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Top 10 Worst Traffic Bottlenecks for Truckers in the United States
by Hannah Marcom | June 27, 2017
Top 10 Worst Traffic Bottlenecks for Truckers in the United States
What’s the one thing you can get just about everyone to agree on? That traffic stinks! Getting stuck in traffic will always be inevitable, right? Maybe not. In May, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released their Annual Cost of Congestion report for 2017. This report configures traffic congestion statistics for the nation to, not only, measure how much productivity is lost while trucks are idling, but also to identify the most congested highways across the United States with the goal of empowering others (in the private and public sectors) to come up with solutions to fix it. Because the worst part of getting stuck in traffic for a truck driver isn’t the traffic. It’s losing money and wasting time.
Just how much time and money is lost, according to ATRI’s report? $49.6 Billion, yes that’s billion with a B, is lost due to truck drivers sitting in traffic. To put it in more relatable terms, that’s the equivalent of 264,500 trucks sitting still on the highways for an entire year!
Continuously shining light on traffic problem areas has already lead to changes on the national highways. The Chicago Circle Interchange in Illinois was ranked as the number one worst traffic bottlenecking area in 2012 and lead to a $500 million infrastructure plan to improve traffic conditions. While there are major infrastructure plans coming together in Washington, there are no current solutions to the worst traffic spots in America the only option is to try to avoid them.
We’ve listed the top 10 worst traffic cities in the U.S. to help you avoid problem areas to stay sane, and productive out on the road!
Top 10 Worst Traffic Bottlenecks in the U.S.
- Atlanta, GA: I-285 at I-85 (North)
- Fort Lee, NJ: I-95 at SR 4
- Chicago, IL: I-290 at I-90/I-94
- Louisville, KY: I-65 at I-64/I-71
- Cincinnati, OH: I-71 at I-75
- Los Angeles, CA: SR 60 at SR 57
- Auburn, WA: SR 18 at SR 167
- Houston, TX: I-45 at US 59
- Atlanta, GA: I-75 at I-185 (North)
- Seattle, WA: I-5 at I-90
Heavy Traffic Driving Tips
If you can’t avoid these areas, here are four tips to keep you safe and stress free if you do get caught in a traffic jam!
- Slow down: When you get stuck in traffic, 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 therefore reducing the need to slam on your breaks.
- 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 turn your radio down so you can listen for 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 reduce 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 over losing money because your truck driver is 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.
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