ARG:sac:jf
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
August 7, 2013 - Introduced by Senators Petrowski, Lassa and Olsen, cosponsored
by Representatives Spiros, Ripp, Ballweg, Brooks, Murphy, Vruwink and
Weatherston. Referred to Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and
Veterans and Military Affairs.
SB246,1,3 1An Act to amend 348.07 (2) (g), 348.07 (2) (gv) and 348.07 (4); and to create
2348.07 (2) (gr) of the statutes; relating to: the length of vehicles that may be
3operated on the highway without an overlength 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 (vehicle
combination) with an overall length in excess of 70 feet, unless a specific exception
applies or the person has a permit to exceed these lengths. Prior to the enactment
of 2011 Wisconsin Act 243, effective November 1, 2012, there was an exception to the
general single vehicle length limit for each of the following:
1. A semitrailer operated as part of a vehicle combination if the semitrailer did
not exceed 53 feet, its kingpin-to-axle length did not exceed 43 feet, and it was
operated on a highway designated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) as a
long truck route or operated for not more than 15 miles on a highway providing access
to a long truck route or to certain services.
2. A semitrailer operated as part of a vehicle combination if the semitrailer did
not exceed 53 feet, its kingpin-to-axle length did not exceed 43 feet, and it was
operated on the state trunk highway system except those parts designated by DOT
by rule as ineligible for this length limit.
2011 Wisconsin Act 243 expanded the exception identified as 2., above, to also
apply to highways that are not state trunk highways and repealed the exception
identified as 1., above.

This bill recreates the exception identified as 1., above, effective retroactively
to the effective date of 2011 Wisconsin Act 243.
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:
SB246,1 1Section 1. 348.07 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB246,2,32 348.07 (2) (g) 48 feet for a semitrailer or trailer operated as part of a 2-vehicle
3combination, except as provided in par. (gr) or (gv).
SB246,2 4Section 2. 348.07 (2) (gr) of the statutes is created to read:
SB246,2,85 348.07 (2) (gr) 53 feet for a semitrailer whose length from kingpin to axle does
6not exceed 43 feet and which is operated as part of a 2-vehicle combination on a
7highway designated under sub. (4). The length limits in this paragraph do not apply
8to a trailer or a semitrailer that is authorized to operate under par. (im).
SB246,3 9Section 3. 348.07 (2) (gv) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB246,2,1310 348.07 (2) (gv) 53 feet for a semitrailer whose length from kingpin to axle does
11not exceed 43 feet and which is operated as part of a 2-vehicle combination, except
12as provided in par. (gr) or sub. (4m). The length limits in this paragraph do not apply
13to a trailer or a semitrailer that is authorized to operate under par. (im).
SB246,4 14Section 4. 348.07 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB246,3,1215 348.07 (4) The secretary shall, by rule, designate the highways to which sub.
16(2) (f), (fm), and (gm), and (gr) and s. 348.08 (1) (e) apply. The designation of highways
17under this subsection may not be inconsistent with the designation of highways
18made by the U.S. secretary of transportation under P.L. 97-424, section 411. The
19secretary may also designate additional highways by rule. In adopting a rule
20designating other highways, which may include 2-lane highways, the secretary

1shall specify the factors which resulted in the determination to designate the
2highways. These factors shall include, but are not limited to, safety, economics,
3energy savings, industry productivity and competition. Vehicles to which sub. (2) (f),
4(fm), and (gm), and (gr) and s. 348.08 (1) (e) apply may also operate on highways not
5designated under this subsection for a distance of 15 miles or less in order to obtain
6access to a highway designated under this subsection or to reach fuel, food,
7maintenance, repair, rest, staging, terminal or vehicle assembly facilities or points
8of loading or unloading. The secretary may, by rule, designate an access route of more
9than 15 miles from a highway designated under this subsection when the longer
10route provides safer and better access to a location which is within the 15-mile limit.
11Household goods carriers may operate between highways designated under this
12subsection and points of loading and unloading.
SB246,5 13Section 5. Initial applicability.
SB246,3,1514 (1) This act first applies, retroactively, to vehicles operated on November 1,
152012.
SB246,3,1616 (End)
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