Top 10 Worst Traffic Spots Stalling U.S. Freight

Here's a rundown of where traffic’s throttling freight—and what it’s costing us.

Top 10 Worst Congestion Corridors

• Fort Lee, New Jersey (I-95 at SR 4): Peak 19.9 mph / Nonpeak 30.2 mph
• Houston, Texas (I-45 at I-69/US 59): Peak 20.9 mph / Nonpeak 34.6 mph
• Chicago, Illinois (I-55): Peak 25.2 mph / Nonpeak 40.6 mph
• Houston, Texas (I-10 at I-45): Peak 26.3 mph / Nonpeak 43.7 mph
• Atlanta, Georgia (I-285 at I-85 North): Peak 26.8 mph / Nonpeak 41 mph
• Nashville, Tennessee (I-24/I-40 at I-440 East): Peak 28.3 mph / Nonpeak 45.5 mph
• Atlanta, Georgia (I-285 at SR 400): Peak 30.2 mph / Nonpeak 40.5 mph
• Los Angeles, California (SR 60 at SR 57): Peak 35.2 mph / Nonpeak 45.1 mph
• Chicago, Illinois (I-294 at I-290/I-88): Peak 35.4 mph / Nonpeak 46 mph
• Atlanta, Georgia (I-20 at I-285 West): Peak 36.4 mph / Nonpeak 44.3 mph

Peak vs. Nonpeak
Truckers face a slog in peak hours, with speeds dipping as low as 19.9 mph in Fort Lee. Yet, even nonpeak times aren't much better, averaging 30.2 mph there.

Costly Gridlock

• Diesel Wastage: Truck idling burns up money along with fuel.
• Hours Lost: With speeds hitting lows of 19.9 mph, time ticks away.
• Economic Hit: Every minute trucks crawl, dollars are drained from businesses and consumers alike.

According to data from the American Transportation Research Institute, "traffic congestion on U.S. highways added $94.6 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2021."

Looking Ahead
With growing urban populations and expanding e-commerce, we might see these jams get even stickier. More investment in infrastructure is a possible fix, yet the actual course remains uncertain.

Source: Truck Parking Club/MSN