Illinois State Police are warning truck drivers against a planned “slow roll” protest on the Tri-State Expressway set for Friday morning.
A group of truckers plan to drive slowly in the lanes of I-294 and cause congestion and backups, state police said in a statement Thursday evening.
At least 15 truck drivers plan to leave south suburban Monee at 10 a.m. Friday and drive to downtown Chicago, and then back again, according to Daniel Dorris, an organizer of the group Black Smoke Matters.
The truckers hope to bring attention to regulations in their industry.
“Our grievances are falling on deaf ears. We’re not getting results,” Dorris said.
The truckers plan to drive single-file in the right lane at the minimum posted speed limit and pass the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Center in Matteson, and then Trump Tower downtown, Dorris said.
State police warned the group that backups could cause traffic crashes and serious harm to other drivers. Police said that participating truckers could be held liable for resulting traffic crashes.
Dorris said the protest will be safe. He said there have been no crashes caused by “slow roll” protests he has helped organize over the last six months in Washington D.C., Columbus, Ohio and Indianapolis.
The truckers are protesting for more flexible working hours, relaxed rules on “electronic logging devices,” more training for new semitrailer drivers and more truck parking and amenities along expressways, Dorris said.
