Wis. Stat. § 348.27

(1) Applications. All applications for annual, consecutive month or multiple trip permits for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles or loads 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 subs. (2) and (4) to (14) shall be made upon forms prescribed by the department.

(3) General permits. For good cause in specified instances for specified construction or maintenance operations or for a specified period, the officer or agency in charge of maintenance of a highway may allow loads exceeding the size or weight limitations imposed by this chapter to be hauled on such highway. No such officer or agency shall issue such permits for use of a highway the cost of maintenance of which is paid by a unit of government other than the unit of government which such officer or agency represents.

(4) Industrial interplant permits. The department may issue, to industries and to their agent motor carriers owning and operating oversize vehicles in connection with interplant, and from plant to state line, operations in this state, annual or consecutive month permits for the operation of such vehicles over designated routes, provided that such permit shall not be issued under this section to agent motor carriers or, except for that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78 and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage upon their federal designation as I 39, from plant to state line for vehicles or loads of width exceeding 102 inches upon routes of the national system of interstate and defense highways. If the routes desired to be used by the applicant involve city or village streets or county or town highways, the application shall be accompanied by a written statement of route approval by the officer in charge of maintenance of the highway in question.

(9) Transportation of loads near the Michigan-Wisconsin state line. (a) The department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation on a vehicle or combination of vehicles of loads exceeding statutory length or weight limitations over any class of highway for a distance not to exceed 11 miles from the Michigan-Wisconsin state line, except that a vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting exclusively peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise may operate under such a permit anywhere upon USH 2 in Iron County or Ashland County if the vehicle or combination of vehicles is traveling between this state and Michigan and does not violate length or weight limitations established, as of April 28, 2004, under Michigan law. If the roads desired to be used by the applicants involve streets or highways other than those within the state trunk highway system, the application shall be accompanied by a written statement of route approval by the officer in charge of maintenance of the other highway. (b) For a vehicle or combination of vehicles the weight of which exceeds any of the provisions of s. 348.15 (3) , the fee for an annual permit under this subsection shall be one of the following: 1. If the gross weight is 90,000 pounds or less, $100. 2. If the gross weight is more than 90,000 pounds but not more than 100,000 pounds, $175. 3. If the gross weight is greater than 100,000 pounds, $175 plus $50 for each 10,000-pound increment or fraction thereof by which the gross weight exceeds 100,000 pounds. (c) The fee for a consecutive month permit under this subsection for a vehicle or combination of vehicles the weight of which exceeds any of the provisions of s. 348.15 (3) shall be determined in the manner provided in s. 348.25 (8) (bm) , except that the applicable fee for an annual permit under par. (b) shall be used in the computation. (9m) Transportation of raw forest and agricultural products. (a) The department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation of any of the following: 1. Raw forest products or of fruits or vegetables from field to storage or processing facilities in vehicles or vehicle combinations that exceed the maximum gross weight limitations under s. 348.15 (3) (c) by not more than 10,000 pounds. A permit under this subdivision is not valid on highways designated as part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, except on I 39 between STH 29 south of Wausau and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage in Marathon, Portage, Waushara, Marquette and Columbia counties. 2. Bulk potatoes from storage facilities to rail loading facilities in vehicle combinations that exceed the maximum gross weight limitations under s. 348.15 (3) (c) by not more than 10,000 pounds. A permit under this subdivision shall be valid only on USH 51 between CTH “V" and CTH “B" in Waushara and Portage counties, and for a distance not to exceed 15 miles from that portion of USH 51 in order to obtain access to USH 51 or to reach fuel, food, maintenance, repair, rest, staging, terminal facilities or points of loading or unloading. 3. Bulk potatoes from storage facilities to food processing facilities in vehicles or vehicle combinations that exceed the maximum gross weight limitations under s. 348.15 (3) (c) by not more than 10,000 pounds. A permit under this subdivision is not valid on highways designated as part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, except to the extent permitted by federal law without any loss or reduction of federal aid or other sanction. (b) A permit issued under par. (a) does not authorize the operation of any vehicle or vehicle combination at a maximum gross weight in excess of 90,000 pounds. (9r) Transportation of scrap. The department may issue an annual or consecutive month permit for the transportation of metallic or nonmetallic scrap for the purpose of recycling or processing on a vehicle or combination of vehicles which exceeds statutory weight or length limitations and for the return of the vehicle