Wisconsin Oversize Permit, Wide and Heavy Haul Information

Summary:

• In Wisconsin, restrictions vary greatly for vehicles with oversize permits depending on size, road, time of year, and day of the week.
• Vehicles that are overweight only may typically travel 24/7, including on weekends and holidays. 
• Vehicles traveling with an oversize permit must adhere to requirements regarding flagging, lighting, signage, and warning lamps.

Operating Hours, Restricted Travel, and Holiday Restrictions

In Wisconsin, vehicles that do not exceed 12 feet wide, 13 feet and 6 inches high, and 150 feet long may run 24/7 in 67 counties. In Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock or Waukesha counties, vehicles may not be operated:

• Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sunday;
• Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday between the 4th Friday in May and Labor Day;
• Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on any restricted-travel holiday;
• Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the day before any restricted-travel holiday, except July 3rd if that day falls on a Saturday.

Vehicles exceeding 12 feet in width, 13 feet and 6 inches in height, and 150 feet in length may not run:

• During hours of darkness;
• Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sunday
• Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday between the 4th Friday in May and Labor Day;
• During the period beginning at noon on Saturday and continuing until sunrise Sunday;
• During the period beginning at noon on the day preceding and continuing until sunrise on the day following every restricted-travel holiday..

On the Milwaukee County Expressway, vehicles greater than legal width, height or length may not be operated (except on US 45 between West Florist Avenue and West Hampton Avenue and on I-94 between Waukesha line and 108th Street):

• Between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday;
• Between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday;
• Between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday.

Vehicles traveling on the Madison Beltline greater than legal width, height or length with a Single Trip permit may not be operated on US-12 and US-18 between Verona Road and Stoughton Road between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday​.

Vehicles that are overweight only, unless specified otherwise in the permit, may operate 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.

Signs, Flags, and Lights Requirements

Signs, signals, flags, and lights are often required when moving oversize or over-dimensional loads for the safety of other motorists on the road.

Signs

Oversize loads must display an “OVERSIZE LOAD” sign on both the front of the power unit and rear of the towed unit or at the rear of the load when it exceeds 10 feet wide or is over length.

Dimensions of the sign may not be less than 7 feet long and 18 inches high. The sign’s letters may not be less than 10 inches high, with a brushstroke of no less than 1.4 inches. 

Flags

Each flag shall be solid red or orange in color, and not less than 18 inches square. Flags shall be securely fastened by at least one corner or securely mounted on a staff. 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, than a flag shall be placed at the widest point of the load. 

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. 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.

Lights

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

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

• At the outermost extremity of the foremost edge of the projecting load, an amber lamp visible from the front and side;
• At the outermost extremity of the rearmost edge of the projecting load, a red lamp visible from the rear and side;
• Any portion of an overwidth load extending beyond the width of the foremost or rearmost edge of the vehicle of load shall be marked with an amber lamp visible from the front, both sides, and rear;
• If the overwidth portion of a load measures 3 feet or less from the front to rear, that portion shall be marked with a 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 the front, both sides, and rear.

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

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

All required lamps should be illuminated during the hours of darkness and should be visible at a distance of 500 feet.

Warning Lamps

When required by a permit, warning lamps shall be operated as follows:

• All amber flashing or revolving warning lamps should have a reflector at least 6 inches in diameter and 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.
• All warning lamps must flash at a rate of 30 to 90 times per minute.
• Strobe lamps may be used in lieu of flashing or revolving lamps.
• Warning lamps may not be operated when a vehicle is not operating under a permit.

Obtaining a Permit

You can apply online for Wisconsin single and multiple trip permits, or Oversize/Overweight permits. For oversize loads, you can also email [email protected], call (608) 266-7320 or mail: