It could soon be easier for truckers in Illinois who need to
travel off main routes to deliver their loads, fuel up or get rest.
Illinois lawmakers are considering SB218, a measure that
would change restrictions on how far trucks may travel off highways.
Under current state law, certain trucks are allowed to
travel up to 5 highway miles off any state-designated highway for the purposes
of loading or unloading. In addition, those same trucks can travel off any
state-designated highway and travel no more than 5 miles on “any State, county or township highway” to get fuel, food, repairs or rest.
SB218 would allow
those truckers to travel off any highway – not just those designated by the
state – for whatever distance is necessary to load, unload, get a meal, fuel or
repair their vehicles, or obtain needed rest.
The law would simply
require that the trucker take the “shortest practical” route to his or her
destination.
The bill, introduced
by Sen. John Sullivan, D-Quincy, is now before the Senate Transportation
Committee.
