The Chicago interchange of Interstate 294 and Interstates 290/88 is now the most congested freight bottleneck in the country, according to the 2026 report from the American Transportation Research Institute.
The ranking marks the first time that location has taken the top spot, replacing Fort Lee, N.J., which had long held the No. 1 position.
ATRI released its 15th annual Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks list on Feb. 17, based on 2025 truck GPS data collected from more than 325 freight-critical locations across the national highway system.
The report arrives as Congress prepares to reauthorize the nation’s surface transportation programs, providing policymakers with fresh data on where congestion is most affecting freight.
“Congestion delays inflicted on truckers are the equivalent of 436,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year,” said ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster. “While these congestion metrics are getting worse, the good news is that states do not need to accept the status quo. Illinois has been home to the country’s top bottleneck before, but following a sustained effort to expand capacity, its previous No. 1 bottleneck at the Jane Byrne Interchange no longer ranks in the top 25. This data gives policymakers a road map to reduce chokepoints, lower emissions, and drive economic growth.”
ATRI’s truck GPS data is also used to support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Freight Mobility Initiative.
The top 10 worst truck bottlenecks
- Chicago: I-294 at I-290/I-88
- Fort Lee, N.J.: I-95 at SR 4
- Atlanta: I-285 at I-85 (North)
- Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59
- Atlanta: I-75 at I-285 (North)
- Atlanta: I-20 at I-285 (West)
- Nashville: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)
- Houston: I-10 at I-69/US 59
- Cincinnati: I-71 at I-75
- McDonough, Ga.: I-75
Atlanta and Houston each have multiple locations in the Top 10, underscoring ongoing congestion pressure in major freight corridors.
Speeds continue to slow
ATRI found that traffic conditions continue to deteriorate in many locations.
Average rush hour truck speeds across all bottlenecks were 33.2 mph in 2025, 2.8 percent slower than the previous year. Among the Top 10 locations, average rush hour truck speeds dropped to 29.6 mph.
“Following a comprehensive, data-driven analysis, ATRI has crowned a new stretch of highway in Chicago as America’s worst bottleneck,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear. “Those who are least likely surprised by this announcement are the truck drivers and commuters who are forced to endure endless delays when navigating this dreadful interchange. Traffic congestion not only chokes our supply chains, adding $109 billion annually to the cost of goods paid by consumers, but it also impacts the quality of life for all motorists. Fortunately for frustrated commuters, there is hope. For many years, the George Washington Bridge held this infamous bottleneck title, yet targeted infrastructure investments have finally helped to boost speeds between New York and New Jersey. This success provides a roadmap for policymakers to invest in projects that will improve efficiency throughout our transportation system and benefit their constituents.”
