Illinois

While record-setting cold weather has let up across many affected portions of the United States, the number of waivers to trucking rules issued by states continues growing.

Texas-based Rush Enterprises, which operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America, is expanding in the Midwest with the aquisition of several dealerships in Illinois and Indiana.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has established the Illinois State Freight Advisory Council to provide a standing forum for coordination of freight multimodal planning in Illinois.

M&K Quality Truck Sales has expanded its presence in the Chicago area, opening a parts sales operation in Melrose Park. Serving customers in the west and northwest Chicago suburbs, M & K Melrose Park becomes the company’s fourth location in the area, and ninth facility overall.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced eastbound I-64 will be closed for approximately 9 days later this month, weather permitting, from the I-55/70/64 split to 18th Street in East St. Louis.

Law enforcement and truckers throughout the United States and Canada will join forces once again this fall for the World's Largest Truck Convoy to benefit Special Olympics. Truckers throughout Illinois are invited to join the annual Illinois convoy on Saturday, Sept. 28 in Tinley Park.

Five state legislatures voted this year to raise speed limits on some divided highways in their states. They’re following the lead of Texas, which last year bumped the speed limit on one stretch to 85 mph, the highest in the nation.

Three Chicago-area household goods moving companies have had their interstate operating authority revoked or suspended due to serious violations of safety and commercial regulations. In addition, all three companies were assessed civil penalties, announced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Work on the U.S. 51 Ohio River bridge between Kentucky and Illinois will begin sometime after July 7 according to the Kentucky DOT. The nature of the work will limit the bridge to a 7-foot maximum load width, which excludes all but passenger vehicles from the crossing for about 60 days.

Illinois lawmakers have given final approval to legislation increasing the speed limit along rural interstate sections to 70 mph, but it's not certain whether the governor will sign it into law.