Metro East Sun

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has begun accepting applications for Illinois Harvest Permits (IHPs), which are intended to help farmers and agricultural haulers transport crops more efficiently during the fall harvest season.

Farmers can apply for these permits online through IDOT’s Illinois Transportation Automated Permits website system. The IHPs allow them to carry 10 percent more weight per trip, reducing the number of trips required, cutting costs, and minimizing delays.

As a major producer of corn and soybeans, Illinois benefits from these permits by improving the efficiency of its agricultural logistics. The permits provide flexibility in loading vehicles closer to their maximum capacity. This means fewer trips are needed to move the same amount of product, which lowers fuel expenses, reduces the demand for drivers, and limits vehicle wear. The program also helps prevent backups at grain elevators, extra storage fees, and delays in getting products to market.

Permits are valid only during harvest season, from September 1 to December 31. During this period, roads are typically drier and firmer, making them less susceptible to damage. IDOT requires that permit holders get route authorization every 14 days to ensure vehicles avoid lower-grade bridges.

Anyone with questions about the Harvest Permit can contact the Department of Transportation Permit Office at dot.permitoffice@illinois.gov or call (217) 785-1477.

Harriss was elected as a Republican representative for Illinois's 56th Senate District in 2023, succeeding former state senator Kris Tharp.