The rising cost of traffic congestion in the U.S.

According to the American Transportation Research Institute, congestion reached a record cost of $108.8 billion for the industry.

Traffic congestion on U.S. roads generates an annual cost of over $100 billion for the road transport sector. According to the most recent study on the Cost of Congestion, published in 2022 by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), congestion reached a record cost of $108.8 billion for the industry.

This level of delay is equivalent to 435,686 truck drivers remaining idle throughout the year. Additionally, it results in the waste of more than 6.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel, leading to an additional fuel cost of $32.1 billion, according to ATRI data. Although total congestion hours decreased, the overall cost of congestion increased by 15% compared to the previous year on the report.

The transportation industry continues to face losses due to vehicle congestion

One of the most discussed issues in the industry is truck idling, as trucks are stopped multiple times during deliveries. However, a significant portion of this idle time is also due to traffic congestion on the roads. According to the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, an idling engine significantly increases fuel consumption, using about 1 gallon per hour. This implies that the annual fuel cost for a fleet of 100 trucks could reach $720,000.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recorded in October 2024 that total travel on all U.S. roads and streets showed a 2.8% increase, equivalent to 7,900 miles per vehicle, compared to the previous year. It is estimated that trips during that month reached 291.9 billion miles per vehicle. This shows that as the number of vehicles on the roads increases, so does traffic, resulting in increased costs in recent years. In other words, the transportation industry continues to face losses due to vehicle congestion.

The increase in costs has created pressure on both businesses and consumers, making it more crucial than ever to minimize delays caused by congestion. Addressing these challenges requires a shared commitment to modernize infrastructure and strengthen efficient and resilient supply chains.

Slowdown in freight transportation market as a result of congestion

ATRI’s analysis also revealed the top states facing congestion costs over $8 billion: Texas, California, and Florida. Together, these states accounted for 52% of the national costs. The most affected metropolitan areas were New York, Miami, and Chicago. Furthermore, the Southwest region experienced the largest increase in costs (21.4%), while New Mexico was one of the few states that saw a decrease.

Regarding truck speed, it slightly increased to 52.41 mph, though still below 2020 levels. On the other hand, the report shows that miles driven by trucks fell slightly from 195,616 billion in 2021 to 195,049 billion in 2022, due to the slowdown in the freight transportation market as a result of congestion.

The report and data highlight the urgent need for infrastructure that benefits all drivers, and the immediate action required to address the growing traffic congestion issue in the U.S. A slight increase in traffic is expected for 2025, which will lead to higher costs for the transportation sector. Additionally, with the holiday season approaching, traffic rates will continue to rise, further exacerbating the situation.