LRB-4223/4
PEN:jlg:km
1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE
February 23, 2000 - Introduced by Representatives Brandemuehl, Townsend,
Gronemus, Powers, Kreuser, Ryba, Pettis, Kestell, Spillner, Grothman,
Seratti, Ainsworth, Hundertmark, Musser, Owens, Plouff, Gunderson and
Sykora, cosponsored by Senators Breske, Fitzgerald, Clausing, A. Lasee and
Farrow. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
AB794,1,2
1An Act to amend 348.15 (3) (bg) and 348.15 (5m) of the statutes;
relating to:
2maximum gross vehicle weight of motor trucks transporting exclusively milk.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law prohibits any person from driving upon a highway any motor
vehicle that exceeds the maximum permissible gross vehicle weight or the maximum
permissible weight per axle. Current law allows additional weight, beyond the
weight limits ordinarily applicable, for vehicles transporting exclusively milk from
the point of production to the primary market and the return of dairy supplies and
dairy products from such primary market to the farm. On such a vehicle, for groups
of three or more consecutive axles "more than nine feet" apart, an additional weight
of 2,000 pounds is allowed if the gross vehicle weight does not exceed 80,000 pounds.
To determine the distance between axles, the distance is measured between axle
centers to the nearest even foot, and when a fraction is exactly one-half foot, the
nearest larger whole number shall be used. An axle measurement of between eight
feet, six inches and nine feet, six inches is considered to be nine feet. Under this
measurement system, only milk vehicles having a group of three or more axles within
an actual axle distance of nine feet, six inches or more qualify for the additional 2,000
pound axle weight.
This bill extends the 2,000 pound weight limit applicable to certain milk trucks
to vehicles having an axle distance considered to be "nine feet or more", and
eliminates the process of rounding the measurement to the nearest whole foot. With
these changes, milk vehicles transporting milk and having a group of three or more
axles within an actual axle distance of nine feet or more will qualify for the additional
2,000 pounds.
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:
AB794, s. 1
1Section
1. 348.15 (3) (bg) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB794,2,122
348.15
(3) (bg) In the case of a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting
3exclusively milk from the point of production to the primary market and the return
4of dairy supplies and dairy products from such primary market to the farm, the gross
5weight imposed on the highway by the wheels of any one axle may not exceed 21,000
6pounds or, for 2 axles 8 or less feet apart, 37,000 pounds or,
notwithstanding sub.
7(5m), for groups of 3 or more consecutive axles
more than 9 feet
or more apart, a
8weight of 2,000 pounds more than is shown in par. (c), but not to exceed 80,000
9pounds. This paragraph does not apply to the national system of interstate and
10defense highways
, except for that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78
11and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near
12Portage upon their federal designation as I 39.
AB794, s. 2
13Section
2. 348.15 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB794,2,1714
348.15
(5m) The distances between axles and between the foremost and
15rearmost of a group of axles shall be measured between axle centers
and rounded to
16the nearest
even foot, and when a fraction is exactly one-half foot, the
nearest larger
17whole number shall be used measurement shall be rounded up to the nearest foot.
AB794,2,2019
(1)
Weight limits for milk trucks. This act first applies to motor vehicles
20operated on the effective date of this subsection.
