5 Cities With the Worst Traffic for Commercial Drivers
With more drivers on the road than ever before, traffic jams in big cities are part of the job when getting behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle. It seems like just about every major metropolitan area has a problem with congestion and long commutes during peak hours, but who has it the worst? Taking a look at this list from U.S News & World Report, we were surprised by some of the results, especially since we’ve driven in many of these cities ourselves.
Like the worst states to drive through, fleet operators can plan their routes around these troublesome destinations to not waste fuel or valuable time on the road. Commercial Truck Trader is taking a closer look at these five cities with the worst traffic for commercial drivers.
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1. Chicago
Coming in at the top of the list, commuters in the Windy City spent an estimated 155 hours in traffic in 2022. That’s just about six-and-a-half days on a 24-hour scale, or almost 20 workdays behind the wheel for 8 hours. How’s that for a vacation package? Even more surprising (to us, at least) is that Chicago is second only to London on the international list.
2. Boston
Boston is the runner-up on the list for worst driving traffic. It doesn’t matter if you’re headed to Back Bay, Beacon Hill, trying to get to the serenity of the suburbs, or off to the Cape for the weekend – Boston drivers spend a lot of time going nowhere. In 2022, the average commuter experienced 134 hours of downtime on the roads, which is a headache if you’re moving freight, making deliveries, or trying to reach a client with your business on wheels.
3. New York City
When you’re in a city that’s basically surrounded by water, and there are only a few main routes to get in and out, it’s clear why The Big Apple is bad for driving. In addition to being a big draw for tourists wanting to see Times Square or Broadway, there are a lot of people who live in surrounding areas who commute into New York City on a regular basis. On average, these drivers lost 117 hours stuck in traffic during 2022.
4. Philadelphia
The City of Brotherly Love needs to extend some affection to their commuters and commercial vehicle drivers who averaged 114 hours in traffic in 2022. Because it’s a major metropolitan area with a huge population and a large transportation hub, this city is bad for congestion. Inclement weather also plays a part in this. Plan your driving route when you’re in Philadelphia to avoid traffic the best you can.
5. Miami
Inviting beaches, fantastic weather, a cool vibe, and tourist attractions lure visitors to Vice City. But most residents in Miami spent an estimated 105 hours of time in 2022 trying to get home or to work. As a commercial trucker, this can be troublesome when you’re surrounded by lanes of cars in the summer during a heatwave, so take precautions and practice smart driving.
More Cities with Terrible Traffic
Rounding out the rest of the list from U.S. News & World Report are Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Houston, and Atlanta. The report also measured what lost time cost commuters. Based on a 2016 analysis by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, when adjusted for inflation, this is approximately $17 per hour. If you do the math, you’ll see that being stuck in traffic cost Chicago residents an average of $2,618 last year.
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The Solution?
While working from home and hybrid work schedules may help loosen up the congestion a bit, there are some occupations that just don’t allow for that. After all, those consumer goods that get delivered to every store in all of the cities above don’t just magically show up. If you know you’re going to be stuck out on the road because of traffic at some point, consider purchasing fuel-efficient commercial vehicles for your fleet.
It’s a fast-paced world out there—at least for the most part. Make the most of it with the latest technology, options, and creature comforts available on your next commercial vehicle. We can help you find what you’re looking for through our amazing selection of listings, and we can even help you trade in your current truck if you’re ready to upgrade. CommercialTruckTrader.com has all of the best new and used commercial trucks available so you can enjoy the ride.
Barrett Baker
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