348.26 Single trip permits.

(1) Applications. All applications under subs. (2) to (7) for single trip permits for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles or loads shall be made upon the form prescribed by the department and shall be made to the officer or agency designated by this section as having authority to issue the particular permit desired for use of the particular highway in question. All applications under sub. (8) shall be made to the department utilizing an electronic process prescribed by the department.

(1m) Telephone call-in procedure. The department shall develop and implement a telephone call-in procedure for permits issued under this section. The telephone call-in procedure for permits may not be utilized until permit information is computerized to ensure inquiry capability into the database for enforcement purposes.

(2) Permits for oversize or overweight vehicles or loads. Except as provided in subs. (4) (b) 1. and (8), single trip permits for oversize or overweight vehicles or loads may be issued by the department for use of the state trunk highways and by the officer in charge of maintenance of the highway to be used in the case of other highways. Such local officials also may issue such single trip permits for use of state trunk highways within the county or municipality which they represent. Every single trip permit shall designate the route to be used by the permittee. Whenever the officer or agency issuing such permit deems it necessary to have a traffic officer escort the vehicle through the municipality or county, a reasonable fee for such traffic officer's services shall be paid by the permittee. All moneys received from fees imposed by the department under this subsection shall be deposited in the general fund and credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.395 (5) (dg).

(3) Trailer train permits. The department and those local officials who are authorized to issue permits pursuant to sub. (2) also are authorized to issue single trip permits for the operation of trains consisting of truck tractors, tractors, trailers, semitrailers or wagons on highways under their jurisdiction, except that no trailer train permit issued by a local official for use of a highway outside the corporate limits of a city or village is valid until approved by the department. No permit shall be issued for any train exceeding 100 feet in total length. Every permit issued pursuant to this subsection shall designate the route to be used by the permittee.

(4) Factory-built home permits.

(a) In this subsection, “factory-built home" means a mobile home, manufactured home, or modular home.

(b)

1. Except as provided in subd. 2., single trip permits for the movement of oversize factory-built homes may be issued only by the department, regardless of the highways to be used.

2. Single trip permits for the movement of overweight factory-built homes that are not less than 16 feet in width may be issued by the department, for the use of state trunk highways, and by the officer in charge of maintenance of the highways to be used, for the use of other highways.

(c)

1. Every permit issued under this subsection shall designate the route to be used by the permittee.

2. No permit may be issued under this subsection for operation of a vehicle combination exceeding 110 feet in overall length or for movement of a factory-built home exceeding 80 feet in length.

3. A permit may be issued under this subsection for the movement of more than one modular home section on a carrier if each home section is a component of the same home as evidenced by serial numbers or other distinguishing marks and the overall dimensions of the load will not exceed statutory weight limits or the size limits specified in the permit. A permit may be issued under this subsection only if at least one portion of the load under this permit would require a permit had it been transported on a separate carrier.

(4m) Permits for vehicles transporting certain buildings.

(a) In this subsection:

1. “Building" has the meaning given in s. 348.27 (12m) (a) 1.

2. “Vehicle" has the meaning given in s. 348.27 (12m) (a) 2.

(b) The requirements for issuance of a permit under s. 348.27 (12m) (c) shall also apply to issuance of a permit under sub. (2) for a vehicle transporting a building on the highways, and the department and those local officials who are authorized to issue permits under sub. (2) may not issue a permit under sub. (2) for a vehicle transporting a building unless these requirements are satisfied. The department and those local officials who are authorized to issue permits under sub. (2) may deny a permit under sub. (2) for a vehicle transporting a building if the department or local official finds that any of the circumstances specified in s. 348.27 (12m) (d) applies. The provisions of this subsection apply in addition to any other requirement imposed under this chapter, chs. 194, 343, 346, and 347, and federal law.

(6) Backhaul permits. If an oversize permit has been issued for an oversize vehicle or combination of oversize vehicles under this section or s. 348.27, the authority issuing the permit may also issue a backhaul permit to enable such vehicle or combination to transport a load which does not exceed statutory size and weight limits. A backhaul permit may be issued only when an oversize load is transported on the return trip or outgoing trip. The fee for the backhaul permit is $3.

(7) Specialized hauling rig permits.

(a) In this subsection, “specialized hauling rig" means a vehicle, or combination of vehicles, that exceeds 100 feet in length and that is designed to transport nondivisible cargo that is exceptionally heavy. A specialized hauling rig is a nondivisible vehicle within the meaning of 23 CFR 658.5.

(b) The department and those local officials who are authorized to issue permits under sub. (2) may issue single trip permits for the operation of overweight or oversize specialized hauling rigs whose unladen cargo-bearing component units are loaded or stacked on one or more of the specialized hauling rig's cargo-bearing component units. A permit issued under this paragraph is valid only while the specialized hauling rig is in transit to the site where the cargo to be transported will be loaded onto the specialized hauling rig, and while in transit from the site where the specialized hauling rig delivered its cargo. Every permit issued under this paragraph shall designate the route to be used by the permittee. No permit issued under this paragraph may authorize the operation of a specialized hauling rig that exceeds 120 feet in length or that exceeds the height limitations under s. 348.06.

(8) Permits for the transportation of sealed loads in international trade.

(a) The department may issue single trip permits for the transportation of a sealed load, as defined in s. 348.27 (17) (a), to applicants eligible for an annual or consecutive month permit under s. 348.27 (17), subject to the same requirements and limitations for annual and consecutive month permits described in s. 348.27 (17). A permit under this subsection may be issued only by the department, regardless of the highways to be used.

(b) A person issued a permit under this subsection shall use the automated routing system specified in s. 348.25 (11).

History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (a); 1977 c. 273; 1981 c. 20, 215, 312, 391; 1983 a. 78; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 185; 2001 a. 78; 2005 a. 170, 250; 2007 a. 11; 2011 a. 55, 57, 243; 2015 a. 241.