Congestion Costs Trucking Industry $108.8 Billion Nationwide New York State Costs Exceed $5.7 Billion

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Wednesday, December 18, 2024

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Muriel Church, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                                                                                              

Congestion Costs Trucking Industry $108.8 Billion Nationwide
New York State Costs Exceed $5.7 Billion

Albany, NY – Traffic congestion on U.S. highways added $108.8 billion in costs to the trucking industry in 2022, according to the latest Cost of Congestion study published by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). This finding, part of ATRI’s ongoing highway performance measurement research, marks a new record-high national congestion cost.  With New York in the “top ten” for highest costs in this category, industry members point to an aging infrastructure and lack of funding as a causing factor.

ATRI utilized a variety of data sources, including its substantial truck GPS database and operational cost benchmarks, to calculate the impacts of trucking delays on major U.S. roadways. While total hours of congestion decreased slightly in 2022 from the record 2021 highs due to a softening freight market, the cost of operating a truck during this period increased significantly.

As a result, the overall cost of congestion increased by 15 percent year-over-year. This level of delay is equivalent to more than 430,000 commercial truck drivers sitting idle for one work year and an average cost of $7,588 for every registered combination truck.

New York’s statewide costs ranked fourth highest in the country, totaling over $5.7 billion in 2022—a 17.9 percent increase from 2021. Among the nation’s metropolitan areas, the New York City metropolitan area had the highest total congestion cost in 2022 at nearly $6.7 billion, an increase of 21.6 percent from 2021.

Kendra Hems, President of the Trucking Association of New York (TANY), emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying causes of congestion and aging infrastructure for any real change to occur. “We cannot ignore the importance of investing in New York State’s infrastructure as a viable mechanism to reduce emissions across the state,” said Hems. “Mandated policies to modify traffic behavior cannot improve our environment alone.

TANY is a strong proponent of infrastructure improvements—such as upgrading roadways, adding lanes, reconfiguring traffic patterns, and addressing traffic bottlenecks— to provide practical, long-term solutions that reduce emissions and improve efficiency. This is true for critical points across the state where congestion continues to hinder the movement of goods.

Hems also stressed that while programs aimed at mitigating emissions are important, “putting such programs in place does not negate the need for the state to invest significant funds into infrastructure improvements. Upgrading our highways is essential to reducing idling caused by congestion, alleviating truck parking shortages, and improving operational efficiency. These investments not only reduce emissions but also enhance safety and support economic growth.”

A copy of ATRI’s report is available here.

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About the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI)  - Atri is the trucking industry’s 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure, and efficient transportation system.

About the Trucking Association of New York – TANY is the VOICE of trucking in New York. Through advocacy, education, and partnerships, TANY works to strengthen the industry and promote safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation throughout the state. TANY represents over 550 member companies.