Trucking companies play a significant role in the economic and financial development of the state of Illinois. It is one of the largest employers in the eastern part of the country. People who are engaged in trucking jobs earn an average income of about $30 an hour, depending on how many loads they transport each day. The services provided by trucking companies in Chicago include loading and unloading ships and other large items, carrying materials and products from one point to another, and delivering products to retail establishments. A truck driver can opt to be self-employed, which would allow him to increase his income. There are various service options available for truck drivers in Chicago.

Freight services are a very important facet of the trucking companies in Chicago business. They have several options for people who want to hire their services for transporting goods or products. Customers can choose between loading or unloading services, or they can even arrange for a pickup and delivery service. Their rates depend on the size of the load that needs to be transported, and the distance the truck has to travel.

Most trucking companies in Chicago use enclosed trailers to transport their goods. However, there are trucks available that come with open tops, especially for transportation of goods that must be loaded on top. Some of the trucking companies in Chicago also provide services like catering and event planning at the same time.

For companies that transport hazardous materials, drivers need to undergo special training. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the quality of the training given to trucking employees. According to this agency, all truck drivers must be equipped with proper safety equipment that would reduce the risk of an accident due to hazardous materials. Drivers would need to wear oxygen masks when transporting these chemicals. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also require truck drivers to wear protective gear such as hard hats and gloves. Hazardous materials are usually those that could cause severe injuries or fatality if not properly handled.

In order to comply with federal and local regulations, most trucking companies in Chicago also keep detailed records of their vehicles. These records are used to identify both the type and brand of each truck that bring customers their way. Records also help trucking companies in avoiding potential fines by the relevant authorities.

To ensure the safety of all their clients, trucking companies in Chicago also perform regular maintenance on their vehicles. Every two years, trucking companies in Chicago must submit to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) a report on how their trucks and drivers have performed along the roads of the state. This report, called the Highway Performance Report (HPR), should list each accident, each incident of negligence, and each safety compliance incident. According to the HPR report, trucking companies in Chicago have an average of about 90 accidents per year. Of these accidents, nearly nine hundred were attributed to mechanical failures and more than one hundred were attributed to driver error.