Wis. Admin. Code Department of Transportation Trans 260.10 - Equipment requirements

(1) LIGHTING. An oversize vehicle, or a vehicle with an oversize load operating during the hours of darkness, shall be equipped with the following additional lamps:

(a) For a vehicle with a load which extends beyond the width of the vehicle:

1. At the outermost extremity of the foremost edge of the projecting load, an amber lamp visible from the front and side.

2. At the outermost extremity at the rearmost edge of the projecting load, a red lamp visible from the rear and side.

3. Any portion of an overwidth load extending beyond the width of the foremost or rearmost edge of the vehicle or load, shall be marked with an amber lamp visible from the front, both sides, and rear.

4. If the overwidth portion of the load measures 3 feet or less from front to rear, that portion shall be marked with an amber lamp visible from the front, both sides and rear, except that if the overwidth projection is located at or near the rear it shall be marked by a red lamp visible from front, side and rear.

(b) For a vehicle with a load which extends more than 4 feet beyond the rear of the vehicle:

1. On each side of the projecting load, one red lamp, visible from the side, located so as to indicate maximum overhang.

2. On the rear of the projecting load, 2 red lamps, visible from the rear, one at each side; and 2 red reflectors visible from the rear, one at each side, located so as to indicate maximum width.

(c) All required lamps shall be illuminated whenever a vehicle is operated during hours of darkness. All lamps shall be visible at a distance of 500 feet.

(2) WARNING LAMPS. When required by a permit, warning lamps shall be operated as follows:

(a) All mobile homes and modular building sections over 12 feet in width shall have an operating amber flashing or revolving warning lamp a minimum of 8 feet above the roadway at the rear of the towed unit near its center point, visible 500 feet to the rear, or 2 such operating amber flashing or revolving warning lamps, at the left and right rear extremities of the towed unit located a minimum of 8 feet above the roadway and visible 500 feet to the rear.

(b) All amber flashing or revolving warning lamps shall have a reflector at least 6 inches in diameter and shall be bright enough to be clearly visible and attention-attracting at a distance of 500 feet under all conditions when the load is on the highway, except when visibility is obstructed by a hillcrest, a curve, or an object such as another vehicle.

(c) All power units, when transporting a mobile home or modular building section over 81/2 feet in width shall have 2 amber flashing or revolving warning lamps mounted above the cab. Flashers shall be mounted at least 8 feet above the roadway and shall be visible to the front. When 2 lamps are provided, they shall be mounted at the same level, shall be separated laterally as much as possible, and shall flash simultaneously.

(d) All warning lamps shall flash at a rate of 30 to 90 times per minute.

(e) Strobe lamps may be used in lieu of flashing or revolving lamps.

(f) Warning lamps may not be operated when a vehicle is not operating under the permit.

(3) FLAGS.

(a) When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is overlength, a single flag shall be fastened at the extreme rear of the load if the overlength or projecting portion is 2 feet wide or less.

(b) When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load [is] overlength, 2 flags shall be fastened at the rear of the load to indicate maximum width if the overlength or projecting portion is wider than 2 feet.

(c) When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is overwidth, a flag shall be fastened at each front and rear corner of the load. In addition, if any part of the load is more than 4 inches wider than the width of load or vehicle at the front or rear, a flag shall be placed at the widest point of the load.

(d) Each flag shall be solid red or orange in color, and not less than 18 inches square.

(e) In order to wave freely, flags shall be securely fastened by at least one corner or securely mounted on a staff.

(4) SIGNS.

(a) When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is more than 10 feet in width or is overlength, 2 warning signs shall be displayed. One sign shall be fastened at the front of the power unit and the other at either the rear of the towed unit or at the rear of the load.

(b) Each sign shall state, in black letters on a yellow background, "OVERSIZE LOAD," and may not be less than 7 feet long and 18 inches high. The letters of the sign may not be less than 10 inches high with a brush stroke of not less than 1.4 inches.

(c) The sign message may not be displayed when the vehicle is not operating under the permit.

(5) TRUCK WEIGHT AND TIRES. Unless otherwise specified in a permit:

(a) A vehicle towing a mobile home or modular building section more than 81/2 feet in width but less than 12 feet in width shall be a truck of not less than 16,000 pounds manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating. The power unit shall be equipped with dual wheels on the drive axle and the minimum size of the tires shall be 10 ply 8.25 x 20, or equivalent.

(b) A vehicle towing a mobile home or modular building section 12 feet in width, but not more than 16 feet in width, shall be a truck of not less than 19,200 pounds manufacturers' gross vehicle weight rating. The power unit shall be equipped with dual wheels on the drive axle and the minimum size of the tires shall be 10 ply 8.25 x 20, or equivalent.

(6) MUDGUARDS. Mobile home and modular building sections and the power unit operating under a permit shall be equipped with rear fenders or mudguards of such material and constructed and placed as to restrict to a minimum the splashing of water, mud, stones, and other material which may be thrown up by the rear wheels. If mudguards are provided, they shall be at least as wide as the tire and shall cover the tire or multiple tires they are guarding starting at the top from a line drawn vertically through the center of the axle and extending rearward and downward so that the fender or mudguard under any condition of operation or loading of the vehicle has a ground clearance of not more than 1/3 of the horizontal distance from the center of the rearmost axle to the fender or mudguard.

Notes

Wis. Admin. Code Department of Transportation Trans 260.10

Cr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420, eff. 1-1-91.