Illinois Gov Pat Quinn signed two trucking-related bills into law last week: one that will create a uniform speed limit for cars and trucks on the state's interstates, the other that will create a uniform width limit,
reports the Mid-West Truckers Association.

On Friday, the governor signed House Bill 3956, which creates a uniform 65-mph speed limit for both cars and trucks on rural interstates in Illinois outside of Cook, DuPage, Kane, McHenry, Lake and Will Counties (where the speed limit will remain at 55 mph for both cars and trucks). Currently, Illinois law limits vehicles over 8,000 pounds to 55 mph on rural interstate highways while automobiles may travel at 65 mph.

The new uniform speed limit in Illinois goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2010 and it does not affect secondary roads and streets, which will retain a maximum speed limit of 55 mph or lower for all vehicles. Similar legislation has been passed by the General Assembly three other times in the last seven years, but was vetoed each time by the previous administration.

Earlier in the week, the governor signed legislation raising the legal limit on vehicle width from 96 inches to 102 inches on Class III highways, non-designated highways, and local roads. Prior to passage of the legislation, 102-inch wide vehicles were restricted to Class I and Class II highways only. Effective Jan. 1, 2010, the new law creates a uniform 102-inch width limit on all roads in Illinois.

Last month, the governor signed a capital construction bill that also included uniform 80,000-pound truck access on all roads unless otherwise posted, effective Jan. 1, 2010. Local jurisdictions will still be allowed to post a road because of freeze-thaw cycles or if a bridge or culvert has a restricted weight rating. As a trade-off, some truck overweight fines will increase, with the fine money going into the capital construction fund.