dieselJon

I was driving on the highway today in my lovely, corrupt, dead, no good state of Illinois and saw something that I didn't realize before or it was just put up. On the highways when it says 65 mph, with-in a 1/4 mile they have a second one for people with trucks, trailers, and Semi's. The sign said, and I quote, "55 MPH Trucks Trailers SemisOver 4 Tons





I know some Megacabs tip the weights close to 9k pounds and the Stoopid Dutys are close to 10k!

Glad I have my 1st Gen, 6200 lbs.

madhat

I'm at 7400-ish...

ripping r

my truck is close to that but not over. 7,250 with me and a full tank.

smalltownTPull

my mega is 7900lbs right now, neighbors F350CC dually with transfer fuel tank and toolboxes is 10,300lbs

They just did away with that law in illinois this year, its now 65 for everybody.

they also made all roads 80,000 lbs(excpet where marked) but they doubled the overweight fines!!

STate

I thought "truck" meant OTR truck, or dumptruck...not pickup. I am well under 8K lbs. But if I was over...say I had a concrete bedliner. One; who would know?, and Two; Who would enforce it?

I would think that sign is meant for the heavy haulers. Am I wrong in thinking that way?

Scott

012500owner

this is a deal where in my opinion it depends on how you read the sign it means different things to different people...for example when you go past a weigh station and the sign reads "all trucks must enter when flashing" some people will take that as big trucks(tri axles semis box trucks) while others will read it exactly as its written ALL TRUCKS meaning any truck which has a load in bed or a trailer behind.all depends on your interpration of the sign

dieselfreak21

it has been that way in illinois for year. It makes the road very dangerous over there. They won't mess with a pick up unless it is towing something or has box on the back. Usually won't mess with your if you pulling a boat but RV or goose neck they will. I have been able to plead ignorance with the LEO it how I know all this. Got popped witha good neck and rv at 65 mph. Said I should be doing 55.

Side not sure if a urban legend but the governor that pushed for that and signed it into law, daught was killed because the ran into the back of a tractor trailer doing the 55 and they where doing 65 or 70 and came over a hill and she re-ended the truck and died. But that could just be urban legend. But that is illinois for you. Sort of a pandemic until you get past Ohio.

rich

believe the 4 tons is hauling capacity not weight, in most states a truck is a straight frame truck over a 1 ton pick up. like a 450 and up

FarmerJim

Law changes here in Illinois the 1st of this year with trucks up to 65 MPH but they have not gotten the new signage up yet.

TonyB

California has had similar singage, since the 55mph federal limit was lifted. Anything towing a trailer is limited to 55 and restricted to the right lane, unless passing.

Tony

Scotty

Traveled through IL many many times. Had the opportunity to talk to a DOT there a few times. Never got a fine and each one had their own interpretation of that 55 MPH law. I found it to be difficult to maintain the 55 in some areas because the traffic was so heavy...ended up over in the slow lane around 50 mph. Otherwise I would be in the middle or fast lane well over 65. Go with the flow.

From what I am reading on here, that 55 law is no longer? Is there a link to it?

Scotty

dodgeguy71

Seems like it was like that going up through Ohio to Toledo? Been a year since I was up that way and only been that way once but it sure rings familiar?

I know I have run across that before and found myself reading every sign to figure it out. My rig is around 9300#'s and was toting the trailer(empty) but typically puts me around 12,500lbs. Was getting passed by everything in site except for everyone doing 45mph in the right lane. Jumped in behind a trailer truck for awhile then just run out and left him and kept it at a steady 65. They need to stop messing with the speeds like this on the roads.

These guys can only go this fast blah, blah. Talk about choking down traffic. Teach people how to drive, seems like people no longer remember that the left lane is not the "fast lane" it's the "PASSING LANE". If you ain't passing don't park your junker over there going dead on the speed limit slowing everyone else down, get over in the right lane or "Cruising Lane". We may be speeding but it's not your job to slow us unless your law enforcement.

RobG

This is primarily, like any speed-reduction law, a revenue thing. Other states have figured out that California has a cash cow by requiring 55. It's absolutely stupid because the speed differential is what causes so many problems.

BUT... my last two trips, one from San Jose to SoCal, and one from SoCal to Glamis and back, I was almost the only one doing anywhere near 55. I run 60-62 mph because it's the sweet spot for my truck, where I get the best mileage. 62 is actually better than 60, but in CA I set cruise at 59-60. But most people towing, including semis, would blow past me at 70+.

Rob