Traffic delays on U.S. highways led to nearly $109 billion in added costs for the country's trucking industry in 2022, for an average of more than $7,500 for each registered combination truck.
According to data from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the total hours of congestion for truck drivers actually fell slightly between 2021 and 2022, although the cost of operating a truck increased over that same period, leading to a 15% bump in congestion costs. The ATRI also found that congestion caused the industry to waste 6.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel, creating more than $32 billion in additional fuel costs.
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“With rising costs putting pressure on businesses and consumers alike, minimizing delays caused by congestion is more important than ever,” said Frank Granieri, the COO of supply chain solutions for logistics provider A. Duie Pyle. “Addressing these challenges requires a shared commitment to modernize our infrastructure and strengthen the backbone of our economy: resilient and efficient supply chains.”
Per-hour operational costs for the trucking industry rose by 21.6% to a record high of $90.78 in 2022. The ATRI traced that trend back to a few factors, including a sharp rise in the price of diesel, limited availability for new Class 7 and 8 truck tractors due to production delays brought on by the pandemic, and a "highly competitive U.S. labor market" that saw total driver compensation increase by 12.3%.
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