Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Urban Roads Need Plenty of Patching

It’s a bumpy ride in the city – and getting bumpier, according to a new report on the deteriorating state of America’s urban roads.

David Cullen
David Cullen[Former] Business/Washington Contributing Editor
Read David's Posts
October 22, 2018
Urban Roads Need Plenty of Patching

New report finds that one-third of the nation’s major urban roadways are in poor condition and could deteriorate further if road repairs are inadequately funded by local and state governments.

Photo: TRIP

3 min to read


It’s a bumpy ride in the city. And getting bumpier, according to a new report on the deteriorating state of America’s urban roads.

Ad Loading...

The big takeaway is that one-third of the nation’s major urban roadways — those highways and arterial roads that comprise the main routes for commuters and commerce — are in poor condition and could deteriorate further if road repairs are inadequately funded by local and state governments.

Ad Loading...

Driving on deteriorated urban roads costs motorists as much as $1,049 annually, per a new 24-page report, titled Bumpy Roads Ahead: America’s Roughest Rides and Strategies to make our Roads Smoother, released on Oct. 17 by TRIP, a private nonprofit that researches, evaluate, and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues.

The report evaluates pavement conditions in the nation’s large (500,000+ population) and mid-sized (200,000-500,000 population) urban areas and calculates the additional costs passed on to vehicle operators that result from driving on rough roads, such as for increased  repairs, maintenance, fuel consumption, and tire wear.

Along with studying pavement wear and tear, TRIP delved into the impact of transportation funding, travel trends and economic development on urban roads The study reveals that, in 2016, 33% of the nation's major urban interstates, freeways, and other arterial routes had pavements that were in “substandard condition and provided an unacceptably rough ride to motorists, costing the average driver $599 annually.” The nationwide annual cost to motorists of driving on deteriorated roads is pegged at $130 billion by TRIP.

TRIP made certain to factor in the impact of truck traffic on city roads and highways.” With vehicle travel growth rates returning to pre-recession levels and large truck travel anticipated to grow significantly, mounting wear and tear on the nation’s urban roads and highways is expected to increase the cost of needed highway repairs,” the report contends.

While vehicle miles of travel in the U.S. increased by 16% from 2000 to 2016 — and increased by 6% alone from 2013 to 2016 — travel by large commercial trucks in the U.S. increased by 29% from 2000 to 2016 and is “anticipated to increase by approximately 56% from 2018 to 2045, putting even greater stress on the nation’s roadways.”

Ad Loading...

What’s more, TRIP makes the key point that, “Road conditions could deteriorate further as the rate of vehicle travel continues to increase and local and state governments find themselves unable to adequately fund road repairs.”

Also according to TRIP, the Department of Transportation’s semi-annual report on the condition, use, and funding needs of the nation’s surface transportation program “found that the current backlog in needed road and highway rehabilitation is $419.5 billion and that the nation’s current $41 billion annual investment in maintaining the condition of roads and highways should be increased by 33% to $61 billion annually to improve the condition of America’s roads and highways.” 

“The needs of our nation’s infrastructure continue to grow,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Transportation and Infrastructure Ed Mortimer said in a statement. “This report provides clear evidence that deteriorating roads are a strain on motorists and bad for the economy. “It is past time for federal lawmakers to come together to enact a long-term infrastructure modernization plan.” 

TRIP Executive Director Will Wilkins noted that “some states and regional governments have begun to address their needs through recent funding increases, but it will also take action by the federal government.

“Congress,” he added, “can help by fixing the federal Highway Trust Fund with a sustainable source of user-fee based revenue.” In other words, Congress could hike the federal fuel tax on gasoline and diesel.

Ad Loading...

More Fleet Management

Beyond Trucks Rate Agent TMS.
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsApril 2, 2026

BeyondTrucks Targets Rate Complexity with New AI RateAgents

BeyondTrucks says its new RateAgents can turn plain-language rate logic into working code, starting with fuel surcharges — a critical but notoriously complex piece of carrier revenue.

Read More →
Magnus Koeck, vice president of strategy, marketing, and brand management, Volvo Trucks North America
Fleet Managementby Jack RobertsApril 2, 2026

Volvo Sees Market ‘Tipping Point’ as New VNL Orders Surge

Soft freight conditions persist, but aging fleets, strong order intake, and new-product momentum signal a more optimistic second half of 2026, Volvo Trucks North America says.

Read More →
Illustration of a semi-trailer with a sports playbook diagram on chalkboard
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeApril 1, 2026

Cargo Theft’s New Playbook: Strategic Fraud, Double Brokering, and Cybercrime Hit Trucking

Cargo theft is evolving from regional smash-and-grab operations to sophisticated fraud schemes. Strategic theft now accounts for roughly a third of cargo crime, with incidents rising sharply in recent years. Here’s how the schemes work — and what fleets can do to protect themselves.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Collage of Top 20 Product award ceremonies
EquipmentMarch 31, 2026

HDT Honors the Best New Products of 2025 at TMC [Photos]

Heavy Duty Trucking's Top 20 Products awards recognize the best new products and technologies. Check out the award presentations at the 2026 Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting.

Read More →
freightliner whitepaper
SponsoredMarch 31, 2026

Detroit Engines: Trusted Performance, Built for What's Next

The Detroit® Gen 6 engine platform proves that real progress doesn’t require a complete redesign. Built on 20 years of trusted technology, these engines are designed for efficiency, stronger performance, and greater reliability than before. And they do it all while complying with 2027 EPA standards on every mile.

Read More →
Q&A graphic with Erik Neandross headshot
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeMarch 27, 2026

Q&A: What's Real in Advanced Truck Tech? ACT Expo's Erik Neandross Weighs In

The 2026 ACT Expo is focusing heavily on what organizer Erik Neandross calls trucking's digital frontier. This interview excerpt dives into artificial intelligence, zero-emission vehicles, and tips to make sense of it all.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration showing man at podium and "digital frontier: Hype or hit" text
Fleet ManagementMarch 26, 2026

Trucking's Digital Frontier: AI, Connected Vehicles, Alternative Fuels and More

There's an amazing amount of new technology for trucking out there. For fleets, the challenge is figuring out what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s worth investing in.

Read More →
Podcast thumbnail saying "Trucking's Digital Frontier"
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeMarch 26, 2026

What's Real in Advanced Truck Technology? ACT Expo's Erik Neandross Weighs In

Artificial intelligence, the software-defined vehicle, telematics, autonomous trucks, electric trucks and alternative fuels, and more in this HDT Talks Trucking interview

Read More →
Illustration showing generic graphs and stylized trucking fleet
Fleet Managementby StaffMarch 24, 2026

ACT: Trucking Volumes Rise, Capacity Tightens as Fuel Prices Cloud Outlook

ACT Research data shows volumes hitting a four-year high and supply-demand balance strengthening, but higher oil prices are undercutting tariff relief and tempering optimism.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
People looking at Wabash display at TMC
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseMarch 23, 2026

Wabash Teams Physical Security With Digital Tech For Better Cargo Visibility

The patent-pending cargo solution integrates a digitally connected cargo door and an intelligent locking system with the TrailerHawk.AI technology platform.

Read More →