this summer, I had occasion to drive my car nearly a thousand miles on interstates in Illinois (not all in one trip!!!), and a lesser amount in Ohio. Both of these post a speed limit of 55 for trucks.

I drove 65. During all those miles, I never once passed a truck. Most of them passed me.

The best I could tell, most truckers were running 65 to 70 in these 55 mph states, and a significant number seemed to be going faster than 70. Is this what "everyone" does? Is this what you do?

chart of speed limits by state

 

I can tell you one thing for sure. Do 65-70 mph in Ohio very much and, unless you are on the toll road, you will eventually be stopped and most likely ticketed.

What I do in Ohio, Illinois and Michigan is set the cruise somewhere around or just under 60 mph and I really don't pay much attention to what other drivers are doing. Several will pass me and I will occasionally pass another truck. I've been told that you can "get away with" 60-62, but go much over that and they'll nail ya! Truthfully, we've all done this forever in our 4 wheelers and we won't be much different in a big truck.

You can drive 70 across these states all you want, I see guys doing it all the time. However, once you get pulled over and they go through your truck and log with a fine-tooth comb, you'll have to decide whether you want to continue driving like this or slow it down a little. I met a guy a few weeks ago who said he sets his cruise on 80 mph everywhere he goes. I called BS on that and told him that I highly doubted he was telling the truth.

 

Most states won't bother you if you are no more than about 5 mph over the posted speed limit, unless you are in a construction zone. Some get a bit testy when you speed through a construction site. Redsfan, I think if this guy set his cruise at 80 mph through all states he traveled, he would no longer have a CDL. :roll:

 

I saw more OHP patrol cars on the turnpike than I ever saw on the non-tolled Interstates when I was driving. One day I swear there was a OHP cruiser parked in the median on the turnpike every 10 miles from the Indiana state line to the I-90 split.

In Ohio, I decided not to push my luck (my trainer got a ticket there for 65) and always just set the cruise to 58 mph. In the other 55 mph truck states (Illinois, Michigan and California, never drove in Oregon past Ontario right on the state line) I drove 65 mph (or 68 in the last truck I drove before I quit) and never had a problem. Same thing with 60 mph states like Indiana and Texas (back in the 60 day/55 night "dark ages").

I remember eavesdropping on a conversation between some truck drivers and an Illinois state policeman. He stated that the majority of Illinois State Police officers will let trucks slide to 65 mph, that, in their opinion, there are bigger fish to fry, usually minivans with Minnesota plates that are doing Mach 1.

 

I agree 100%, atleast in OH, its not one to take lightly. I usually stay around 60mph or so, and agreed I have seen times where in 8 miles there wer 4 full grows, about 1 every 2 miles. And OH loves to "lets have a look" over the truck