Truckers lost an enormous $108.8 billion last year due to road congestion, a new study reveals.

The details: Conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), this report shows congestion costs rose by 15%, hitting a record high. It marks a crucial impact on an industry vital for moving goods across the country.

• The congestion not only affected drivers' schedules but also cost millions of gallons of diesel fuel. Around 6.4 billion gallons costing $32.1 billion were wasted on idling in traffic, reported ATRI.
• States like Texas, California, and Florida faced the most significant costs, each tackling over $8 billion in congestion expenses.

Big picture: Federal, state, and local governments spent a combined $232 billion on highways in 2022. However, truckers are questioning whether this money solves the real congestion bottlenecks on their routes.

What's next: The enduring congestion woes highlight the need for targeted investments to ease highway bottlenecks and improve the efficiency of these essential transportation lines.