CHAPTER 348
VEHICLES — SIZE, WEIGHT AND LOAD
GENERAL PROVISIONS
348.01 Words and phrases defined.
348.02 Applicability of chapter.
SIZE AND LOAD
348.05 Width of vehicles.
348.06 Height of vehicles.
348.07 Length of vehicles.
348.09 Projecting loads on side of vehicles.
348.10 Special limitations on load.
348.11 Penalty for violating size and load limitations.
WEIGHT
348.15 Weight limitations on class "A" highways.
348.16 Weight limitations on class "B" highways.
348.17 Special or seasonal weight limitations.
348.175 Seasonal operation of vehicles hauling peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise or abrasives or salt for highway winter maintenance.
348.18 Weight limitations apply to publicly-owned vehicles; exceptions.
348.185 Empty weight to be indicated on side of certain vehicles; rules.
348.19 Traffic officers may weigh vehicles and require removal of excess load.
348.20 Policy in prosecuting weight violations.
348.21 Penalty for violating weight limitations.
348.22 Courts to report weight violation convictions.
PERMITS
348.25 General provisions relating to permits for vehicles and loads of excessive size and weight.
348.26 Single trip permits.
348.27 Annual, consecutive month or multiple trip permits.
348.28 Permits to be carried.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
348.01
348.01
Words and phrases defined. 348.01(1)
(1) Words and phrases defined in
s. 340.01 are used in the same sense in this chapter unless a different definition is specifically provided.
348.01(2)
(2) In this chapter the following terms have the designated meanings:
348.01(2)(a)
(a) "Axle" includes all wheels of a vehicle imposing weight on the highway, the centers of which are included between 2 parallel transverse vertical planes less than 42 inches apart, extending across the full width of vehicle and load.
348.01(2)(am)
(am) "Certified stationary scale" means a stationary scale which is tested and inspected annually for accuracy by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or other authorized testing agency in accordance with specifications, tolerances, standards and procedures established by the national institute of standards and technology and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection for the testing and examination of scales.
348.01(2)(ar)
(ar) "Consecutive month permit" means a permit issued for a minimum of 3 consecutive months.
348.01(2)(b)
(b) "Gross weight" means the weight of a vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped for service plus the weight of any load which the vehicle or combination of vehicles may be carrying.
348.01(2)(bt)
(bt) "Raw forest products" means logs, pilings, posts, poles, cordwood products, wood chips, sawdust, pulpwood, fuel wood and Christmas trees not altered by a manufacturing process off the land, sawmill or factory from which they are taken.
348.01(2)(c)
(c) "Tandem axle" means any 2 or more consecutive axles whose centers are 42 or more inches apart and which are individually attached to or articulated from, or both, a common attachment to the vehicle including a connecting mechanism designed to equalize the load between axles.
348.02
348.02
Applicability of chapter. 348.02(1)
(1) The provisions of this chapter restricting the size, weight and load of vehicles apply also to vehicles owned by or operated by or for a governmental agency, subject to such exceptions in this chapter.
348.02(2)
(2) The provisions of this chapter restricting the size and weight of vehicles apply to the vehicle and any load which it is carrying except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
348.02(3)
(3) Any owner of a vehicle who causes or permits such vehicle to be operated on a highway in violation of this chapter is guilty of the violation the same as if the owner had actually operated the vehicle.
348.02(4)
(4) The limitations on size, weight and load imposed by this chapter do not apply to road machinery actually engaged in construction or maintenance of a highway within the limits of the project.
348.02(5)
(5) The limitations on weight, length and number of vehicles in combination imposed by this chapter shall not apply to a combination of vehicles in an emergency towing operation in which the towing vehicle is being used to remove a stalled or disabled vehicle or combination of vehicles from the highway to the nearest adequate place for repairs, or in which the towing vehicle is an emergency truck tractor temporarily substituted for a stalled or disabled truck tractor. The vehicle owner or the owner's agent shall designate the nearest adequate place for repairs for vehicles or combinations of vehicles exceeding the statutory length limits or limits on the number of vehicles in combination.
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.
