# Illinois Trucking Compliance: New Agency, Same Rules, and an Old Habit to Unlearn Canonical page: https://fleetregulators.com/locations/illinois Page type: Location guide | Published: 2026-11-07 | Last updated: 2026-11-07 Summary: Illinois trucking rules after the 2026 State Police transfer: 10,001 lb threshold, ICC certificates and cab cards, safety tests, and inspection data. --- Illinois adopts the federal motor carrier safety regulations, including 49 CFR Parts 382, 383, 385, 387, 390 to 393 and 395 to 397, through the Illinois Motor Carrier Safety Law (625 ILCS 5/18b), and defines a commercial motor vehicle from **10,001 pounds** in both interstate and intrastate commerce. Since Public Act 104-0025, the Illinois State Police administers and enforces that law; IDOT's motor carrier and hazmat programs moved to ISP on January 1, 2026. Intrastate exceptions include no federal age-21 minimum, broad agricultural hours exemptions, and a medical grandfather provision for drivers licensed before July 29, 1986. Unlike many states, Illinois does **not** require general intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number. For-hire intrastate property carriers need an Illinois Commerce Commission Public Carrier Certificate, and Illinois-registered trucks need periodic state safety tests. The Illinois statute adopts the federal parts "as now in effect", while the recodified ISP rules (Parts 3320 and 3420) still incorporate the federal text as of October 1, 2014. Public Act 104-0736 (2026) makes ISP's Division of Patrol the lead state agency for Illinois's Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program. On this page 1. Who this guide is for 2. The 2026 move from IDOT to the Illinois State Police 3. Illinois intrastate rules vs federal rules 4. ICC certificates, cab cards, safety tests and emissions 5. What Illinois roadside inspections find 6. Illinois compliance checklist 7. How Fleet Regulators supports Illinois carriers 8. Frequently asked questions 9. Sources ## Who this guide is for Illinois is home to 34,239 interstate carriers in FMCSA's census, the third-largest count of any state, and 83.6% of them run 10 or fewer power units. This guide is for Illinois carriers adjusting to the ISP transfer and for safety managers maintaining Illinois-specific credentials. Chicago-area carriers can also see our [Chicago metro page](https://fleetregulators.com/locations/chicago-il). 34,239 Illinois-based interstate carriers (3rd of 51) 23.5% Vehicle out-of-service rate for Illinois-based carriers 132,046 Inspections reported by Illinois in 24 months ## The 2026 move from IDOT to the Illinois State Police Under Public Act 104-0025 (effective October 1, 2025), "the Department" in the Illinois Motor Carrier Safety Law now means the Illinois State Police, and the personnel who administered the law moved from IDOT to ISP on January 1, 2026. IDOT states that its Motor Carrier Program and Hazardous Materials Program moved to ISP on that date, and that roadside inspection report requests now go to ISP. ISP is authorized to perform commercial vehicle inspections under the recodified Part 396 rules. The old habit to unlearn: many current web pages, carrier policies and training materials still cite "92 Ill. Adm. Code 390, 391, 396" and name IDOT as the safety agency. After the transfer those rules sit in ISP Parts 3320 (formerly 390), 3340 (formerly 391) and 3420 (formerly 396). Update internal policies and contact lists accordingly. ## Illinois intrastate rules vs federal rules | Topic | Federal (interstate) | Illinois intrastate | | --- | --- | --- | | Weight where the rules start | 10,001 lb | 10,001 lb (same definition for interstate and intrastate) | | Minimum driver age | 21 | Federal age rule does not apply to intrastate carriers, drivers or vehicles | | Hours of service exemptions | Agricultural exemption in 395.1(k) | Part 395 does not apply to agricultural operations at any time of year, farm-to-market transport, or grain hauling within 200 air miles of the normal work reporting location | | Log (395.8) exemption radius | 150 air miles (short-haul) | 150 air miles of the normal work reporting location | | Medical standards | 391.41 | Insulin-diabetes and vision standards do not apply to intrastate drivers licensed and driving before July 29, 1986 and disqualified when Part 391 was adopted, unless their crash record shows unsafe driving | | USDOT number and marking | Required for interstate CMVs | Required for intrastate CMVs only when the carrier needs a federal hazmat safety permit | Contract carriers transporting employees in vehicles designed for 15 or fewer passengers have their own Illinois hours limits: 12 hours driving and 15 hours on duty per day, and 70 hours in 7 days (625 ILCS 5/18b-106.1). ## ICC certificates, cab cards, safety tests and emissions - **ICC Public Carrier Certificate:** the Illinois Commerce Commission requires one for for-hire intrastate transportation