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Oversize/Overweight Loads

It is a common sight these days to see oversized transport loads hauling parts all over the country. Moving components from factory floor to the project site or large construction equipment to a construction site is not easy. The U.S. economy is shifting to specialized products that often are shipped as oversize/overweight (OSOW) loads. The risk elements are extensive when because these loads tend to be highly-sensitive, technological and very valuable components that weigh several tons and extend well over 100 feet in length. In addition to the risk elements may require detailed planning and precise execution, the attention by everyday road travelers drawn to these massive move projects sometimes generates serious public safety issues caused by inevitable traffic delays.
Truck transportation plays a vital role in Wisconsin’s economy. The State allows oversize/weight (OSOW) trucks to operate on the highways generally when the load is non-divisible; there are exceptions to this requirement. The permits allows shipping that increase Wisconsin's economic competitiveness; however, the elements of local traffic need to be evaluated based on the challenges from increasing truck loads sizes on city streets, including fact-based traffic safety assessment to determine the current design of the infrastructure; and realistic estimation of load effects due to OSOW vehicles traveling on the infrastructure.
The City Council needs to understand oversize/overweight information if it desires to work with the state to accommodate increasing OSOW vehicles while preventing excessive damage to the highways and unsafe conditions in the city.
In order to provide for all the vehicles and loads that qualify for permits, Wisconsin has two major types of permits: (1) Overweight permits and (2) Oversize permits. These permits have two subtypes: (a) single trip and (b) multiple trips. Those vehicles and loads that exceed both the legal weight and size will require both an overweight permit and an oversize permit before they may be moved.
What Is an Overweight/Oversize Load?
“Overweight Loads" for the typical tractor trailer refers to loads that exceed maximum gross vehicle weights on all axles of 80,000 lbs. Overweight permits for a vehicle and indivisible load may exceed legal maximum single axle weight, tandem axle weight, axle group weight, and vehicle gross weight. If the load is divisible, the legal maximum single axle weight, tandem axle weight, and axle group weight may not be exceeded.
“Oversize Loads" refers to the loads that are wider than eight feet six inches (8’6”), taller than thirteen feet six inches (13’6”) and over one hundred feet (100’) long. Oversize permits are for a vehicle and indivisible load that exceeds legal maximum width, length, height, or projecting load.
ESTABLISHING CONTEXT
The first thing that needs to be done is identify what problem needs to be solved. That means we need to know what specifically was observe that triggered this concern. The primary trigger was an accident that involved an oversize load that occurred on Main Street in early April. The accident involved a Merrill Iron Works truck hauling a load that exceeded height dimensions. The load caught a tree branch and pulled it down, the branch hooked a power pole guy-wire and moved the pole slightly. The power service to a home that hung across the street was lowered enough that a cement truck moving the opposite direction of the Merrill Iron Works truck pulled the service off the home. The homeowner complained about OSOW loads using Highway “89”.
There were approximately thirty two OSOW loads that moved through Lake Mills in April of this year. There could be several hundred OSOW loads moving through Lake Mills in 2010 as there has been for several years now. These OSOW loads are going to be oversize, overweight or some combination thereof. Each of these loads will have different permit requirements based on their load classification.
Most oversize/overweight shipments need special permits to legally transport the shipment on roadways. Prior to a truck driver loading an oversize/overweight shipment those special permits must be ordered from the Department of Transportation (DOT). When an over-dimensional/overweight shipment is in transit, the driver must abide by the rules and regulations enforced by the DOT. Truck drivers must have their Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations book in their trucks, at all times. Truck drivers are limited to the hours in a day they are allowed to drive, truck drivers must stop at each scale house/station so paperwork can be verified, load can be inspected, and weight can be checked. Truck drivers are only allowed to transport the oversize/overweight shipment on the route approved by the DOT. The majority of Federal/State holidays will prevent a truck driver from transporting the oversize/overweight shipment as well. These shipments are generally traveling through multiple states and each state has different variances with legal dimensions and weights.
