SB 222

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate on a

highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds certain statutory weight

limits unless the person obtains a permit issued by the Department of

Transportation (DOT) or a local authority, as applicable.

This bill allows DOT to issue overweight permits for vehicles or vehicle

combinations (vehicles) that have six or more axles and that are transporting sealed

loads. The bill defines a "sealed load" as a container or vehicle, being transported in

international trade, that has been sealed with a tamper-evident seal. The permit

does not authorize the operation of any vehicle at a maximum gross weight in excess

of 90,000 pounds. Permit applications must be made electronically to DOT utilizing

an electronic process prescribed by DOT.

The bill further specifies that, as with all other vehicle size or weight permits,

if DOT issues an agricultural emergency permit or farm machinery permit, the

permit must be carried on the vehicle during operation.

Under current law, if any bill introduced in either house of the legislature

directly or indirectly establishes an exception to vehicle weight limitations, DOT

must prepare a report, containing specified information, relating to the bill within

six weeks after the bill is introduced and before any vote is taken on the bill. This

bill directs DOT not to prepare such a report on this bill because DOT recently

completed the Wisconsin Truck Size and Weight Study that contained the same or

similar information that would be contained in a report on this bill.