Illinois Truck Overweight • Operating Violations Defense
The Illinois Vehicle Code defines how much weight a truck can carry on specific types of roads. It is a complicated statute and easy to misinterpret. As a result, many truckers are stopped and fined for being overweight on Illinois roadways. This violation is usually classified as a misdemeanor. However, it can put your commercial driver's license (CDL) in jeopardy. Do not risk your livelihood if you are charged with a truck overweight violation.
Contact our attorneys at 847.412.1863. We are experienced, accessible advocates who fight diligently for you.
Experienced • Knowledgeable
At the Northbrook, Illinois, law firm of Addis, Greenberg & Schultz, L.L.C., our lawyers handle traffic violations cases, including those involving overweight trucks. Attorney Wayne B. Addis, one of our founding partners, was formerly an in-house counsel to a company that used large trucks and heavy machines. He became knowledgeable about state and federal truck weight regulations and now uses this knowledge to defend truckers and trucking companies charged with violating truck weight limits during enforcement campaigns.
How fines are assessed
When a semi exceeds scale limits, either at a weigh station or at a portable scale, the driver and the trucking company can be subject to fines based on the amount the truck is overweight. This is often the case even when the truck was already loaded at the terminal and the driver had nothing to do with the load.
Truck overweight and related tickets can be issued for:
- No flags on an overwide load
- Being overweight on one axle
- Gross overweight for permit carried
- Being overweight for a particular stretch of road
You may lose your commercial driver's license
At our Northbrook, Illinois, law firm, we defend truckers with many different charges of trucking law violations, including speeding and causing a major semi-truck accident. For truck drivers, the stakes are high. They are vulnerable to losing their CDLs (commercial driver's licenses) and their ability to earn a living. Our attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience and use it to defend clients who have been charged with a trucking law violation.
Trucking law • Applies to both drivers and trucking companies
Trucking is a heavily regulated industry. Drivers are required to keep logs of their driving time, perform maintenance inspections, and travel only on roadways for which the truck is licensed. It is easy to violate the countless truck driving laws because of the level of detail they contain.
The operations of trucking companies are also governed by many rules and regulations. They must perform background checks on drivers, provide approved levels of training, and make sure their equipment, such as brakes and hitches, meets state and federal regulations. They must renew licenses and permits in a timely way and maintain proper insurance coverage.
Independent truck drivers are particularly vulnerable to charges that they have violated truck driving laws and caused a semi accident. They do not usually have the backing and legal representation that a large trucking firm can provide. Our law firm defends independent owner-operators as well as large firms.
Defending drivers and companies in Illinois and beyond
We are ready to help you defend your CDL and the profitability of your trucking company. Call us if you have been involved in an truck accident or have been charged with a violation on a highway such as I-90, I-94, I-294, I-290, I-55, I-88 or I-355. Contact our Northbrook law firm at 847.412.1863 to learn how we will put our experience to work for you.
For more information, visit our Truck Violations Information Center.
We can discuss your options
At our law firm, we defend truckers who have received tickets or have been arrested for truck overweight violations. We have successfully negotiated lower fine amounts than those listed in the Illinois Vehicle Code. Depending on the bill of lading and shipping contract, we have also been able to shift liability to the shipper or loader of the overweight trailer.
If you have been charged with operating an overweight truck in the Chicago area, contact the law firm of Addis, Greenberg & Schultz to learn how we can help you. Call us at 847.412.1863.
