SIZE AND LOAD
348.05
348.05
Width of vehicles. 348.05(1)(1) No person without a permit therefor shall operate on a highway any vehicle having a total width in excess of 8 feet 6 inches, except as otherwise provided in this section.
348.05(2)
(2) The following vehicles may be operated without a permit for excessive width if the total outside width does not exceed the indicated limitations:
348.05(2)(a)
(a) No limitation for implements of husbandry temporarily operated upon a highway in the course of performance of its work;
348.05(2)(b)
(b) No limitation for snowplows operated by or for a governmental agency;
348.05(2)(c)
(c) Twelve feet for farm tractors, except that the total outside width of a farm tractor shall not exceed 9 feet when operated on any Wisconsin highway, other than that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78 and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage upon their federal designation as I 39, which is a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways;
348.05(2)(d)
(d) Ten feet 6 inches for snowplows attached to motor vehicles normally used for the transportation of milk;
348.05(2)(f)
(f) Eight feet 8 inches for urban passenger buses;
348.05(2)(i)
(i) A realistic body width of 8 feet 6 inches for mobile homes.
348.05(2)(k)
(k) Nine feet for loads of tie logs, tie slabs and veneer logs, provided that no part of the load shall extend more than 6 inches beyond the fender line on the left side of the vehicle or extend more than 10 inches beyond the fender line on the right side of the vehicle. The term "fender line" as used herein means as defined in
s. 348.09. This paragraph shall not be applicable to transport on highways designated as parts of the national system of interstate and defense highways pursuant to
s. 84.29.
348.05(2)(L)
(L) Twelve feet for loads of hay in bales and, from September 15 to December 15 of each year, for loads of Christmas trees from the point of harvesting or staging to a Christmas tree yard or point of commercial shipment, if the total outside width of the loads do not exceed the width of a single traffic lane of any highway over which the loads are carried. This paragraph does not apply to vehicles on highways designated as parts of the national system of interstate and defense highways under
s. 84.29.
348.05(2m)
(2m) The secretary, by rule, shall designate safety devices which may not be included in the calculation of width under
subs. (1) and
(2). The designation of safety devices under this subsection may not be inconsistent with the safety devices designated by the U.S. secretary of transportation under
P.L. 97-369, section 321.
348.05(3)
(3) Overwidth farm machinery. Farm tractors exceeding 12 feet in width and all other farm machinery and implements of husbandry exceeding 8 feet 6 inches in width not being operated in the course of performance of its work may be moved, towed or hauled over the highways without a special permit issued under
s. 348.27 (14) between one-half hour before sunrise and sunset on Mondays to Thursdays and from one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. on Fridays. Such overwidth machinery shall not be moved, towed or hauled on any Wisconsin highway, other than any overwidth machinery that is not a commercial motor vehicle on that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78 and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage upon their federal designation as I 39, which is part of the national system of interstate and defense highways without a special permit issued under
s. 348.27 (14).
348.05(4)
(4) Notwithstanding
sub. (1), the secretary may restrict vehicles to a width of less than 8 feet 6 inches on any portion of any state or local highway if he or she deems such restriction necessary to protect the public safety. Any such restriction shall be indicated by official signs. If the secretary restricts vehicles to a width of less than 8 feet 6 inches on any local highway, the local authority in charge of maintenance shall be responsible for erecting the appropriate signs on the local highway.
348.06
348.06
Height of vehicles. 348.06(1)(1) No person, without a permit therefor, shall operate on a highway any motor vehicle, mobile home, trailer or semitrailer having an overall height in excess of 13 1/2 feet, except as otherwise provided in
sub. (2).
348.06(2)
(2) The following vehicles may be operated without a permit for excessive height if the overall height does not exceed the indicated limitations:
348.06(2)(a)
(a) No limitation for implements of husbandry temporarily operated upon a highway;
348.06(3)
(3) The limitations on total height stated in this section shall not be construed as requiring a clearance of such height or as relieving the owners of vehicles not exceeding such total height from liability for any damage.
