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

The post ATRI Ranks the Worst Freight Bottlenecks of the Year – Here’s Where Truckers Are Slowing Down appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Through its Public Truck Parking Driver Survey, ATRI is collaborating with departments of transportation in every state to identify effective strategies for increasing parking availability at public rest areas and other state-managed facilities.

The survey, which consists of 12 concise questions, invites truckers to provide input on various approaches states are using to address parking issues. These include:

• Implementation of parking information systems

• Repurposing state-owned properties for parking

• Strategies for parking during adverse weather conditions

The findings from the survey will culminate in a report evaluating how states are currently addressing truck parking needs. It will also showcase the most effective practices for expanding parking options at public rest areas.

Dan Murray, ATRI’s Senior Vice President, emphasized the importance of driver feedback in tackling the truck parking shortage.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t make any sense to ask anyone but a truck driver what is needed to improve truck parking,” Murray shared with Land Line. “This particular ATRI survey is focused exclusively on truck parking at public rest areas. There are only 40,000 truck parking spaces at public rest areas in the U.S., based on driver feedback. States should probably double that number.”

The ongoing issue of inadequate truck parking has consistently ranked as a top concern within the industry. According to ATRI’s 2024 Top Industry Issues report, the shortage of available parking stood as the second-highest overall concern and has remained the number one issue for drivers for several years.

“On ATRI’s annual Top Industry Issues report, ‘truck parking’ has been the No. 1 issue for truck drivers in four of the last five reports,” Murray explained. “We’re hoping that real-world data can address the problem and finally move truck parking down the list.”

Truck drivers can participate in the Public Truck Parking Driver Survey and make their voices heard by completing it online here.

Source: Land Line

The post Survey Seeks Trucker Input on Parking Challenges at Public Rest Areas appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.