of property other than household goods. Household goods movers need a separate ICC license. - **ICC cab cards:** each vehicle used in for-hire intrastate transportation must carry a current ICC cab card; carriers subject to UCR are exempt from buying them. - **Truck safety test:** owners of Illinois-registered second division vehicles (trucks) registered over 10,000 pounds, among others, must pass a safety test at an official testing station and hold a certificate of safety. After the first test, vehicles are generally retested at least every 6 months; truck tractors, semitrailers and property-carrying vehicles registered between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds at least every 12 months. The test does not apply to vehicles properly registered in another state. - **Diesel emissions:** intrastate diesel vehicles registered over 16,000 pounds, registered in the listed Chicago-area and Metro East counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, Monroe, St. Clair and Will counties, Aux Sable and Goose Lake townships in Grundy County, and Oswego Township in Kendall County), and two model years or older, are subject to the Illinois Diesel Emission Inspection Program; farm-plated trucks are exempt. ## What Illinois roadside inspections find Inspections reported by Illinois record out-of-service rates below the national average (4.9% driver and 18.1% vehicle, against 6.2% and 22.5%), with brakes, clearance lamps, tires and emergency equipment the most frequent violation groups. Illinois-based carriers, wherever they are inspected, had a vehicle out-of-service rate of 23.5%, close to the national rate, and a driver rate of 4.6%. | Roadside inspections, September 25, 2024 to September 24, 2026 | Illinois | 50 states and DC | | --- | --- | --- | | Inspections reported by the state (all carriers) | 132,046 | 5,653,653 | | Driver out-of-service rate | 4.9% | 6.2% | | Vehicle out-of-service rate | 18.1% | 22.5% | | Driver inspections with at least one HOS violation | 5.7% | 7.8% | | Vehicle inspections with at least one maintenance violation | 41.0% | 48.9% | | Most frequent violation groups at Illinois inspections | Violations | Share of all violations recorded | | --- | --- | --- | | Brakes, other than adjustment (FMCSA: Brakes All Others) | 8,115 | 12.6% | | Clearance and identification lamps (FMCSA: Clearance Identification Lamps/Other) | 4,241 | 6.6% | | Tires | 3,582 | 5.5% | | Emergency Equipment | 3,502 | 5.4% | | Dangerous Driving | 3,407 | 5.3% | Source: Fleet Regulators analysis of FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) input files, monthly run published October 2026, covering roadside inspections recorded September 25, 2024 to September 24, 2026. "In the state" means the inspection was reported by Illinois, whatever the carrier's home state. Driver rates use Level 1, 2, 3 and 6 inspections; vehicle rates use Level 1, 2, 5 and 6. Group names are FMCSA's. Same method as our [HOS roadside violations study](https://fleetregulators.com/research/most-common-hos-roadside-violations). 58.9% of the inspections Illinois reported in this window involved carriers based in another state, and 41.1% involved Illinois-based carriers. These figures describe what inspectors recorded, not how safe carriers in the state are. Rates move with enforcement priorities, which inspection levels a state favors, where it inspects, and which carriers pass through. For an Illinois fleet, the practical lever is maintenance between safety tests: brake adjustment, tires and lighting caught on pre-trips and fixed the same day. See our [Vehicle Maintenance BASIC guide](https://fleetregulators.com/blog/vehicle-maintenance-basic-guide). ## Illinois compliance checklist - Treat every truck of 10,001 lb or more as a commercial motor vehicle, intrastate included. - Update policies and contacts from IDOT and "92 Ill. Adm. Code" references to ISP and the recodified Parts 3320, 3340 and 3420. - For-hire intrastate: hold an ICC Public Carrier Certificate and carry ICC cab cards unless UCR exempts you. - Keep Illinois safety test certificates current on Illinois-registered trucks (6- or 12-month cycle). - If your diesel trucks are registered in the listed Chicago-area or Metro East counties, schedule emissions inspections. - Get a USDOT number for interstate operation or if you need a federal hazmat safety permit. - Maintain driver qualification files (see the [DQ file checklist](https://fleetregulators.com/blog/driver-qualification-file-checklist)) and audit logs, using the agricultural exemptions only when they genuinely apply. ## How Fleet Regulators supports Illinois carriers We support Illinois carriers remotely from Austin, Texas; we have no Illinois office. What we can do: updating safety policies after the ISP transfer, building [driver qualification files](https://fleetregulators.com/driver-qualification-files), setting up [log auditing](https://fleetregulators.com/hours-of-service-compliance), tightening maintenance programs to bring down vehicle out-of-service rates and [CSA scores](https://fleetregulators.com/csa-score-improvement), and preparing for [compliance reviews](https://fleetregulators.com/dot-audit-help). ## Frequently Asked Questions **Who enforces truck safety rules in Illinois now?