Chicago sits at a freight crossroads. Major interstates converge there, rail lines run through, and distribution centers dot the metro area. When weather hits Chicago, trucking slows down, and sometimes stops entirely.

Chicago’s location is both its superpower and its Achilles’ heel. All those connections mean it’s a natural hub, but they also mean the city gets hit with every kind of weather you can imagine, all year long.

Winter Is the Obvious Problem

Let’s not kid ourselves: Chicago gets cold. Not just sweater-weather cold, but the kind of cold that makes you question everything.

From November to March, snow and ice are regular guests. Lake-effect snow can drop inches in a matter of minutes, turning expressways into parking lots. Yes, the city gets the main roads plowed fast, but if you’re headed to a warehouse out in the suburbs; good luck, those roads can stay buried for hours or even days.

And then there’s the cold itself. When it drops below 15°F, which happens a lot, diesel fuel turns to jelly. If your truck isn’t winterized or you’re running the wrong fuel, you’re not going anywhere. Leave equipment outside overnight? You might as well forget about it until things thaw out.

And let’s talk about the wind. The wind off Lake Michigan is a real hazard. If you’re hauling anything tall or light, those 40 mph gusts can turn your trailer into a sail. Empty trailers or tarped flatbeds? Rollover risk is no joke on those open stretches of highway.

Spring Flooding 

Spring brings heavy rain, and Chicago’s drains often can’t keep up. Streets flood, underpasses turn into swimming pools, and trucks have to wait for the water to go down. When the Des Plaines River floods, whole sections of I-55 and other key routes can close, forcing drivers onto detours that add hours to what should be quick runs.

Orange Cone Season

This isn't weather exactly, but it's seasonal and just as unavoidable. Chicago road construction peaks in summer when crews can work without fighting rain, snow, and ice. Major highway projects create bottlenecks that significantly slow freight movement.

What This Means for Equipment

Chicago's weather is hard on trucks. Salt corrodes undercarriages, freeze-thaw cycles damage components, and the constant, severe temperature swings stress systems. If you're shopping for used equipment and you see semi-trucks for sale in Chicago, ask about maintenance history. Trucks that operate in Chicago winters need more frequent undercarriage inspections. Chicago-based trucks also tend to have higher idle hours due to sitting in traffic or idling to keep warm during winter, which affects engine wear differently than highway miles do.

Still a Great Place for Trucking

Even with all these headaches, Chicago is still a freight powerhouse. Companies know to expect weather delays, keep backup routes ready, and accept that running trucks in Chicago winters costs more than in other places.

The weather won’t stop freight from moving through Chicago, but it does make everything a lot harder. Know the region, know how to handle the weather challenges, and you’ll find success.