348.05 Width of vehicles.

(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.

(2) The following vehicles may be operated without a permit for excessive width if the total outside width does not exceed the indicated limitations:

(a) Subject to ss. 347.24 (3), 347.245 (1), and 347.25 (2g), no limitation for implements of husbandry.

(am) Ten feet for an agricultural commercial motor vehicle, except that, if the agricultural commercial motor vehicle is operated for purposes of spraying pesticides or spreading lime or fertilizer but not including manure application and has extending tires, fenders, or fender flares, the total outside width of the agricultural commercial motor vehicle may not exceed 12 feet. This paragraph does not apply to an agricultural commercial motor vehicle on a highway that is a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways.

(b) No limitation for snowplows operated by or for a governmental agency.

(d) Ten feet 6 inches for snowplows attached to motor vehicles normally used for the transportation of milk.

(e) Twelve feet for skidders, forwarders, harvesters, and wheeled feller bunchers operated for logging purposes at times other than hours of darkness and operated on the highway for a distance of 0.5 miles or less. This paragraph does not apply on any highway that is a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways.

(f) Eight feet 8 inches for urban passenger buses and 8 feet 6 inches for interurban passenger buses.

(i) A realistic body width of 8 feet 6 inches for mobile homes, including recreational vehicles, and motor homes, and, for motor homes and for recreational vehicles used only as temporary or recreational dwellings, up to an additional 4 inches on the left side and 6 inches on the right side of such vehicles for appurtenances provided that, if any appurtenance extends the maximum 4 inches on the left side or 6 inches on the right side, the appurtenance is located at a height of not less than 8 feet from the ground. In this paragraph, “appurtenance" means any mechanical or other device, including retracted awning assemblies, vent grates, electrical outlet covers, and door handles, that is related to the structure of the vehicle and is installed upon the vehicle by a manufacturer or dealer.

(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. This paragraph does not apply to transport on highways designated as parts of the national system of interstate and defense highways under s. 84.29.

(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.

(m) Nine feet for a vehicle or vehicle combination used by a pipeline company or operator, public service corporation, municipal utility, or cooperative association described in s. 196.01 (5) (b) 1., or by a motor carrier operating under contract with a pipeline company or operator, public service corporation, municipal utility, or cooperative association described in s. 196.01 (5) (b) 1., for transportation of poles, pipe, girders, and similar materials.

(2g)

(a) Except as provided in par. (c), and subject to par. (b), sub. (2) (a) also applies to implements of husbandry while being operated or transported by an implement dealer or farmer for purposes of delivery, repair, or servicing of the implement of husbandry if the implement of husbandry is being operated or transported under either of the following circumstances:

1. Directly from a farmer's owned or leased land to the business location of an implement dealer that is within a 75-mile radius of the farmer's owned or leased land.

2. Directly from the business location of an implement dealer to a farmer's owned or leased land that is within a 75-mile radius of the implement dealer's business location.

(b)

1. Paragraph (a) applies to a person operating or towing an implement of husbandry only if the person complies with ss. 347.24 (3), 347.245 (1), and 347.25 (2g), as applicable. For purposes of this subdivision, the requirements under ss. 347.24 (3), 347.245 (1), and 347.25 (2g) shall apply to an implement of husbandry being towed to the same extent as if the implement of husbandry were being operated.

2. Paragraph (a) applies to a person transporting by trailer or semitrailer an implement of husbandry only if the person complies with s. 347.24 (3) (b) 1. For purposes of this subdivision, the requirements under s. 347.24 (3) (b) 1. shall apply to an implement of husbandry being transported by trailer or semitrailer to the same extent as if the implement of husbandry were being operated.

(c) This subsection does not apply to implements of husbandry being transported by trailer or semitrailer on a highway that is a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, but does apply to implements of husbandry being operated or towed on a highway that is a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways.

(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.

(3m)

(a) Subject to par. (c), implements of husbandry of any width may be transported by trailer or semitrailer, without a permit, on a highway to or from a farm-related destination, at times other than hours of darkness.

(b) This subsection does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways.

(c) Paragraph (a) applies only if the person transporting the implement of husbandry complies with s. 347.24 (3) (b) 1. For purposes of this paragraph, the requirements under s. 347.24 (3) (b) 1. shall apply to an implement of husbandry being transported to the same extent as if the implement of husbandry were being operated.

(3r)

(a) Except as provided in par. (b), and subject to s. 348.09 (3) (b), sub. (2) (am) also applies to agricultural commercial motor vehicles while being operated or transported by trailer or semitrailer by an implement dealer or farmer for purposes of delivery, repair, or servicing of the agricultural commercial motor vehicle if the agricultural commercial motor vehicle is being operated or transported by trailer or semitrailer under either of the following circumstances:

1. Directly from a farmer's owned or leased land to the business location of an implement dealer that is within a 75-mile radius of the farmer's owned or leased land.

2. Directly from the business location of an implement dealer to a farmer's owned or leased land that is within a 75-mile radius of the implement dealer's business location.

(b) This subsection does not apply to agricultural commercial motor vehicles being operated or transported by trailer or semitrailer on a highway that is a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways.

(3t)

(a) Subject to par. (b) and s. 348.09 (3) (b), agricultural commercial motor vehicles not exceeding the width specified in sub. (2) (am) may be transported by trailer or semitrailer, without a permit, on a highway to or from a farm-related destination, at times other than hours of darkness.

(b) This subsection does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways.

(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.

History: 1975 c. 50; 1977 c. 26; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (9) (b); 1981 c. 22; 1983 a. 78, 508; 1985 a. 187; 1993 a. 353, 404; 1995 a. 7, 225, 348; 1999 a. 85; 2003 a. 213; 2011 a. 243; 2013 a. 369, 377; 2015 a. 15, 171; 2015 a. 195 s. 83; 2015 a. 232; 2017 a. 365 s. 111.