Illinois charges 59.6¢ per gallon in diesel taxes — 3rd highest nationally. If you run east-west freight through Chicago, calculate your IL IFTA liability and plan fuel stops in Missouri (19.0¢) to cut costs significantly.
Illinois's diesel tax rate of 59.6 cents per gallon is the third highest in the US. Illinois taxes include both a flat motor fuel tax and a sales tax component applied to diesel at the wholesale level. For Chicago-corridor freight, this adds meaningful cost on top of already-expensive tollway fees.
Chicago is the single most important freight junction in North America — over 50% of all US freight passes within 500 miles of Chicago. But for IFTA planning, Illinois's high rate means you should fuel up completely in Missouri (19.0¢/gal) before heading east. That's a 40.6¢/gal difference. On a 150-gallon fill, that's $61 in IFTA savings per fill.
I-80 (East-West, Chicago South): Iowa border east through Joliet, Chicago south suburbs to Indiana. The highest-volume commercial freight corridor in the US.
I-90/I-94 (Chicago Metro): Wisconsin border through Chicago to Indiana. Major urban congestion — plan for significant idle time and toll costs.
I-55 (Chicago to St. Louis): Chicago south through Springfield to the MO border. Fuel up on the Missouri side before heading north.
I-70 (East-West, Southern IL): St. Louis border east through Effingham to Indiana. Less congested east-west alternative to I-80.