Traffic Congestion: According to a report by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), crossing the border between New Jersey and New York City continues to be one of the greatest challenges for truckers in the USA. The junction of Interstate 95 and State Route 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, is the most significant congestion point for road transport among the 100 identified by ATRI in its 13th annual list. This list highlights the most problematic, if not the most frustrating, areas for professional truck drivers!
For the sixth consecutive year, the intersection leading to the George Washington Bridge is once again the main congestion point in the country. Other major congestion areas include:
Chicago: I-294 to I-290/I-88
Chicago: I-55
Houston: I-45 to I-69/US 59
Atlanta: I-285 to I-85 (North)
Atlanta: I-20 to I-285 (West)
Los Angeles: SR 60 to SR 57
Houston: I-10 to I-45
Atlanta: I-285 to SR 400
Nashville: I-24/I-40 to I-440 (East)
Texas leads with the highest number of congestion areas for road transport. Georgia follows, with California, Tennessee, and Illinois and Washington tied, respectively.
The list of major congestion challenges for trucking in 2024 assesses the level of congestion involving trucks at over 325 sites on the American road network. The analysis, based on a vast database of truck GPS data, uses several custom software applications and analysis methods, as well as terabytes of data from road transport operations to establish a ranking of the congestion impact for each site.
These congestion areas represent the 100 most problematic sites, although ATRI continuously monitors more than 325 critical sites for freight transport.
According to Chris Spear, President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), traffic congestion on the national road network has a significant impact on the supply chain and the environment, increasing the cost of freight transport by $95 billion and generating 69 million metric tons of excess carbon emissions annually. He emphasizes that the congestion areas identified in the report provide clear guidance for transportation officials on the most effective investments in infrastructure. Improving transport efficiency is a major priority, and mitigating these congestion issues would contribute to enhancing road safety, protecting the environment, and supporting interstate commerce.
