How Traffic Slows Down Truckers
A recent study by INRIX, INC., a company specializing in transportation data and analytics, has revealed that Americans, on average, waste an entire week each year sitting in traffic. This statistic translates to about one out of every 52 weeks spent idling on the road. INRIX's findings were part of their 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, which ranks traffic congestion levels across 37 countries. Notably, the United States is home to 10 of the top 25 most congested cities globally.
Among the top three cities with the worst traffic congestion, two are in the U.S. New York City ranks second, and Chicago ranks third, trailing only Istanbul, Türkiye. The study shows that congestion in U.S. cities has generally decreased since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily due to the surge in remote work. With fewer commuters on the road, traffic volumes dropped significantly. However, as companies shift back to in-office work or adopt hybrid models, congestion levels have been steadily increasing once again.
This Traffic Greatly Affects the Trucking Industry.
The resurgence in traffic has had a significant impact on industries that rely on road transportation, particularly the trucking sector. In 2022, the American Transportation Research Institute's "Cost of Congestion" study found that congestion in the U.S. cost the trucking industry a staggering $108.8 billion. This cost is primarily attributed to the time truck drivers spent stuck in traffic. In fact, the amount of time lost to traffic congestion in the U.S. was equivalent to about 436,000 truck drivers sitting idled for an entire year.
Beyond lost time, the financial impact of congestion is also felt in fuel costs. In 2022, truckers wasted an estimated 6.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel due to idling, which translates to approximately $32.1 billion. This inefficiency not only hurts the bottom line of trucking companies but also contributes to environmental concerns due to excess emissions from idling engines.
How Does the Traffic Breakdown Look for Certain Cities?
In terms of specific cities, New York City ranks the highest in congestion, with residents losing an average of 102 hours annually in traffic. Chicago residents also spend the same amount of time in traffic. Los Angeles, which typically ranks high for congestion, saw a slight improvement, with Angelinos losing only 88 hours in traffic in 2024, down from 89 hours in 2023. While this represents a small drop, the overall trend in major U.S. cities is one of growing traffic congestion, particularly as businesses return to pre-pandemic operations.
Overall, the continued rise in traffic congestion highlights the need for cities and businesses to reconsider transportation strategies. With the trucking industry facing substantial financial losses, and commuters spending more time than ever stuck in traffic, it is clear that the impact of congestion is widespread—both economically and environmentally.