are being transported by the drive-away method in saddlemount combination and the overall length of the vehicle combination does not exceed 75 feet. The term "saddlemount combination" is neither defined nor described by statute, but the Department of Transportation (DOT) defines it by rule as a combination of vehicles in which a truck or truck tractor tows one or more trucks or truck tractors, each connected by a saddle to the vehicle in front of it; the towed vehicles essentially piggyback the power unit or one another.

This bill increases, from 75 feet to 97 feet, the length limit on certain highways for vehicle combinations, operated without a permit, involving two or three towed vehicles being transported by the drive-away method in saddlemount combination. The increased length limit of 97 feet applies to these vehicle combinations when operating on a highway designated by DOT as a long truck route or designated by DOT as part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, but the current length limit of 75 feet applies to these vehicle combinations when operating on any other highway. The bill defines "drive-away method in saddlemount combination" as a vehicle combination designed and specifically used to tow up to three trucks or truck tractors, each connected by a saddle to the frame or fifth-wheel of the forward vehicle of the truck or truck tractor in front of it, and including not more than one fullmount. A "fullmount" is a smaller vehicle mounted completely on the frame of either the first or last vehicle in a saddlemount combination. A "saddle" is a mechanism that connects the front axle of a towed vehicle to the frame or fifth-wheel of the vehicle in front and functions like a fifth-wheel kingpin connection.

For further information see the state 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:

AB284,1 Section 1. 348.01 (2) (au), (ay) and (bv) of the statutes are created to read:

AB284,2,5 348.01 (2) (au) "Drive-away method in saddlemount combination" means a vehicle combination designed and specifically used to tow up to 3 trucks or truck tractors, each connected by a saddle to the frame or 5th-wheel of the forward vehicle of the truck or truck tractor in front of it, and including not more than one fullmount.

AB284,2,7 (ay) "Fullmount" means a smaller vehicle mounted completely on the frame of either the first or last vehicle in a saddlemount combination.

AB284,2,10 (bv) "Saddle" means a mechanism that connects the front axle of a towed vehicle to the frame or 5th-wheel of the vehicle in front and functions like a 5th-wheel kingpin connection.

AB284,2 Section 2. 348.07 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB284,3,15 348.07 (4) The secretary shall, by rule, designate the highways to which sub. (2) (f), (fm), and (gm) and s. 348.08 (1) (a) 2. and (e) apply. The designation of highways under this subsection may not be inconsistent with the designation of highways made by the U.S. secretary of transportation under P.L. 97-424, section 411. The secretary may also designate additional highways by rule. In adopting a rule designating other highways, which may include 2-lane highways, the secretary shall specify the factors which resulted in the determination to designate the highways. These factors shall include, but are not limited to, safety, economics, energy savings, industry productivity and competition. Vehicles to which sub. (2) (f), (fm), and (gm) and s. 348.08 (1) (a) 2. and (e) apply may also operate on highways not designated under this subsection for a distance of 15 miles or less in order to obtain access to a highway designated under this subsection or to reach fuel, food, maintenance, repair, rest, staging, terminal or vehicle assembly facilities or points of loading or unloading. The secretary may, by rule, designate an access route of more than 15 miles from a highway designated under this subsection when the longer route provides safer and better access to a location which is within the 15-mile limit. Household goods carriers may operate between highways designated under this subsection and points of loading and unloading.

AB284,3 Section 3. 348.08 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 348.08 (1) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB284,3,21 348.08 (1) (a) (intro.) Two or 3 vehicles may, without such permit, be drawn or attached when such vehicles are being transported by the drive-away method in saddlemount combination and the overall length of such combination of vehicles does not exceed the following:

AB284,3,22 3. When operating on a highway not identified in subd. 1. or 2., 75 feet.

AB284,4 Section 4. 348.08 (1) (a) 1. and 2. of the statutes are created to read:

AB284,3,25 348.08 (1) (a) 1. When operating on a highway designated as part of the national system of interstate and defense highways under s. 84.29, 97 feet.

AB284,4,1 2. When operating on a highway designated under s. 348.07 (4), 97 feet.

AB284,5 Section 5. Initial applicability.

AB284,4,4 (1) This act first applies to vehicles operated on the effective date of this subsection.

AB284,4,5 (End)