** The Illinois State Police. Under Public Act 104-0025, ISP administers and enforces the Illinois Motor Carrier Safety Law, and IDOT's motor carrier and hazmat programs moved to ISP on January 1, 2026. **Do Illinois intrastate carriers need a USDOT number?** Not generally. Under the Illinois rules, USDOT registration and marking apply to intrastate commercial vehicles only when the carrier needs a federal hazmat safety permit, and Illinois is not on FMCSA's list of states requiring intrastate USDOT numbers. **Can an 18-year-old drive a truck in Illinois?** For intrastate driving, Illinois does not apply the federal minimum age of 21 under 625 ILCS 5/18b-105. Interstate driving requires age 21, and CDL licensing rules still apply. **What is an Illinois ICC cab card?** A card each vehicle used in for-hire intrastate transportation must carry, issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Carriers subject to UCR are exempt from buying ICC cab cards. **How often must Illinois trucks pass a safety test?** After the initial test, generally at least every 6 months; truck tractors, semitrailers and property-carrying vehicles registered between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds at least every 12 months. The test applies to Illinois-registered vehicles, not trucks properly registered in another state. Sources and Regulatory References - [625 ILCS 5/18b-101, Definitions ↗](https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K18b-101.htm) Illinois General Assembly, P.A. 104-25, effective October 1, 2025; accessed 2026-11-07. - [625 ILCS 5/18b-105, Rules and regulations ↗](https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K18b-105.htm) Illinois General Assembly; accessed 2026-11-07. - [625 ILCS 5/18b-106.1, Employee transportation hours ↗](https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K18b-106.1.htm) Illinois General Assembly; accessed 2026-11-07. - [Public Act 104-0025 ↗](https://ilga.gov/ftp/Public%20Acts/104/104-0025.htm) Illinois General Assembly; accessed 2026-11-07. - [Public Act 104-0736 ↗](https://ilga.gov/ftp/Public%20Acts/104/104-0736.htm) Illinois General Assembly, 2026; accessed 2026-11-07. - [92 Ill. Adm. Code 460, Diesel emission inspection ↗](https://www.ilga.gov/Commission/jcar/admincode/JCARTitlePart.asp?Title=092&Part=0460) Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; accessed 2026-11-07. - [Vehicle Compliance Program ↗](https://idot.illinois.gov/travel-and-maps/safety/vehicle-compliance-program.html) Illinois Department of Transportation; accessed 2026-11-07. - [ISP Part 3320 (formerly 92 Ill. Adm. Code 390) ↗](https://witnessslips.ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/EntirePart?titlepart=09203320) Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; accessed 2026-11-07. - [ISP Part 3420 (formerly 92 Ill. Adm. Code 396) ↗](https://www.ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/EntirePart?titlepart=09203420) Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; accessed 2026-11-07. - [Public Carrier Certificate ↗](https://icc.illinois.gov/authority/public-carrier-certificate) Illinois Commerce Commission; accessed 2026-11-07. - [Motor carrier of property FAQ ↗](https://icc.illinois.gov/authority/Motor-Carrier-Property-FAQ) Illinois Commerce Commission; accessed 2026-11-07. - [625 ILCS 5/13-101, Safety tests ↗](https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K13-101.htm) Illinois General Assembly; accessed 2026-11-07. - [625 ILCS 5/13-109, Safety test frequency ↗](https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/062500050K13-109.htm) Illinois General Assembly; accessed 2026-11-07. - [Do I need a USDOT number? ↗](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/do-i-need-usdot-number) FMCSA, last updated September 3, 2025; accessed 2026-11-07. - [SMS Input - Inspection (dataset rbkj-cgst) ↗](https://data.transportation.gov/d/rbkj-cgst) FMCSA via data.transportation.gov, rows updated 2026-10-13; accessed 2026-11-07. - [SMS Input - Violation (dataset 8mt8-2mdr) ↗](https://data.transportation.gov/d/8mt8-2mdr) FMCSA via data.transportation.gov, rows updated 2026-10-13; accessed 2026-11-07. - [SMS Input - Motor Carrier Census Information (dataset kjg3-diqy) ↗](https://data.transportation.gov/d/kjg3-diqy) FMCSA via data.transportation.gov, rows updated 2026-10-13; accessed 2026-11-07. Last updated November 2026. Prepared by Fleet Regulators from the sources listed above. This page explains regulations in plain English and is not legal advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the agency named in each source before acting.