Lake County Gazette

Illinois trucking businesses will deal with fewer regulatory strains on their revenue thanks to legislation sponsored by Rep. Nick Sauer (R-Lake Barrington) that Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law recently, according to a press release from Sauer.

House Bill 3172 brings Illinois laws on inspections for semi-trucks and similar carrier vehicles into alignment with federal regulations. Previously, the state required these vehicles to be inspected every six months, as opposed to the federal requirement of every 12 months. This standard was more stringent than many of Illinois’ neighboring states, placing a strain on trucking businesses operating in the state, according to the press release.

The previous inspection schedule meant that businesses were required to pay twice as much as out-of-state competitors, but more importantly it meant that their vehicles were out of operation twice a year. According to Sauer’s release, small businesses could lose thousands of dollars while their vehicles were out of service.

Rep. Nick Sauer (R-Lake Barrington) | Rep. Nick Sauer (R-Lake Barrington) General Assembly Representative Biography

“Illinois’ economy is at a competitive disadvantage compared to other states because of overregulation,” Sauer said in spring when the legislation advanced from the House, according to the release. “Bringing our regulatory system into parity with federal standards and other growing states can make us more competitive. This is exactly what House Bill 3172 does for Illinois’ trucking companies and independent truckers.”