348.07
348.07
Length of vehicles. 348.07(1)(1) No person, without a permit therefor, may operate on a highway any single vehicle with an overall length in excess of 40 feet or any combination of 2 vehicles with an overall length in excess of 65 feet, except as otherwise provided in
subs. (2) and
(2a).
348.07(2)
(2) The following vehicles may be operated without a permit for excessive length if the overall length does not exceed the indicated limitations:
348.07(2)(e)
(e) No limitation for implements of husbandry temporarily operated upon a highway;
348.07(2)(f)
(f) No overall length limitation for a tractor-semitrailer combination, a double bottom or an automobile haulaway when such tractor-semitrailer combination, double bottom or automobile haulaway is operated on a highway designated under
sub. (4).
348.07(2)(fm)
(fm) No length limitation for a truck tractor or road tractor when such truck tractor or road tractor is operated in a tractor-semitrailer combination or as part of a double bottom or an automobile haulaway on a highway designated under
sub. (4).
348.07(2)(g)
(g) 48 feet for a semitrailer or trailer operated as part of a 2-vehicle combination, except as provided in
par. (gr).
348.07(2)(gm)
(gm) 28 feet 6 inches for a semitrailer or trailer operated as part of a double bottom.
348.07(2)(gr)
(gr) 53 feet for a semitrailer whose length from kingpin to axle does not exceed 43 feet and which is operated as part of a 2-vehicle combination on a highway designated under
sub. (4).
348.07(2)(h)
(h) 65 feet for articulated buses operated in urban areas.
348.07(2)(i)
(i) 58 feet for a vehicle combination consisting of a motor bus and trailer owned and operated by, and for the exclusive use of a nonprofit organization. This paragraph does not apply to trailers used for transporting recreational vehicles. As used in this paragraph, "nonprofit organization" means any organization described in section
501 (c) (3) of the internal revenue code which is exempt from federal income tax under section
501 (a) of the internal revenue code.
348.07(2)(j)
(j) 66 feet for an automobile haulaway plus an additional overhang of 4 feet to the front of the vehicle and 5 feet to the rear of the vehicle.
348.07(2a)
(2a) Tour trains consisting of 4 vehicles including the propelling motor vehicle may be operated as provided in
s. 348.08 (1) (c).
348.07(3)(a)(a) The overall length of a mobile home shall be measured from the rear thereof to the rear of the vehicle to which it is attached.
348.07(3)(b)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 2., the length of a semitrailer or trailer shall be measured from the front thereof to the rear of the semitrailer or trailer or cargo, whichever is longer, excluding bumpers, stake pockets, air deflectors and refrigeration units.
348.07(3)(b)2.
2. The length of a semitrailer operated as the first trailing unit in a double bottom consisting of a truck tractor and 2 semitrailers does not include a frame extension bearing a fifth-wheel connection by which the 2nd trailing unit is drawn unless the frame extension is more than 8 feet in length. This subdivision does not affect the measurement of length from the front of the semitrailer to the rear of the cargo.
348.07(3)(c)
(c) The distance between a kingpin and semitrailer axle shall be measured as follows:
348.07(3)(c)1.
1. On a semitrailer having a tandem axle, from the kingpin to a point midway between the first and last axles of the tandem axle.
348.07(3)(c)2.
2. On a semitrailer not having a tandem axle, from the kingpin to the center of the rearmost axle.
348.07(4)
(4) The secretary shall, by rule, designate the highways to which
sub. (2) (f),
(fm),
(gm) and
(gr) and
s. 348.08 (1) (e) and
(h) 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),
(gm) and
(gr) and
s. 348.08 (1) (e) and
(h) apply may also operate on undesignated highways for a distance of 5 miles or less in order to obtain access to a designated highway 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 5 miles from a designated highway when the longer route provides safer and better access to a location which is within the 5-mile limit. Household goods carriers may operate between highways designated in this subsection and points of loading and unloading.
