A new report from the American Transportation Research Institute has found that traffic cost the trucking industry just shy of $74.5 billion in 2016.
According to the ATRI report, traffic congestion ate up 1.17 billion hours of truckers’ time. That’s as if 425,533 truckers woke up in the morning, sat in the driver’s seat, and didn’t move their rig at all. For a full year.
Translated into lost earnings, that means congestion cost $74.493 billion in 2016. Per truck, that breaks down to $6,478. Break it down even further and that means that congestion added $0.26 to the cost of every vehicle mile traveled by commercial trucks.
The ATRI report analyzes congestion costs per state as well as on the national level. Unsurprisingly, larger states like Texas, Florida, California, and New York were the largest contributors to congestions costs. But more densely populated smaller states cost more per mile. The District of Columbia for example has only 59 miles of highway, but contributed congestion costs of $82.8 million. That’s a cost of a whopping $1.394 million per mile.
In 2016, congestion costs went up by 0.5% compared to 2015. With the increase in both freight and passenger travel we’ve seen in 2017 and 2018, congestion costs are expected to continue to rise.
You can download a copy of the report from the ATRI here.
Source: ATRI, ATRI, prnewswire, ttnews, ttnews
Charles says
Whats even more amusing? Many tout the significance of the enormous amout of highway construction the last 8 years. Really? There is no improvement, lessening traffic congestion. Theres just less bumpy roads on which to congest. Simple prettier highways and bridges to view while sitting.
Daniel says
You can blame contracting. They give them way more time than what should be needed to do the job; bonuses for finishing “early” – by the time they finish widening or improving anything, the amount of traffic has already increased beyond its new capacity.
These construction guys can’t even figure out that closing a lane immediately after a blind curve is the wrong thing to do. They’re total idiots as far as I’m concerned – everyone involved in construction. It’s the worst, most costly obstacle I ever run into. No signs telling me they’ve closed an entire segment of highway before it’s too late.
Who loves the 427 North to Vaughan at night? They just shut down the only 2 lanes just after the 407 — I can’t use the 407 without a transponder, you stupid F***s. Tell me BEFORE I get there!
Mr. Curmudgeon says
Illinois Tollway Authority is already trying to push cmv traffic into night time driving by offering “lowered” tolls for trucks in non-peak traffic periods. Doesnt seem to have had much impact though…
Donald Mickunas says
LMAO…. That is by design. Any major road construction results in roads with more sharp turns and freeways with entrance and exit ramps designed to cause conjestion. Then look at the ridiculous road construction zones with no road construction. Result? More traffic and traffic tie ups. Why? I suspect to build a body of statistics showing that humans are inherently incapable of driving so that they can make a case eventually to outlaw vehicles that are driven by humans.
Andrew H says
I don’t doubt this. When I was still over the road, I always preferred less congested bypass routes despite not being paid for the “out of route” miles because in the end I still got paid more.
However some routes like I-40 in Tennessee, going through the Smashville mixer and the other bigger city routes, don’t have a clear bypass route. Well I did learn Nashville’s highway 155 bypass, which saved a ton of time especially when it was finished.
Joe says
What would help drivers is to add a traffic button to the trucks e-log system! Which would allow drivers to use up on duty time just sitting in traffic. Since there is a extra 3 hrs on top of the driving time, why not allow drivers to use up that time in traffic?
Hairy Faced. says
So your solution is to work for free?
Nice. Remind me not to call you for advice regarding pay negotiations.
“Look boss the way to kee me here is to let me work 21 more unpaid hours per week.” -Joe.
Ariel Castillo says
Because it would obviously be abused?
Jakk Hakk says
SIMPLE SOLUTION, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN-
REMOVE GOVERNMENT AND LET THE PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES!!
This means a civil war. 8=/
Jeff says
There is a traffic app, it’s callex Google Maps