Heavy Equipment Transport in Illinois
Excavators, dozers, loaders and tractors moved across Illinois on the trailer each machine needs, with the state's oversize permits arranged before pickup.
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Every carrier is vetted for operating authority and insurance, and we check the certificate before every dispatch, not once a year. USDOT 3411782 · MC 1100274
At a glance
Shipping in Illinois at a glance
The facts that decide how a load moves here. Regulatory figures link to the official page they come from.
- I-55
- I-57
- I-64
- I-70
- I-72
- I-74
- I-80
- I-88
- I-90
- I-94
- I-39
- I-24
- I-290
- I-294
- Port of Chicago (Illinois International Port District)
- Port of Metropolitan St. Louis
- Port of Peoria
How freight moves in Illinois
Freight in Illinois runs on I-55, I-57, I-64, I-70, I-72 and I-74. Ocean and river cargo moves through Port of Chicago (Illinois International Port District), Port of Metropolitan St. Louis and Port of Peoria. The state's economy leans on intermodal and rail freight, corn and soybean farming and grain, manufacturing (machinery, food, chemicals) and pharmaceuticals and life sciences, and that is most of what moves on its roads.
Rules of the road
What shapes a move in Illinois
- When oversize loads can travel
In Illinois, oversize loads up to 12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high and 200 ft long may move around the clock with an extra escort in darkness, loads up to 14 ft 6 in wide and 15 ft high move from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset seven days a week, larger loads move on weekdays in daylight (and until noon on Saturdays up to 16 ft wide and 17 ft high), and loads above 16 ft wide or 17 ft high move only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Source ↗
- Escort vehicles
In Illinois, one civilian escort is required for loads over 14 ft 6 in wide, over 14 ft 6 in high or over 110 ft long, three escorts above 16 ft wide, 18 ft high or 145 ft long, and an Illinois State Police escort above 18 ft wide, 18 ft high or 200 ft long. Source ↗
- Seasonal conditions
Some county highway departments, such as Winnebago County in northern Illinois, post seasonal weight limits on county roads during the late-winter and spring thaw, typically for four to six weeks.
IDOT permit moves may not be made when the highway is covered with snow or ice, when visibility is unduly impaired by rain, snow or fog, or whenever the Illinois State Police consider travel unsafe.
Rules change. The specialist on your move checks the current ones for your exact route before anything is booked.
Permits by state
If the route leaves Illinois
Every state a load crosses issues its own oversize permit. These are the offices next door, closest first, with their legal limits.
Missouri
MoDOT · Missouri Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services
Legal height: 14 ft on Interstates and designated highways (13 ft 6 in on other roads)
Legal width: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Iowa
Iowa DOT · Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
Legal height: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Legal width: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Indiana
Indiana DOR · Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services
Legal height: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Legal width: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Wisconsin
WisDOT · Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services
Legal height: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Legal width: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Kentucky
KYTC · Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Carriers
Legal height: 13 ft 6 in (14 ft for car haulers)
Legal width: 8 ft 6 in on Interstates, parkways and designated highways (8 ft on other roads)
Cities
Heavy Equipment Transport by city in Illinois
These are the busiest pickup points. Any address in Illinois works, including the towns between them.
ChicagoCook County
Chicago is the main freight rail hub of North America, where the major U.S. railroads interchange cargo, and it is also a leading trucking and air cargo center where I-90, I-94, I-55 and I-57 meet.
- I-90
- I-94
- I-55
- I-57
JolietWill County
Joliet, southwest of Chicago, has long been a transportation hub where I-55 and I-80 run close together, and the Joliet and Elwood area is home to large intermodal terminals and warehouse parks.
- I-80
- I-55
- I-355
PeoriaPeoria County
Peoria, on the Illinois River in central Illinois, is a river barge and grain shipping point at the crossing of I-74 and I-474, with a heavy-equipment manufacturing base.
- I-74
- I-474
- I-155
RockfordWinnebago County
Rockford, in northern Illinois at the I-90 and I-39 junction, has a deep base of aerospace and machinery manufacturing and an international airport with a significant air cargo operation.
- I-90
- I-39
- US-20
AuroraKane County
Aurora, on I-88 about 40 miles west of Chicago, is the second-largest city in Illinois and a Fox Valley center for manufacturing, rail and distribution.
- I-88
- US-30
- US-34
East St. LouisSt. Clair County
East St. Louis is on the Mississippi River across from St. Louis, Missouri, in the Metro East, where I-55, I-64 and I-70 cross the river and rail yards and river terminals serve the St. Louis region.
- I-55
- I-64
- I-70
MolineRock Island County
Moline is one of the Quad Cities on the Mississippi River, where I-74 crosses into Iowa, with river locks, rail service and a long history of farm and construction equipment manufacturing.
- I-74
- I-80
- I-280
SpringfieldSangamon County
Springfield, the state capital, is in central Illinois where I-55, the Chicago to St. Louis route, meets I-72.
- I-55
- I-72
Heavy Equipment Transport
Trailers and machines
RGN (removable gooseneck)
The neck detaches so tracked and wheeled machines drive on at deck level.
Lowboy
A deck close to the ground for tall machines that would break the legal height on a flatbed.
Step deck
For loaders, tractors and skid steers that clear the height limit on its lower deck.
Flatbed
For attachments, smaller machines and anything loaded by forklift or crane.
Questions about shipping in Illinois
Who issues oversize permits in Illinois?
The Illinois Department of Transportation, Oversize/Overweight Permit Office (IDOT). A load over the legal limits (13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) tall, 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) wide) needs its permit for the exact route, and it is arranged before pickup so the machine does not wait at the yard.
When can an oversize load travel in Illinois?
In Illinois, oversize loads up to 12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high and 200 ft long may move around the clock with an extra escort in darkness, loads up to 14 ft 6 in wide and 15 ft high move from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset seven days a week, larger loads move on weekdays in daylight (and until noon on Saturdays up to 16 ft wide and 17 ft high), and loads above 16 ft wide or 17 ft high move only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
When does Illinois require escort vehicles?
In Illinois, one civilian escort is required for loads over 14 ft 6 in wide, over 14 ft 6 in high or over 110 ft long, three escorts above 16 ft wide, 18 ft high or 145 ft long, and an Illinois State Police escort above 18 ft wide, 18 ft high or 200 ft long.
Are there seasonal restrictions in Illinois?
Some county highway departments, such as Winnebago County in northern Illinois, post seasonal weight limits on county roads during the late-winter and spring thaw, typically for four to six weeks. IDOT permit moves may not be made when the highway is covered with snow or ice, when visibility is unduly impaired by rain, snow or fog, or whenever the Illinois State Police consider travel unsafe.
Which trailer does my machine need?
The machine decides: its weight, height, width and whether it drives on. Tracked machines usually ride an RGN or a lowboy, loaders and tractors a step deck, attachments a flatbed. With the make, model and dimensions we tell you which before we quote.
How fast do you reply to a quote request?
In under 10 minutes during business hours, by text or phone for a move inside the U.S., and on WhatsApp for one going to Mexico.
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Our logistics specialists are standing by. We reply in under 10 minutes.
Every carrier is vetted for operating authority and insurance, and we check the certificate before every dispatch, not once a year. USDOT 3411782 · MC 1100274