Traffic congestion costs trucking a highest-ever $94.6 billion a year, per report

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released an eye-opening new study on how traffic congestion costs trucking tens of billions of dollars.

According to the ATRI’s October 25 report, traffic congestion added $94.6 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2021.

“This is the highest level yet recorded through this ongoing research initiative,” the ATRI said.

Factors that made 2021 traffic congestion so costly include high GDP, increased consumer spending related to the pandemic, an increase in diesel prices, trucking rate and volume increases, and an increase in commuter traffic as work-from-home policies were lifted.

The ATRI additionally found that traffic congestion wasted 6.7 billion gallons of diesel fuel in 2021, resulting in more than $22.3 billion in additional fuel costs. 

The ATRI broke down the states where traffic congestion is most costly for trucking, with California topping the list at $9 billion in 2021.

1. 1  California
2. 2  Texas
3. 3  Florida
4. 4  New York
5. 5  Louisiana
6. 6  Georgia
7. 7  New Jersey
8. 8  Illinois
9. 9  Pennsylvania
10. 10  Tennessee

“Over the last several years, our industry has experienced some of the most dramatic increases in operating costs, including fuel, labor and equipment,” said Michael Lasko, Vice President of EHS and Quality at Boyle Transportation.  “Imagine how those costs are magnified by sitting still in traffic. We all should keep in mind that those costs are passed down directly to consumers resulting in higher prices for goods and services throughout the economy.  Hopefully we can leverage the new infrastructure spending to get our supply chains moving again.”