Semitrucks In Idaho Can Soon Hit 80 Mph On Highways – is WA Next?

Idaho House Bill 664 allows semi-trucks to drive the same maximum speed limit as standard vehicles on the highway.
So if the speed limit is 80 mph (as it is in a lot of Idaho) then semi-trucks can also drive 80 mph.
Is Washington State next to do this?

Read More: This is the Fastest Shrinking City in Washington State

Will Same Speed Mean Better Traffic on Freeways?

It's happened to you before when you have a truck passing a truck.

One is going the truck speed limit of 65 mph while the other is attempting to pass going 65.5 mph, thus, slowing everyone else down creating a line of cars who just need to get to where they're trying to go.

This House Bill 664 is hoping to alleviate that by having all vehicles on the road go the same speed limit, so long as it's safe to do so.

This bill kicks off on July 1, 2026.

Not only will all vehicles be traveling at the same speed but this may also cause less lane changes as well which would also hope to improve traffic.

Get our free mobile app

Read More: Roll Uphill (?) at Gravity Hill near Prosser

Right Land for Slow Moving Vehicles

As usual, just because you can go 80 in Idaho doesn't mean trucks have to. Some trucks carrying a heavy load will still opt to drive safetly under their conditions so they're not forcing trucks to drive the maximum. However, if it's safe, they'll have that option.

So far there doesn't seem to be any plans for this to happen in Washington State but we'll let you know if something comes up.