A bill under consideration in Illinois would eliminate a length limit on trucks traveling on county, township, and municipal highways.

Under current Illinois law, a truck can travel up to five miles off highways onto those smaller roads to load and unload or to obtain food, fuel, repairs or rest – but only if the tractor and trailer combined are less than 65 feet in length. HB4134, introduced by Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, would eliminate that length limit.

Sacia told the Rockford Register Star that the old law was based on shorter trailers used in earlier years, and assumed that most tractors would be cabovers. With 53-foot trailers and traditional tractors more common, the law is outdated, he told the newspaper.

Under the bill, the larger, modern trucks would still be restricted to traveling no more than five miles on the county roads.

The bill is now before the House Rules Committee.