“A Miserable Blow” – Trucking Industry Faces Crushing Toll Hikes in Illinois

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Intro – When the Road Becomes a Tax Trap

Starting in 2027, Illinois truckers are going to feel the kind of hit that doesn't just sting — it bleeds. With a 30% toll hike aimed directly at commercial trucks and recurring increases every two years, fleets big and small are bracing for what one CEO called a “miserable blow.”

Mike Moran, the CEO of Moran Transportation Corp., pulled no punches. His company alone expects $360,000 in extra toll costs. But he’s not the only one. Truckers across the state — and even those just passing through — are about to pay a whole lot more just to do their jobs.

The Toll Hike Breakdown

📅 Effective: January 1, 2027

🚛 Commercial trucks: +30% increase in tolls

🚗 Passenger vehicles: +45¢ per toll

🔁 Beginning in 2029: Automatic biennial toll increases tied to CPI (up to 4%)

This comes courtesy of Senate Bill 2111, a bill snuck through as part of a package to save Illinois’ public transportation funding shortfall. And now truckers are footing the bill. Literally.

Real-World Impact: It’s More Than Just “Extra Money”

• Small fleets will suffer – or disappear
Moran says it plain: smaller trucking companies are already hanging on by a thread. An extra six figures in tolls could be the final straw.

• Rates will rise — and so will everything else
Guess who pays when truckers pay more? You do. Freight rates go up, shippers charge more, and prices at the store follow. It’s not just a toll hike — it’s a supply chain tax.

• Risky detours will become more common
If tolls skyrocket, don’t be surprised to see more 18-wheelers on local roads like Lake Cook and Route 83 — roads not built for that kind of weight or traffic. More risk, more wear, and sadly... more accidents.

• Bigger companies will absorb it, and grow

stronger
Once again, the little guys take the hit. Large carriers can absorb the increase or negotiate better rates. Small fleets? They eat it or exit the game.

Multiple Perspectives — What the Headlines Aren’t Saying

💼 Carriers: Many are reviewing every route and load to determine if hauling through Illinois is even worth it anymore.

👨‍✈️ Owner-operators: This is the type of policy that makes you question staying in the industry altogether. When your margins are thin, 30% feels like a brick wall.

🏛️ Politicians: Lawmakers say the toll hike helps keep the public transit system alive — and the toll system hasn't been raised in 13 years. But is balancing the state budget on the backs of truckers the answer?

👀 General public: Most people don’t realize that everything — from the bread in your pantry to the medicine in your cabinet — rides on a truck. When trucking suffers, we all do.

The Bottom Line: It’s Not Just a Toll — It’s a Warning

This isn’t about Illinois alone. If this passes without a fight, what state is next?

Toll hikes, automatic increases, fuel surcharges, compliance fees — it's all coming down the pike. And the industry is being nickel-and-dimed into the graveyard.

For truckers, this is a reminder that you have to think beyond the wheel. The game is changing. The road is getting more expensive. And the time to plan your escape route — or backup plan — is now.

🚨 Call to Action – Protect Your Future

➡ Want to future-proof your life in trucking or get started on a better path in the industry?
👉 Visit LifeAsATrucker.com

💰 Looking for ways to earn extra money while still driving or build something that lets you leave trucking on your terms?
👉 Head over to OffDutyMoney.com
and learn how drivers are using their downtime to stack income without leaving the cab.