Higher fees for trucks and four-wheelers with two-axle and three-axle trailers will take effect with the arrival of the New Year along routes managed by the Illinois Tollway Authority.

The phased-in toll rate increase, approved in 2008, will be the first for commercial trucks and trailers since 2005, according to the authority. It includes a 40% increase beginning January 1, 2015, plus an additional 10% increase in rates in 2016 and 2017 from 2014 rates.

Beginning in 2018, annual toll rate increases for trucks and trailers will be linked to the Consumer Price Index, the federal government’s primary gauge of inflation.

Overnight discounts averaging 25% will still apply to commercial trucks and trucks and cars with trailers traveling between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The Tollway’s truck rates will average 44 cents per mile in 2015, still in the bottom-half of all toll road agencies in the nation, according to the Illinois Tollway Authority. It said money raised from the toll hikes will be used for improvements and expansions.

The Illinois Tollway Authority maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).

More information can be found on the Illinois Tollway Authority website.