348.07(5)
(5) As often as it deems necessary, the department shall publish maps required for its own use and for free distribution showing the highways designated under
sub. (4) and such other main highways and other features as the department deems desirable.
348.08(1)(1) No person, without a permit therefor shall operate on a highway any motor vehicle drawing or having attached thereto more than one vehicle, except that:
348.08(1)(a)
(a) 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 65 feet.
348.08(1)(b)
(b) Two trailers used primarily as implements of husbandry in connection with seasonal agricultural activities or one such trailer and any other implement of husbandry may, without such permit, be drawn by a farm tractor if the operation of such combination of vehicles is exclusively a farming operation and not for the transportation of property for hire and if the overall length of such combination of vehicles does not exceed 60 feet.
348.08(1)(c)
(c) "Tour trains," as defined in
s. 340.01 (67m), may, without such permit, be drawn by a motor vehicle upon and along county and municipal roads and streets and across state trunk highways, and upon and along state trunk highways where there are no alternate municipal or county routes or streets for such operation. The following requirements and restrictions shall apply to "tour train" operations:
348.08(1)(c)1.
1. Tour trains shall operate within a radius of 10 miles from the situs of the beginning and ending of the excursion.
348.08(1)(c)2.
2. Tour trains shall operate only along those portions of the state trunk highway system approved by the department.
348.08(1)(c)3.
3. The towing vehicle shall be of such design and construction that it will safely tow the unit at speeds up to 35 m.p.h. and the towing vehicle shall in no case be a farm-type tractor, but shall be a motor vehicle originally designed and manufactured expressly for operation upon public highways.
348.08(1)(c)5.
5. Tour trains shall be equipped with head lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, directional signal lamps and reflectors as provided in
ch. 347 and in compliance with these provisions as if the train were a single motor vehicle.
348.08(1)(c)6.
6. All hitches, couplings, safety chains or cables shall be in compliance with
s. 347.47.
348.08(1)(d)
(d) Two trailers transporting empty pressurized or nonpressurized tanks used for hauling or storing liquid agricultural fertilizer or 2 implements of husbandry, including 2 empty trailers used primarily as implements of husbandry in connection with seasonal agricultural activities, may, without such permit, be drawn by a motor truck or truck tractor if the overall length of such combination of vehicles and load does not exceed 60 feet. For purposes of this paragraph, "empty" means less than 20% full.
348.08(1)(f)
(f) A double bottom transporting dairy products from the point of production to the first point of processing may operate on any highway not designated under
s. 348.07 (4) if the overall length of such double bottom does not exceed 60 feet. If the double bottom operates on a highway designated under
s. 348.07 (4),
s. 348.07 (2) (f),
(fm) and
(gm) applies.
348.08(1)(g)
(g) Three trailers containing only warning signs used exclusively for highway maintenance or construction purposes may, without a permit, be drawn by a motor truck if the overall length of the combination of vehicles does not exceed 60 feet.
348.08(1)(h)
(h) Two new trailers or semitrailers to be used for transporting farm products or livestock may, without such permit, be drawn by a motor truck not exceeding 25 feet in length if each trailer or semitrailer is 28 feet 6 inches or less in length and the trailers or semitrailers are being transported directly from a manufacturer to a dealer or directly from a dealer to another dealer. The length of the first trailing unit does not include a frame extension by which the 2nd trailing unit is drawn.
348.08(2)
(2) Whenever any train of agricultural vehicles is being operated under
sub. (1) (b), the train shall be equipped as provided in
s. 347.21 (1m) and
(2). Whenever any train of agricultural vehicles is being operated under
sub. (1) (d), the train shall be equipped as provided in
s. 347.21 (1) and
(2). The trailer hitches of a train of agricultural vehicles shall be of a positive nature so as to prevent accidental release.
348.08 Annotation
State may not prohibit 65 foot double bottom trailers. Raymond Motor Transportation, Inc. v. Rice, 434 US 429 (1978).
