The Danger of Exceeding Truck Cargo Limits in Illinois

Illinois is a hub for commercial truck transportation. These trucks carry goods across the state and state lines. This process helps keep the economy going and provides employment opportunities for commercial truck drivers. 

However, with truck transportation comes the issue of overloaded or oversized trucks. This poses a threat to the public’s safety and the safety of other drivers. 

If you are considering a commercial truck driving career, it is crucial to be aware of the regulations regarding this industry. For instance, your truck cargo load height should not exceed 13.6 feet. Ignoring this regulation could lead to dire consequences for drivers and trucking companies.

Why It Is Crucial Not to Exceed Cargo Height Limits

Federal and state regulations dictate the weight and dimension limits for truck cargo. In Illinois, one of the most important cargo limits is height. Trucks that exceed a cargo limit of 13.6 feet create a potential hazard on the road. 

This limit is necessary to ensure trucks can pass under bridges and overpasses without crashing into them. 

Ignoring height restrictions can be disastrous. As mentioned, exceeding height limits is one of the primary causes of trucks hitting bridges and overpasses. Often, these collisions are catastrophic, causing severe infrastructure damage. They can also cause injuries or fatalities if motorists are on a bridge at the time of the crash. 

Moreover, oversized or overloaded trucks can lose their load during transit. This often happens on uneven road surfaces or when making sharp turns. When cargo spills onto the road, it creates a deadly hazard for other drivers. 

Also, improperly loaded trucks with cargo that exceed height limits are often unstable. This can make it difficult to steer the truck and makes it more likely that a driver will lose control. In turn, this could lead to a rollover or jackknife. 

The Extended Consequences of Oversized Loads

Unfortunately, the dangers of overshooting truck cargo limits also extend beyond accidents. 

The more overloaded the truck, the bigger the traffic disruption. Trucks that lose a massive load on a highway will cause disruptions to the daily commute and impact business operations. It will also take longer to clear the debris from the accident and repair damaged infrastructure.

If the infrastructure happens to be a bridge or overpass, it can mean extensive damage. Repairing these large structures can take a long time and put other important projects on hold. 

Furthermore, the type of cargo lost during an accident can also cause an environmental risk. For instance, if the cargo consists of chemicals or fuel, it can contaminate the air, ground, and nearby water sources. 

Also, these kinds of accidents can hurt the local economy. 

The Most Tragic Consequences of Truck Accidents

Beyond damage to the infrastructure and the money and time spent on cleaning and fixing it, there is a much more tragic consequence to consider. Truck accidents resulting from overloading or oversizing can cause injury and death on the road. 

Truck drivers, motorists, passengers, bystanders, and pedestrians are all at risk of being injured or killed because of a truck accident. 

Therefore, the responsibility must lie with trucking companies and drivers to ensure their trucks always adhere to cargo limit regulations. 

Drivers must check that their truck gets loaded according to legal weight and height restrictions. They should inspect their load before heading out and look up potential route restrictions beforehand. 

At the same time, trucking companies must ensure their drivers get proper training on loading practices and know the consequences of overloading. 

What Happens When Trucks Do Not Comply With Cargo Limits?

If trucking companies violate cargo limit regulations, they may face fines. Some of these fines may exceed $1,500. 

If the authorities pull over a truck which is found to violate cargo limitations, they may impound the vehicle. This alone will cause significant delays and disruption for the trucking company. 

If a driver repeatedly gets caught driving an overloaded truck, they could have their license suspended. In addition, if the truck crashes and causes damages or injury to others, the trucking company and driver may be liable for compensation. 

It Is Better to Focus on Safety First

Sadly, penalties are often the first deterrent only after a disastrous accident. 

Trucking companies must focus on safety to avoid injury, death, and infrastructure damage. Drivers should be skilled enough to know when a truck is overloaded. They should also receive ongoing training on safe loading practices, weight distribution, and sticking to cargo limits. 

This training should include different types of cargo and highlight potential hazards.

There should always be a pre-trip inspection to ensure the weight and height of a truck’s cargo comply with regulations. Moreover, the load should be secure to prevent toppling on uneven roads or if the driver has to brake suddenly.  

Fortunately, there are technologies and software systems that trucking companies can implement to help determine height and weight before a truck goes on its next trip. 

Several Parties Must Work Together to Ensure Safe Truck Transportation

It is also crucial for several stakeholders to work together to ensure safer roads. Truck drivers and trucking companies can do their part, but law enforcement should enforce weight and height regulations.

It may also work to strengthen legislation with harsher penalties for companies that continuously exceed cargo limits. This may serve as a deterrent for other companies who may consider violating cargo limits to save money and time. 

Safety Is Achievable Through Collaboration 

Ultimately, overloaded and oversized trucks are a hazard. Too often, crashes resulting from overloading lead to horrendous consequences. 

This is why it is so vital to promote a safer road transportation culture. This will allow trucking companies to thrive while avoiding penalties and worse consequences.

There should never be justification for overloading a truck and sending a driver across state lines, knowing that an accident can happen at any time. There should be a constant focus on safety to ensure drivers and other road users stay safe.