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ATRI Unveils 2025 List of America's Top Truck Bottlenecks

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has officially released its 14th annual evaluation highlighting the most congested truck bottlenecks across the United States. This year, the interchange of Interstate 95 and State Route 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey, has taken the top spot as the most problematic freight bottleneck in the country.

As Congress gears up to reauthorize the nationwide surface transportation programs, this comprehensive report serves as a crucial resource for local, state, and federal authorities to direct funding where it is most needed. The analysis underscored the significance of infrastructure investments, illustrated by the impressive recovery of Chicago's Jane Byrne Interchange. This interchange, which formerly ranked as the leading truck bottleneck for three consecutive years, saw a remarkable nearly 25 percent increase in rush hour truck speeds post-construction.

Rebecca Brewster, President and COO of ATRI, expressed grave concerns about the delays caused by traffic congestion, equating them to 436,000 drivers idling for an entire year. Despite worsening metrics, Brewster added that states can take proactive measures to mitigate these issues. For example, Illinois transformed its transportation picture by investing in capacity expansion, resulting in the Jane Byrne Interchange no longer appearing in the top 10.

The 2025 report ranks congestion levels at more than 325 critical freight locations within the national highway system. The methodology used for this analysis encompasses a vast database of freight truck GPS data, custom software applications, and various analytical methods, processing terabytes of insights from trucking operations to produce an impact ranking for each site. Moreover, ATRI's truck GPS data is vital in supporting the U.S. Department of Transportation's Freight Mobility Initiative.

Taking a closer look at the rankings, the intersection of I-95 and SR 4 in Fort Lee has maintained its position as the prime freight bottleneck for seven consecutive years. It is followed closely by other notable locations: 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, and 10. Atlanta I-20 at I-285 (West).

ATRI's findings indicate that traffic conditions are deteriorating compared to previous years, often exacerbated by construction zones arising from intensified infrastructure investments. The average rush hour speed for trucks was recorded at 34.2 mph, reflecting a 3 percent decline from the prior year, while the average for the top 10 bottlenecks stood even lower at 29.7 mph.

These congestion-related delays not only waste valuable time and resources, but they also significantly contribute to fuel wastage, with trucks estimated to burn an additional 6.4 billion gallons of diesel and emitting upwards of 65 million metric tons of carbon. Chris Spear, President and CEO of American Trucking Associations, highlighted the importance of this report as a roadmap for initiating essential federal highway bill discussions. He noted that these traffic snags inflate transportation costs by $109 billion annually, impacting everyday goods' prices and undermining the quality of life for countless individuals who depend on the national highway for daily commutes.

For those interested in a thorough examination of the full report and the details of each congested location, the complete list is available on ATRI's website, which also features innovative animations created from truck GPS data for selective bottleneck spots. ATRI remains a pivotal non-profit research organization within the trucking industry, dedicated to conducting vital studies that reinforce the importance of freight transportation in fostering a safe, secure, and efficient transportation network.