Read More About the Toll Increase Approved By Illinois Lawmakers
Illinois Lawmakers Approve 30% Toll Increase
Illinois lawmakers have approved a controversial toll plan that will raise commercial truck tolls by 30% starting in 2027. The decision has sparked strong backlash from the state’s trucking industry.
The measure, passed on October 31, funds a $1.5 billion overhaul of Illinois’ transit system. It replaces the Regional Transportation Authority with a new Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA). Passenger vehicle tolls will also rise by 45 cents. The bill now awaits Governor JB Pritzker’s signature.
Trucking leaders warn that the toll hikes will raise shipping costs and strain local carriers. Matt Hart, executive director of the Illinois Trucking Association, said the increase will make it more expensive to deliver goods throughout the Chicagoland area and across the Midwest.
“It’s going to cost us more to transport manufactured freight and deliver the goods Americans need,” Hart said, pledging to fight the measure or seek a phased-in alternative.
Mike Moran, president of Moran Transportation Corp., called the plan crippling. He estimates it will raise his company’s annual toll expenses to $1.6 million. The increase could also limit investments in safety, equipment, and employee benefits.
“This is one of the most critical challenges we’ve faced in decades,” Moran told Transport Topics. “It will force carriers to pass costs to customers and could put some out of business.”
Under the plan, Illinois will redirect sales tax on motor fuel to fund transit operations. This change is expected to generate $860 million annually. The state will also allow a 0.25% sales tax increase in the Chicago metro area. The major provisions take effect on June 1, 2026.
Governor Pritzker defended the bill. He said it “modernizes Illinois’ transit network without raising broad-based taxes” while improving infrastructure reliability and efficiency.
However, trucking advocates argue that steep toll increases threaten regional freight operations. Carriers hauling in and out of the Chicago logistics hub — one of the busiest freight corridors in the U.S. — may face the hardest impact.
Keep Your Other Costs Low
With rising tolls and higher operating expenses, trucking companies across Illinois and the Midwest are feeling the pressure. Reliable cash flow is more important than ever.
Porter Freight Funding helps carriers stay ahead of these changes. We turn invoices into immediate working capital — so you can cover tolls, fuel, and maintenance without slowing down.
Source: Transport Topics
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