SPRINGFIELD – Illinois farmers will be able to seek free permits from the Department of Transportation to exceed weight limits on Illinois highways during harvest season thanks to a harvest emergency declaration issued Friday by Governor Bruce Rauner.
“By lifting these weight limits, Illinois farmers will be able to move their crops from the field to markets in a more efficient fashion,” said Rep. Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore). “This will help keep our famers competitive with farmers from other states which already have higher weight limits during the harvest.”
The move comes just days after the Governor signed legislation creating a permanent system of permits for Illinois farmers to obtain higher weight limits for the vehicles which transport crops during the harvest season. The new legislation, House Bill 5749, takes effect on January 1. The Governor’s action makes the permits available immediately: just in time for the 2018 harvest.
More information on obtaining the permits can be found at the Illinois Department of Transportation’s website at https://webapps.dot.illinois.gov/ITAP.