New data released March 24 by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) shows that trucks are continuing to move – in many cases, faster than usual – to respond to the demands placed on the industry by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“ATRI’s real-time GPS data comes from more than a million trucks, allowing us to analyze freight flows, and so far in March, what we are seeing is an unprecedented level of truck movement,” said ATRI president and COO Rebecca Brewster in a news release. “Not only are trucks continuing to move, but they are doing so at speeds well in excess of normal traffic patterns.”

According to ATRI’s data, at the intersection of I-85 and I-285 in Atlanta, known locally as Spaghetti Junction, afternoon rush hour average truck speeds are typically less than 15 MPH  because of congestion. 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,” Brewster said. “As other traffic dissipates, trucks continue to move, delivering much-needed relief supplies to markets, hospitals, gas stations and other essential businesses.”

Among the hardest hit states, New York, California and Illinois, the data is showing similar changes.

According to ATRI’s analysis, the results can be explained by several COVID-19 related factors. First, the dramatic reduction in commuter traffic allows commercial vehicles to operate at higher speeds, particularly during traditional rush hours.  Second, the increased need for continuous 24/7 truck operations generates higher average truck speeds when spread across nearly all hours of the day.

“Normally, ATRI’s bottleneck data is used to show us where the problems are on our highway system,” said American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear, “but during this period of extreme uncertainty, the data is showing us where the solution is – in the back of America’s trucks as professional drivers continue to quickly and safely deliver life-sustaining medical supplies, food, fuel and other essentials to Americans when they need it most.”

ATRI is a 501c3 not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.