The American Transportation Research Institute has released its 15th annual Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks report, and for drivers who spend their days fighting congestion, the results will not come as a surprise. Chicago has reclaimed the number one spot as the most congested freight bottleneck in the country. The interchange of Interstate 294 and Interstates 290 and 88 now ranks as the worst choke point for trucks nationwide, overtaking Fort Lee, New Jersey, which held the top position for years. ATRI’s annual report is built using real-world truck GPS data and tracks where drivers are losing the most time sitting still instead of moving freight.
Chicago Takes the Number One Spot
The newly ranked top bottleneck sits in the heart of the Chicago metro area, where multiple interstates converge, and daily traffic volume overwhelms available capacity. “As Congress prepares to reauthorize the nation’s surface transportation programs, this timely analysis can help local, state, and federal governments target funding where it is needed most,” ATRI said. For drivers running through the Midwest, the I 294 and I 290 and I 88 interchange has long been known for stop-and-go traffic, tight merges, and delays that stretch well beyond peak hours.
Congestion Equals Hundreds of Thousands of Drivers Sitting Still
The cost of congestion continues to climb, and ATRI’s leadership says the impact on truck drivers is severe. “Congestion delays inflicted on truckers are the equivalent of 436,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year,” said Rebecca Brewster, ATRI president and COO. “While these congestion metrics are getting worse, the good news is that states do not need to accept the status quo. Illinois has been home to the country’s top bottleneck before, but following a sustained effort to expand capacity, its previous number one bottleneck at the Jane Byrne Interchange no longer ranks in the top 25. This data gives policymakers a road map to reduce chokepoints, lower emissions, and drive economic growth.” That comparison puts into perspective how much productive driving time is lost every year due to bottlenecks alone.
How ATRI Builds the Bottleneck Rankings
The 2026 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures truck-involved congestion at more than 325 freight-critical locations across the national highway system. The rankings are based on truck GPS data collected throughout 2025, customized analysis software, terabytes of real-world operational data, and speed and delay measurements during peak congestion. While ATRI continuously monitors over 325 locations, only the top 100 most congested freight bottlenecks make the annual list. ATRI’s truck GPS data is also used by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Freight Mobility Initiative.
Top Ten Truck Bottlenecks in the United States
For the first time, the I 294 and I 290 and I 88 interchange in Chicago, Illinois, ranks as the most congested freight bottleneck in the country. The remaining top ten bottlenecks include:
Top 10 Truck Bottlenecks in 2026
- Chicago, Illinois – I-294 at I-290 / I-88
- Fort Lee, New Jersey – I-95 at SR 4
- Atlanta, Georgia – I-285 at I-85 (North)
- Houston, Texas – I-45 at I-69 / US 59
- Atlanta, Georgia – I-75 at I-285 (North)
- Atlanta, Georgia – I-20 at I-285 (West)
- Nashville, Tennessee – I-24 / I-40 at I-440 (East)
- Houston, Texas – I-10 at I-69 / US 59
- Cincinnati, Ohio – I-71 at I-75
- McDonough, Georgia – I-75
Traffic Speeds Continue to Decline
ATRI’s analysis found that congestion conditions continued to worsen compared to previous years. In some areas, work zones tied to infrastructure investment contributed to slower traffic flow. Average rush hour truck speeds nationwide dropped to 33.2 miles per hour, a 2.8 percent decrease from the year prior. At the top ten bottleneck locations, average rush hour truck speeds were even lower, coming in at 29.6 miles per hour.
Industry Leaders Call for Targeted Fixes
Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, said drivers already know exactly how bad these locations are. “Following a comprehensive, data-driven analysis, ATRI has crowned a new stretch of highway in Chicago as America’s worst bottleneck,” Spear said. “Those who are least likely to be surprised by this announcement are the truck drivers and commuters who are forced to endure endless delays when navigating this dreadful interchange. Traffic congestion not only chokes our supply chains, adding 109 billion dollars annually to the cost of goods paid by consumers, but it also impacts the quality of life for all motorists. Fortunately for frustrated commuters, there is hope. For many years, the George Washington Bridge held this infamous bottleneck title, yet targeted infrastructure investments have finally helped to boost speeds between New York and New Jersey. This success provides a roadmap for policymakers to invest in projects that will improve efficiency throughout our transportation system and benefit their constituents.”
Full Bottleneck Report Available
Drivers and carriers who want a deeper look at all 100 ranked locations can review the full ATRI bottleneck report, including detailed breakdowns for each congestion hotspot. For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 top congested locations, click here.
Source: The Trucker
