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The Newsletter of the Non-Profit Research Organization for the Trucking Industry

Trucking’s Annual Congestion Costs Rise to $108.8 Billion

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 ATRI. This finding, part of ATRI’s ongoing highway performance measurement research, marks a new record-high national congestion cost.

ATRI utilized a variety of data sources, including its substantial truck GPS database and Operational Costs benchmarks, to calculate the impacts of trucking delays on major U.S. roadways. The total hours of congestion decreased slightly in 2022 from record 2021 highs due to a softening freight market, but the cost of operating a truck during this period increased at a much greater rate. As a result, the overall cost of congestion increased by 15.0 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.

As seen in the above table, Texas overtook California with the highest state truck congestion costs in the country - $9.1 billion in 2022. The top four states alone – Texas, California, Florida, and New York – made up 29.6 percent of the nation’s total.

ATRI’s analysis also found that the trucking industry wasted over 6.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel in 2022 due to congestion, resulting in additional fuel costs of $32.1 billion.

“With rising costs putting pressure on businesses and consumers alike, minimizing delays caused by congestion is more important than ever,” said Frank Granieri, A. Duie Pyle COO of Supply Chain Solutions. “Addressing these challenges requires a shared commitment to modernize our infrastructure and strengthen the backbone of our economy: resilient and efficient supply chains.”

In addition to the national findings, ATRI’s analysis also documented state and metropolitan delays and related cost impacts. 

Newly appointed ATRI RAC Chair Andy Owens, CEO for A&M Transport

ATRI recently announced the names of those appointed by the ATRI Board of Directors to serve on the 2025-2026 Research Advisory Committee (RAC). Among other activities, ATRI’s RAC is responsible for annually identifying the top research priorities for the trucking industry. RAC members represent a diverse cross-section of trucking industry stakeholders including motor carriers, industry suppliers, commercial drivers, shippers, law enforcement, academia and government.

Mr. Andy Owens, Chief Executive Officer for A & M Transport was appointed to serve as the RAC Chairman.

“ATRI’s RAC members serve a critical role in identifying and prioritizing the trucking industry’s top research needs. We received over 160 applications from individuals interested in serving as RAC members. We congratulate all those appointed by the ATRI Board to serve in this important role and look forward to working with them,” said ATRI President Rebecca Brewster. Click Here to See the Full List of 2025-2026 RAC Members

ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray Appointed to FHWA's Research and Technology Coordinating Committee

ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray was recently appointed as a key advisor to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Research and Technology Coordinating Committee (RTCC). This National Academies' committee provides strategic policy-level advice and guidance on FHWA's highway research programs and technology deployment activities. The RTCC also monitors and reviews FHWA's research and technology coordination with states, universities, industry and other partners.

Dan joins other RTCC members who serve pro bono and are appointed to three-year terms by the president of the National Academy of Sciences.

Murray has more than 30 years of experience in a broad range of transportation fields, including trucking research and economics, transportation safety technologies, and autonomous vehicles. He is responsible for managing ATRI's transportation research, testing and evaluation, and he leads multiple national activities, including the U.S. Department of Transportation's Freight Mobility Initiative.

Truck Driver Survey - Truck Driver Perspectives on Strategies for Expanding Truck Parking at Public Rest Areas

ATRI is working with the 50 state Departments of Transportation to identify best practices for expanding truck parking at public rest areas and other state-owned locations. There are three specific approaches on which ATRI would like truck driver input:

• Trucking Parking Information Systems (TPIMS)
• Repurposing State-Owned Facilities for Truck Parking
• Parking for Adverse Weather Conditions

The survey is available online here and truck drivers are encouraged to participate online by February 14, 2025.

Motor Carrier Survey on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems

ATRI — working with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other trucking industry stakeholders — is researching advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) technologies, relating to awareness, deployment rates, perspectives, and concerns. Results of this survey — which is part of a four-year Phase Two follow-up to the original TechCelerate Now research — will provide the trucking industry with important insight into active safety systems.

Motor Carriers can participate in this survey by clicking here.

Thank You!

For nearly 25 years, ATRI has provided award-winning research to improve the trucking industry’s safety and productivity. Our mission is clear and our dedicated team of research professionals deliver on that mission each and every day. In recognition of ATRI’s significant contributions to the trucking industry, the following organizations and individuals supported ATRI in 2024 with a charitable contribution.

In Honor of

Phil Byrd

In Memory of

Bob Schaupp

Cliff Harvison

Gene England

Jack Apple

Whether you make a personal contribution or contribute on behalf of your organization, your financial support will ensure that we can continue to produce award-winning research to support your business and your industry. Please consider adding your name to this list of industry leaders by giving to ATRI today.

ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray was recently recognized with a service award for his tenure as a long-time Vice Chair of the Transportation Research Board's Trucking Industry Research Committee.

ATRI Team Members Rebecca Brewster and Carla Rose attend a retirement celebration to honor former ATRI board member and Georgia Motor Trucking Association President Ed Crowell pictured here with his wife Cynthia.

Members of the ATRI Team working the exhibit hall at the 2025 TRB Annual Meeting. (left to right) Dan Murray, Andrew Fain, and Abbigail Huffman.

Newly appointed ATRI RAC member, Tim Kordula, safety and training development director for Veriha Trucking, visited the ATRI booth at the 2025 TRB Annual Meeting. Pictured here with ATRI's Carla Rose.

The ATRI Team wrapping up a successful staff research planning retreat. (left to right) Jeff Short, Alexandra Shirk, Alex Leslie, Rebecca Brewster Carla Rose, Abbigail Huffman, Andrew Fain and Dan Murray.

Upcoming opportunities to hear the ATRI team talk about the latest research:

January 30-31: National Tank Truck Carriers Executive Forum, Miami, FL – Rebecca Brewster

February 3-4: ATA Executive Meeting, Washington, DC – Rebecca Brewster

February 13 at 9:00 a.m ET: ATRI on the Air on the Nemo Show on ATRI's Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks, SiriusXM Ch. 146 – Rebecca Brewster

February 23-26: New Hampshire Motor Transport Association Winter Conference, Key West, FL – Rebecca Brewster

March 4-5: ATRI Research Advisory Committee Annual Meeting, Washington, DC - All ATRI Staff

March 10-12: ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN - Dan Murray and Carla Rose

March 16-18: Truckload Carriers Association Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ - Dan Murray

Cost of Congestion to the Trucking Indsutry: 2024 Update

Critical Issue in the Trucking Industry — 2024

Costs and Consequences of Truck Driver Detention

An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2024 Update

Identifying and Mitigating the Challenges Faced by Women Truck Drivers

Renewable Diesel — A Catalyst for Decarbonization Full Report

AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE | TruckingResearch.org

Atlanta, GA • Minneapolis, MN • Washington, DC • Sacramento, CA

ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501c3 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.