DOT requires the hauler to obtain an oversize/overweight permit before traveling on their highways, to assure that the load will not travel through any unsafe construction zones, which may have reduced lane widths, cross any bridges that were not made to handle over 80,000 pounds, or hit any overpasses if they are overheight.
Wisconsin issues single trip OSOW permits that are valid for up to 14 days. Wisconsin issues multiple trip OSOW permits that may be purchased for three to twelve months of operation, unless noted otherwise.
Wisconsin state‐issued single trip permits are valid on Interstate, US, and state roads. Single trip permits for local roads (except for single trip mobile home permits) are obtained via the local highway maintenance authorities. Single trip mobile home permits are state‐issued and are valid on Interstate, US, state roads, and local roads.
Wisconsin non‐divisible load multiple trip permits are state‐issued and are valid on Interstate, US, and State highways and local roads. Wisconsin divisible load multiple trip permits may be issued by the state or local authority based on the authorizing statute.
A permit may require:
Insurance requirements
Carriers are required to have proper amounts of liability insurance and must obtain an oversize/overweight permit before operating.
Lighting requirements
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
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
B: 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
C: All required lamps shall be illuminated whenever a vehicle is operated during the hours of darkness
D: All lamps shall be visible at a distance of 500 feet
Flag requirements
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
Sign requirements
When a vehicle, load, or vehicle and load is more than 10 feet wide 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.
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.
The sign message may not be displayed when the vehicle is not operating under a permit.
Warning lamps
When required by a permit, warning lamps shall be operated as follows:
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
All warning lamps shall 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
Hazard markers
When required by the conditions of a permit, black and white or black and yellow diagonally striped reflectorized hazard markers, not less than 12 inches wide by 36 inches high, shall be fastened to, or in front of and behind the load, so as to be fully visible to traffic approaching from both the front and rear of the vehicle
All hazard markers shall be located at right angles to the centerline of the vehicle so as to indicate the widest part of the load on each side of the vehicle
OPERATING TIMES
Vehicles that are overweight only, unless specified otherwise in the permit, may operate 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.
If load size does not exceed 12'00" wide, 13'06" high or 100'00" long, the vehicle may not be operated:
Between 4:00 p.m and 11:00 p.m. on Sunday
Between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m on Friday
Between the 4th Friday in May and Labor Day between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
On any holiday* or when Independence Day falls on Sunday
On the following Monday between 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
On the day before any holiday*, except that this restriction does not apply to Independence Day when it falls on a Sunday.
If size is greater than 12'00" wide, 13'06" high or 100'00" long, the vehicle may not be operated:
During the hours of darkness
After 4:00 p.m. on Friday between the 4th Friday in May and Labor Day
During the period beginning at 12:00 noon on Saturday and continuing until sunrise the following Monday
During the period beginning at 12:00 noon on the day preceding every holiday* and continuing until sunrise the day following every holiday*.
*Holidays with restricted travel times are New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas
There are more rules, but for our purposes, we now have information on the problem and the current conditions for obtaining permits. We may need to do more information gathering to find the actual cause of our local problem if we expect to make a higher quality decision about what action to take that will help us develop the optimum corrective action. Sometimes discovering the immediate cause of a problem doesn’t give us all the information we need.
Therefore, we need to verify the cause before proceeding. It is one thing to ask what caused something and it is another to actually know the answer! It is not enough to give an answer that seems right. It is crucial that each link in the causal chain is the verified, true cause. False links will lead to ineffective corrective actions at best and disasters at worst. There are some questions that should be asked – are the trees appropriately trim for an OSOW route? Does the condition of the pavement contribute to OSOW load problems? Can the street be better designed to handle OSOW loads? Are vehicles parking appropriately on the street? Are traffic counts during certain times of the day contributing to the problem?
The reason oversize loads are allowed to travel on Wisconsin roads is because they play an important role in the state's economy. Tolerating conflicts are necessary if we plan on maintaining a healthy economy and maintaining safe and well maintained streets. To minimize disruptions and ensure the safety of our street users and allow trucks to maneuver routes safely, the state policy sets out special operating conditions. The City of Lake Mills currently has not sought any special permits for OSOW loads. The State has handled all the permits by using their rules which provides a uniform system for issuing OSOW permits to regulate vehicles used on the state highways which when loaded exceed the limitations on length width, height, and weight.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternative 1 – No change. The City continues as it currently does allowing the State to be the only permit issuing entity.
