American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) data maintains the trucking industry is continuing to perform amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The trucking industry research organization recently released real-time GPS data results from more than one million trucks.
“So far in March, what we are seeing is an unprecedented level of truck movement,” ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster said. “Not only are trucks continuing to move, but they are doing so at speeds well in excess of normal traffic patterns.”
Brewster cited the intersection of I-85 and I-285 in Atlanta, known locally as Spaghetti Junction, as an example of continued movement under potentially challenging circumstances. Afternoon rush-hour truck speeds in that area are typically less than 15 MPH due to congestion, but last week, truck speeds averaged 53 MPH.
“Spaghetti Junction is typical of what we’ve seen across the country, especially in areas hit hard by the virus and subject to quarantines and lockdowns,” she said. “As other traffic dissipates, trucks continue to move, delivering much-needed relief supplies to markets, hospitals, gas stations, and other essential businesses.”
Officials attribute the data results to the reduction in commuter traffic, allowing trucks to operate at higher speeds, particularly during traditional rush hours, and continuous truck operations generating higher average truck speeds across nearly all hours of the day.