The DOT estimates that owner-operators travel around 2.6 million miles on average during their careers. The majority of truckers like driving routes that are at least 1,000 miles long, which makes it reasonable. But no matter how long the road is, one thing that worries truckers the most is how congested it is.
Nothing is worse than being on the road and seeing unexpected (or even anticipated) traffic, significantly extending the time it takes for your delivery. Because of this, many drivers choose less-frequented roads. So how can you figure out which freight routes are the busiest? If you wish to avoid traffic, look at the list of routes we have provided below.
Interstate 95
I-95 is probably what east coast truckers consider the busiest highway for trucks. I-95 traverses the whole length of the east coast, from Miami, Florida, to the border between Maine and Canada. Even though it is not the longest roadway in the country, it is one of the busiest. It also holds the world record for travelling through most states—specifically, 15—at once!
Interstate 80
I-80 goes east-west rather than north-south, unlike I-95. I-80 transports truckers nationwide, beginning in San Francisco, CA, and terminating in Teaneck, NJ. I-80 travels about 3,000 miles across 11 states and is one of the busiest freight routes in the country. It should be no surprise that I-80 is one of the busiest roads as it is one of the main transcontinental thoroughfares. Most motorists in the west, the midwest, and the east will use I-80 at some time in their driving careers.
Interstate 75
I-75 runs north-south and starts in Florida, just as I-95 does. The distinction is that I-75 veers more west than east since it finishes at the Canadian border in Michigan. I-75 only travels through six states, but it does pass through several significant cities, including Detroit, Atlanta, and Cincinnati. When Southwest Florida’s population began to soar, I-75 was first constructed, and the rest is history!
Interstate 90
We can all agree that I-90 is the longest interstate in the United States, although some believe it is the busiest interstate for trucks. I-90, the longest transcontinental roadway, travels almost 3,000 miles from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts.
You may have observed that interstates are designated with even numbers for east-west travel and odd numbers for north-south travel. The lower numbers for north-south roads begin in the west, another interesting feature regarding the interstate highway numbering scheme. The lower numbers then begin in the South for east-west roads. I-90 thus has a larger number than routes south of it since it is an east-west route further north.
Interstate 40
I-40 is last but not least. I-40 runs from Barstow, California, east to Wilmington, North Carolina. Can you determine its location and running direction based on its numbering? Yes, it flows east-west since it is an even number and is often seen in the South because it is a lower number.
Depending on where you drive most often, you could have traveled on one or more of these congested roads. Do you agree that these are the busiest routes? Although there are several instances when other roads top the list, these 5 are often regarded as the busiest. While traveling on these interstates has its advantages and disadvantages, truck drivers typically travel 2.6 million miles for their careers. Check out our truck driver school to start your career if you want to log 2.6 million miles on the road.