Alternative 2 – Adopt a policy that requires the oversize/overweight (OSOW) loads which exceeds statutory weight and/or dimension limits, even if another permit (e.g. State permit) has already been issued. By granting this permit, the applicant is given permission to transport an oversize/overweight load on the designated route under the restrictions set forth on the permit document.
Alternative 3 – Adopt a policy that designates Highway 89 as a class “B” highway within the City’s jurisdiction. Weight limitations on class “B” highways are 60% of class “A” highway weight limitations.
Alternative 4 – Adopt a policy that requires the street trees be regularly cut to a standard that would reduce conflicts with overheight loads. Adopt a policy that requires all house services on the truck route be placed underground. Adopt a policy that restricts parking on Main Street.
Alternative #5. Council develops their own procedure or utilizes combination of proposed alternatives.
Project the Outcomes
Alternative #1. No change. The City has allowed the State to be the only permit required for oversize/overweight (OSOW) loads within the City’s jurisdiction. There has been very little citizen complaint over the last twenty years with OSOW loads
The State requires oversize or overweight vehicles obtain a state permit from the Department of Transportation before they can travel legally on Wisconsin highways. To issue this permit, the Department must evaluate the proposed route for potential hazards such as roads that are too narrow, bridges without adequate vertical clearance, areas that are congested, and roadbeds that are unstable during spring thaw. The Department must also ensure that heavy loads can travel safely without damaging the state’s bridges.
Wisconsin has the toughest OSOW requirements in the Midwest, but the lowest fines and some of the lowest levels of enforcement.
Alternative #2. Adopt a policy that requires the oversize/overweight (OSOW) loads which exceeds statutory weight and/or dimension limits, even if another permit (e.g. State permit) has already been issued.
An OSOW trip permit would be required for any load transported on any street within the City limits of Lake Mills which exceeds statutory oversize/overweight limits, even if another permit (e.g. State permit) has already been issued. By requiring this permit, applicants are given permission to transport an oversize/overweight load on the designated route under the restrictions set forth on the permit document.
One of the most important decisions is which individual or department will function as a OSOW permit office and the related communication linkages between the selected permit agency, WisDOT and the officers in the field who enforce size, weight, and permit laws. These agencies and officers will need to compare permits to the vehicles and loads for which the permits are issued. The following Information is typically needed to issue an OSOW permit.
Vehicle type,
Vehicle make,
Number of axles,
License number or VIN,
State of registration,
Empty and loaded weight of both the towing and towed vehicles,
Load description,
Number of such articles,
Total weight of vehicle and load,
Width, height, length of load towing vehicle,
Towed vehicle and combined vehicle and load,
The number of tires and gross load of each axle,
Axle spacings,
Total gross weight of vehicles and load,
Highways to be used,
Origin and destination of both the loaded trip and return trip,
Requested date of movement,
Number of hours the load will be on the road,
Name and address of the owner of the power unit,
Name and address of the insurance company, the policy number and expiration date.
Most local permits are reviewed by the engineering department. The simpler the permit requirements – the easier the local review process will be. The State has already covered the substantial set of safety and infrastructure protection issues through their permit. There appears to be only two issues that might justify a local permit. The first is a traffic flow analysis which may justify time restrictions over the State’s requirements. The second is the opportunity to add local enforcement to the State permit requirements.
A traffic flow analysis might justify a local permit that adds some time restrictions to the State permit. Potential time restrictions might be 6:00 am to 9:00 am and 3:00 pm to 6:00pm. State reports acknowledge that a lack of enforcement and low penalties encourage violation of the permit requirements. A permit notification requirement would provide the local police department with the information to be able to enforce the permit requirements within our jurisdiction.
