Top 10 Worst Traffic Bottlenecks for Truckers in the United States

Traffic, the word alone makes you think of scorching black pavement weighed down by scores of vehicles clustered in a stop-and-go dance. Highway congestion is nobody’s favorite pastime, yet we seem to spend more time stuck in traffic each year. It’s even worse for truckers because wasted time is wasted money.

We’re talking about big money. According to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) in a report from 2020, Congestion Costs the Economy, the trucking industry was hit hard in both lost revenue and time. Congestion on our nation’s highways cost the trucking industry $74.5 billion in revenue and 1.2 billion hours of lost productivity. That equates to 425,533 truck drivers sitting idle for an entire year.

AVOID THE WORST TRAFFIC BOTTLENECKS IN THE COUNTRY

That brings us to the top 10 traffic bottlenecks for 2023, also compiled by ATRI. These are the top 10 worst traffic highway spots in the country. What to do? Plan ahead to avoid these roads so that you aren’t sitting for hours.

TOP 10 WORST TRAFFIC BOTTLENECKS IN THE U.S.

1. Fort Lee, NJ: I-95 at SR 4
2. Chicago, IL: I-294 at I-290/I-88
3. Houston, TX: I-45 at I-69/US 59
4. Atlanta, GA: I-285 at I-85 (North)
5. Atlanta, GA: I-20 at I-285 (West)
6. Chicago, IL: I-290 at I-90/I-94
7. Los Angeles, CA: SR 60 at SR 57
8. Los Angeles, CA: I-710 at I-105
9. Nashville, TN: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)
10. San Bernardino, CA: I-10 at I-15

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We also have some highlights from ATRI’s complete list of the 100 worst traffic bottlenecks in the US:

• Eight states have the highest number of top 100 bottlenecks: Texas with 13, Georgia with 9, California with 8, Tennessee with 7, Connecticut, New York, and Washington with 6 each, and Illinois with 5.
• Average peak hour truck speed: 36.3 MPH
• Top 100 bottlenecks with average truck speeds under 45 MPH: 49%
• States with at least 1 top 100 bottleneck highway: 30

HEAVY TRAFFIC DRIVING TIPS

So, what if you can’t avoid these traffic bottleneck areas? Don’t worry, we have some tips for you to stay safe and stress-free if you do get caught in traffic.

• • Slow down: In a traffic jam, there’s a lot of braking and stopping. Reducing your speed can help you avoid a possible crash. Slowing down also helps you keep more space between you and the car in front of you, which reduces the need to slam on your brakes.
  • Pay attention: Check your surroundings. Use your mirrors, check your blind spots, and watch for changes in traffic patterns ahead to be aware of detours or road construction. Avoid distractions by putting your phone away and turning your radio down so you can listen to emergency vehicles.
  • Signal your intentions: Always use your turn signals and lights. It gives drivers around you a heads-up, helping them anticipate if you’re trying to change lanes or exit. This helps minimize accidents and keep everyone alert.
  • Don’t stress: Sitting in traffic is not fun, but getting angry or stressing out won’t make the traffic move any faster. Instead, take a deep breath and relax. For additional stress tips just for truckers, check out the blog post 9 Easy Ways for Truck Drivers to Reduce Stress.

You have no control if you are stuck in traffic. But you do have control over your fuel savings! Get the same discounted fuel prices as large fleets with the TCS Fuel Card. Call 844-827-7705 or sign up for more information.