or combination of vehicles when empty. This subsection does not apply to the transportation of scrap on highways designated as part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78 and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage upon their federal designation as I 39. (9t) Transportation of potatoes. The department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation of potatoes intended for use as seed in specially configured vehicle combinations that exceed the maximum gross weight limitations under s. 348.15 (3) (c) by not more than 10,000 pounds. A permit issued under this subsection does not authorize the operation of any vehicle combination at a maximum gross weight in excess of 90,000 pounds. A permit under this subsection may authorize operation during a spring thaw and shall be valid only on STH 64 between CTH "H" and USH 41 in Langlade, Oconto and Marinette counties; USH 41 between STH 64 and the Wisconsin-Michigan border; and any highway for a distance not to exceed 15 miles from any portion of STH 64 or USH 41 specified in this subsection in order to obtain access to STH 64 or USH 41 or to reach fuel, food, maintenance, repair, rest, staging, terminal facilities or points of loading or unloading. The department shall establish by rule configuration requirements for vehicle combinations under this subsection and such requirements may permit vehicle combinations to exceed the length requirements of s. 348.07 . The department may establish by rule an alternative route for any portion of a highway specified in this subsection. (10) Transportation of grain or coal or iron. The department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation of loads of grain, as defined in s. 126.01 (13) , coal, iron ore concentrates or alloyed iron on a vehicle or a combination of 2 or more vehicles that exceeds statutory weight or length limitations and for the return of the empty vehicle or combination of vehicles over any class of highway for a distance not to exceed 5 miles from the Wisconsin state line. If the roads desired to be used by the applicant involve streets or highways other than those within the state trunk highway system, the application shall be accompanied by a written statement of route approval by the officer in charge of maintenance of the other highway. This subsection does not apply to highways designated as part of the national system of interstate and defense highways. (11m) Agricultural emergency permits. (a) If the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection determines that an agricultural emergency exists, the secretary of transportation may authorize the issuance of permits to allow vehicles that are transporting loads of hay in bales and, from September 15 to December 15 of each year, loads of Christmas trees from the point of harvesting or staging to a Christmas tree yard or point of commercial shipment to exceed the width limitation under s. 348.05 (1) if the total outside width does not exceed 12 feet. This authorization is limited to the operation of commercial motor vehicles upon routes of the national system of interstate and defense highways. (b) In authorizing the issuance of permits under this subsection, the secretary of transportation shall specify in writing the factors which resulted in the determination to issue permits under this subsection. The factors shall include the effect of the increased width limits on highway safety. (c) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit the department to waive the requirements of s. 348.07 . (d) The secretary of transportation may limit the application of permits issued under this subsection to specific areas of the state or to specific highways. A permit authorized under this subsection takes effect upon the mailing of a complete application and the required fee to the department. A permit authorized under this subsection is valid for up to 90 days, as determined by the secretary of transportation. (12) Transportation of garbage or refuse. The department may issue an annual or consecutive month permit for the transportation of garbage, as defined in s. 289.01 (9) , or refuse, in a self-compactor equipped vehicle which exceeds statutory weight and length limitations and for the return of the vehicle when empty. A permit under this subsection may be issued for use on any highway within this state. In this subsection, "refuse" means combustible and noncombustible rubbish, including paper, wood, metal, glass, cloth and products thereof, litter and street rubbish, ashes, and lumber, concrete and other debris resulting from the construction or demolition of structures. (13) Vehicle train permits. The department for the state trunk highways or the officer in charge of maintenance in the case of other highways may issue an annual or consecutive month permit for not more than 3 vehicles being drawn or attached if the vehicles are being transported by the drive-away method in saddle-mount combination. No vehicle 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 may be issued for any train exceeding 65 feet in total length. (14) Farm machinery permits. The department may issue annual or consecutive month permits for the movement, towing or hauling of farm tractors exceeding 12 feet in width and all other farm machinery and implements of husbandry exceeding 8 feet 6 inches in width not being operated in the course of performance of its work on highways designated as part of the national system of interstate and defense highways. A permit under this subsection is not required for the movement, towing or hauling of any overwidth machinery that is not a commercial motor vehicle and which is authorized by s. 348.05 (3) on that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78 and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage upon their federal designation as I 39.