Alternative #3. Adopt a policy that designates Highway 89 as class “B” highway within our jurisdiction. Weight limitations on class “B” highways are 60% of class “A” highway weight limitations. This policy would effectively eliminate OSOW loads in the City. We would probably end up in a political fight at the State level to adopt this policy.
Alternative #4. Adopt policies that would reduce conflicts, such as, the street trees be regularly cut to a standard that would reduce conflicts with overheight loads, require all house electric services on the truck route be placed underground, enforcement of distance from the curb parking restriction on Main Street, ask DOT to move the S. Main Street reconstruction timeline up.
This approach acknowledges the benefits of being able to transport these loads and respects the State’s permitting process. The actions are to reduce conflicts between local actions and State goals.
Alternative #5. Council develops their own procedure or utilizes combination of proposed alternatives.
CONSEQUENCES
Whether a particular program is good or bad, efficient or inefficient, depends upon how well it achieves policy objectives. The decision to regulate must address issues of administration, due process, transparency, and information asymmetries. Any new program must reconcile independence with accountability, but the design of regulatory processes requires a careful balance between certainty (rigidity) and flexibility. The former promotes predictability in decision-making and supports keeping commitments. The latter (the exercise of discretion) can facilitate adaptation to changing conditions.
Truck size and weight regulations are important in determining infrastructure construction and maintenance requirements and the cost of freight transportation. All states regulate the sizes and weights of trucks operating on the public roads Federal and state Truck size and weight regulations define the weight and dimensional envelope into which the truck fleet must fit, and this influences the characteristics of the national truck fleet. While federal law regulates truck size and weight, the states use a varied combination of weight limits.
There can be little doubt that wealth generation through economic growth and the issue of permitting of OSOW loads is connected. Bo Delong of the Delong Companies has discussed the impact that OSOW load handling had on his business. The company, in its fourth generation of DeLong family ownership, has 250 employees, including about 110 employees at its headquarters and grain elevator in Clinton, Wisconsin. DeLong estimated that there was an economic savings of $400 per container if the containers could be loaded to ocean line weights and transported from the elevators. At approximately 100,000 containers per year, this would mean $40,000,000 returned to the producers.
Thus, a good performance-based system must be both robust and simple enough to be practical and accommodate growth. A practical system is one that can be easily implemented and enforced. Implementation will require information linkages that are simple and effective. Practicality also can be defined in terms of ease of enforcement.
The structure and implementation of OSOW permitting in the City of Lake Mills would likely be similar to the State in requiring vehicles weighing more than 80,000 pounds or over certain width and height dimensions to have a permit to operate on the local highway system under nondivisible-load permits.
The permit policy would be an expansion of the municipality’s operation obligations, the requirement to review and issue OSOW permits, without the corresponding normative staffing and funding would emerged as an acute and specific problem. The Council will have to determine how to manage service delivery and include the autonomy to determine tariffs and user fees; to determine the mix and level of services; and to design efficient delivery methods.
A permit fee for this type of program is set up to primarily recover the cost of administering the regulatory permit program. The fee associated with this permit is a regulatory fee and is imposed as a result of a need to regulate activities for the collective good, typically for public health, safety, or other protective purposes. Fees purchase a privilege or authorization that applies only to those individuals who want to engage in an activity deemed to have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the community as a whole.
CONCLUSION
The Council’s selection of an alternative will determine the program design, implementation process and fund commitment. The selection of an alternative will have varying results on the OSOW truck traffic through the city and each will depend on the level of fund commitment to the program.
Permit fees are usually set up to primarily recover the cost of administering the permit program. The fee associated with this permit is a regulatory fee and is imposed as a result of a need to regulate activities for the collective good, typically for public health, safety, or other protective purposes. Fees purchase a privilege or authorization that applies only to those individuals who want to engage in an activity deemed to have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the community as a whole.
I would recommend the minimal amount of intervention and design a program that requires a permit notifying the Police Department of time the load will move through the City and a copy of the State permit. The Police Department could than view the load as it moves through the city and determine if they want to inspect to determine if it meets state requirements. This will require specialized training to do the inspections and may require additional equipment.