The Rising Cost of Traffic Congestion: A $108 Billion Burden on the Trucking Industry
Traffic congestion is a growing challenge for the trucking industry, translating into billions of dollars in wasted resources and delays annually. According to the American Transportation Research Institute’s (ATRI) latest Cost of Congestion study, traffic delays imposed a staggering $108.8 billion in costs to the trucking sector in 2022. The findings highlight an urgent need for infrastructure modernization and operational efficiency to mitigate these expenses. Breaking Down the $108.8 Billion Impact The ATRI study revealed several factors contributing to the record-high congestion costs: Operational Costs Increase: While total hours of delay decreased slightly, the rising costs of operating a truck—including fuel, labor, and maintenance—caused the financial impact of congestion to jump by 15%. Per Truck Cost: Each registered combination truck faced an average additional cost of $7,600 due to delays. Idle Hours: The cumulative delay e...