For the seventh consecutive year, Fort Lee, New Jersey, has been home to the most congested freight intersection in the United States. According to the latest analysis from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the intersection of I-95 and SR 4 near the George Washington Bridge ranks as the nation’s leading freight bottleneck.
ATRI’s 2025 Top Truck Bottleneck List leverages massive amounts of GPS data from commercial trucks to assess congestion levels at over 325 critical points across the national highway system. Using advanced software and data analytics, ATRI compiles detailed rankings that highlight the most problematic spots for truck-involved traffic.
The Slowdown Continues
A review of 2024 data revealed that traffic conditions at many truck bottlenecks are worsening. Infrastructure upgrades intended to expand roadway capacity contributed to the stagnation, as construction areas caused temporary slowdowns. On average, rush-hour truck speeds at Fort Lee dropped to 34.2 MPH, a 3% reduction compared to the year before. Across the top ten bottlenecks, rush-hour truck speeds averaged just 29.7 MPH.
“Delays inflicted on truckers by congestion are the equivalent of 436,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year,” observed ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster.
Aside from wasted time, traffic congestion bears a heavy environmental and financial burden. Trucks stuck in gridlock burned an estimated 6.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel, generating over 65 million metric tons of unnecessary carbon emissions.
Infrastructure Investment: A Double-Edged Sword
While construction has added to current congestion woes, the upgrades are essential to long-term improvements. “Illinois was once home to the top bottleneck in the country, but following a sustained effort to expand capacity, the Jane Byrne Interchange in Chicago no longer ranks in the top 10,” noted Brewster.
The $800 million reconstruction of the Jane Byrne Interchange offers a success story for how investments in infrastructure can deliver measurable results. Truck speeds during rush hours improved nearly 25% post-construction. Before the updates, vehicle speeds during daytime hours ranged from 12 to 37 MPH. By addressing chokepoints strategically, such projects can dramatically reduce congestion, cut emissions, and boost economic growth.
Notably, Chicago’s I-290 at I-90/I-94, once the nation’s worst bottleneck, has now fallen to 15th place on the list, sliding two spots from last year.
Bottleneck Challenges Impact Everyone
The release of ATRI’s analysis coincides with government efforts to reauthorize the federal highway bill. According to Chris Spear, President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, this research provides a clear “road map” for addressing America’s most severe traffic bottlenecks.
“These bottlenecks not only choke our supply chains, adding $109 billion annually to the cost of transporting everyday goods that Americans rely on, but they also impact the quality of life for all motorists,” Spear said. “Targeted investments to reduce this traffic congestion are exactly the kinds of projects, with a measurable return on investment, that taxpayers come to expect of their elected officials.”
Wasteful Gridlock by the Numbers
Traffic-related delays result in massive losses beyond time and money, increasing environmental pollution while straining logistics networks. ATRI’s findings demonstrate how systematic strategies can address these inefficiencies, offering benefits for industries, individuals, and the planet.
The Remaining Top 10 Bottlenecks for Freight Traffic
While New Jersey holds the unenviable title of worst freight bottleneck, other major cities also find themselves grappling with extreme congestion. Here’s the rest of ATRI’s Top 10 list for 2025:
- 2. Chicago: I-294 at I-290/I-88
- 3. Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59
- 4. Atlanta: I-285 at I-85 (North)
- 5. Nashville: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)
- 6. Atlanta: I-75 at I-285 (North)
- 7. Los Angeles: SR 60 at SR 57
- 8. Cincinnati: I-71 at I-75
- 9. Houston: I-10 at I-45
- 10. Atlanta: I-20 at I-285 (West)
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal
