ATRI published its annual list of the most congested highways, details here.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) recently released its 13th annual list of the most congested highways, bottlenecks, for trucks in the United States. Prominent states included Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston, making multiple appearances.
The list evaluates congestion at over 325 points on the national highway network using GPS data from freight trucks. This analysis employs custom software applications and methods, along with extensive truck operation data, to classify congestion impact at each location. ATRI’s truck GPS data also supports various state and federal initiatives for freight mobility. The list comprises the 100 most congested points, yet ATRI continually monitors over 325 critical freight transportation points.

Top 10 most congested highways
For the sixth consecutive year, New Jersey tops the list as the most congested bottleneck in the country. The top 10 highways on the 2024 list are:
- Fort Lee – I-95 on State Route 4
- Chicago – I-294 on I-290/I-88
- Chicago – I-55 I-55
- Houston – I-45 on I-69/US 59
- Atlanta – I-285 on I-85 (North)
- Atlanta – I-20 on I-285 (West) I-20 on I-285 (West)
- Los Angeles – SR 60 on SR 57
- Houston – I-10 on I-45
- Atlanta – I-285 on SR 400
- Nashville – I-24/I-40 on I-440 (East)
This year’s list includes familiar highways along with some newcomers to the top 10, such as Chicago’s I-55, not even listed in 2023, Houston’s I-10/I-45, and Atlanta’s I-285/State Route 400. Houston leads with nine entries in the top 100, followed by Atlanta with eight, Chicago with six, and Washington D.C. with five.
ATRI’s analysis, based on 2023 data, indicates worsening traffic conditions, partly attributed to construction zones due to infrastructure investment. The average truck speed during peak hours decreased by four percent compared to the previous year, reaching 34.4 MPH, while at the top 10 congestion points, the speed was 28.5 MPH.
ATA President and CEO Chris Spear noted that national highway congestion adds $95 billion to freight transportation costs annually and generates 69 million metric tons of excess carbon emissions each year. He emphasized the need to invest infrastructure funds more efficiently to enhance road safety, protect the environment, and facilitate interstate commerce.

The meaning of Hanukkah and how to celebrate it on the road
Hanukkah is a celebration of resilience and hope, and here are some ways you can take this on the road. December is one of the

Waymo under investigation for potential safety risk in school zones
A recent wave of videos has shown that some Waymo vehicles are not complying with safety regulations in school zones. The autonomous vehicle company Waymo,

Don’t Blame the Snow: The Real Causes Behind Winter Truck Accidents
Don’t Blame the Snow: Why Most Winter Truck Accidents Are Preventable

Mexico aligns with U.S. as new tariffs target Asian imports
Mexican lawmakers gave their final approval to the new tariffs on Asian imports, largely aligning themselves with the United States’ efforts to tighten trade barriers

Seven charged in New York CDL fraud case involving DMV employees
A group of DMV employees in New York allegedly manipulated the process of obtaining commercial driver’s licenses by allowing applicants who never showed up to

Transportation Seeks Proposals to Rebuild the American Legion Memorial Bridge
Transportation seeks proposals to rebuild the American Legion Memorial Bridge, repeating the call for proposals to address the most critical freight chokepoint on the East Coast. The initiative aims to attract ideas, financing models, and private-sector innovation to modernize a corridor that today imposes millions in delays on the trucking industry.