Illinois lawmakers were working feverishly Thursday, Nov. 20, to pass measures that would roll back higher fees that angered the state's truckers.

The bills all relate to SB841, a bill signed into law by Gov. Rod Blagojevich June 20. That bill added a 36 percent surcharge - called the Commercial Distribution Fee - onto the state's truck registration fees. It also changed the rolling stock exemption.

Seven bills have been introduced to turn back part or all of SB841. Two were making progress as the General Assembly prepared to end its veto session Nov. 20.

An amended version of HB852 that would return the original rolling stock exemption by 2006, end the trucking employee tax credit by 2007 and phase out the Commercial Distribution Fee by 2006 passed the Senate 55-0 Nov. 20. It was headed to a vote in the House at presstime.

A second bill, HB3851, would end the Commercial Distribution Fee after 1 year. Amendments would keep tax exemptions on truck sales for owners who now pay the fee and end the trucking employee tax credit created by SB841.

That bill, introduced Oct. 15 by Rep. William Black, R-Danville, has 16 co-sponsors. Nov. 20 the bill was awaiting a preliminary vote in the House, which had agreed to a shortened debate on the measure.

All the other bills related to SB841 were still listed in committee as the veto session came to a close.

The measure has generated considerable reaction among truckers. More than 200 big rigs joined a protest at the state Capitol Nov. 18. Earlier, hundreds of truckers took part in impassioned meetings in the Chicago area, where they expressed their concerns to state and local officials.

In addition, a number of truckers and trucking companies have told Land Line and other media outlets that they plan to leave Illinois if the fee is not overturned. Rep. Rosemary Mulligan, R-Des Plaines, told the Mount Prospect Times that the number of trucking companies registered in Illinois is declining, while neighboring Indiana has seen its truck registrations climb from 88,290 to 116,326 in one year.

"My office has been flooded with calls from upset truck owners regarding the fees," Mulligan told the newspaper. "Most run small operations and simply cannot afford to pay the hefty new fees."