348.09
348.09
Projecting loads on side of vehicles. 348.09(1)
(1) No person, without a permit therefor, shall operate on a highway any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer carrying any load extending beyond the fender line on the left side or extending more than 6 inches beyond the fender line on the right side of the vehicle. In the case of motor trucks, "fender line" means the outermost limits of the rear fenders, flare boards or floor of the body, whichever projects outward the farthest.
348.09(2)
(2) This section applies even though the total width of the vehicle and load does not exceed the maximum permitted under
s. 348.05.
348.10
348.10
Special limitations on load. 348.10(1)
(1) No person, without a permit therefor, may operate on a highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles with any load thereon extending more than 3 feet beyond the front of the foremost vehicle, except as provided in
s. 348.07 (2) (j), and except that a vehicle carrying another vehicle equipped with a crane or boom which extends more than 3 feet beyond the front of the foremost vehicle may be operated without permit if the total length of the vehicle or combination of vehicles, measuring from the end of the foremost projection of the load to the rear of the rearmost vehicle, does not exceed statutory length limitations.
348.10(2)
(2) No person shall operate a vehicle on a highway unless such vehicle is so constructed and loaded as to prevent its contents from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom.
348.10(3)
(3) No person may operate on a highway any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer carrying logs unless the logs are transported within a cargo body or are securely fastened to the vehicle by chains, steel cables or other attachment devices of equivalent strength whose safety is approved by the department.
348.10(3m)
(3m) No person may operate on a highway any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer carrying junk or scrapped vehicles unless one of the following conditions is satisfied:
348.10(3m)(a)
(a) Each junk or scrapped vehicle is securely fastened to the vehicle carrying the load by chains, steel cables or other attachment devices of equivalent strength whose safety is approved by the department. In this paragraph, "securely fastened" means that each tier of junk or scrapped vehicles is secured by at least 2 chains, steel cables or other attachment devices across the axis of its width.
348.10(3m)(b)
(b) The vehicle carrying the load is equipped with stakes which are securely fastened by chains, steel cables or other attachment devices of equivalent strength whose safety is approved by the department and the top of the load is lower than the top of the stakes.
348.10(3m)(c)
(c) The vehicle carrying the load is equipped with sides, sideboards or side stakes and with a rear endgate, endboard or rear stakes. These devices shall be of sufficient strength and height to prevent the cargo from shifting upon or falling from the vehicle. No device may have any aperture large enough to permit cargo in contact with one or more of the devices to pass through the aperture.
348.10(4)
(4) All other provisions notwithstanding, no person shall operate on a highway any trailer or semitrailer when the gross weight of the trailer or semitrailer exceeds the empty weight of the towing vehicle, unless the trailer or semitrailer is equipped with brakes as provided in
s. 347.35 (3) (a) and
(b).
348.10(5)
(5) The load imposed upon trailers or semitrailers shall be distributed in a manner that will prevent side sway under all conditions of operation:
348.10(5)(a)
(a) All items of load carried by any trailer, semitrailer or mobile home, except bulk material such as sand, gravel, dirt not in containers, shall be secured to, on or in the trailer in such manner as to prevent shifting of the load while the trailer or mobile home is being drawn by a towing vehicle.
348.10(5)(b)
(b) Boats of any type transported on a trailer or semitrailer being drawn by a towing vehicle shall be secured in position at bow and stern by attachments of such strength and design as to prevent the boat from shifting its position on the trailer or becoming separated from the trailer while being transported thereon.
348.10(5)(c)
(c) The load carried by any trailer, semitrailer or mobile home shall be so positioned that a weight of not less than 35 pounds is imposed at the center of the point of attachment to the towing vehicle when parked on a level surface.
348.11
348.11
Penalty for violating size and load limitations. 348.11(1)(1) Any person violating
s. 348.09 or
348.10 may be required to forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $200.
348.11(2)
(2) Any person violating
ss. 348.05 to
348.08 may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $100 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $200 for the 2nd and each subsequent conviction within one year.
348.11 History
History: 1971 c. 278.
WEIGHT
348.15
348.15
Weight limitations on class "A" highways.
