The annual TomTom traffic index released its 15th edition on global traffic trends.

The goal of the study is to better understand traffic behavior and its effects on people.

The Index is built from anonymized GPS and real-world vehicle speed data collected across trillions of kilometers of actual driving in global road networks. This data comes from connected vehicles and devices moving through urban and metro areas.

Despite persistent urban bottlenecks, the study revealed that the U.S remains one of the least congested countries overall. In 2025, the U.S. ranked 54th globally with an average congestion level of 19%. This reflects higher average travel speeds in the U.S.

Global congestion numbers rose by 5% this year, indicating more slowdowns. 

The Top U.S Congested Cities

Los Angeles, California, ranked as the most congested city in the U.S. at 60%, with Honolulu and San Francisco following closely behind.

While New York City’s congestion numbers didn’t rise, the city still remains the slowest overall for a second year in a row. The average commuter lost 120 hours this year during peak traffic.

When Does Congestion Occur?

With recent hybrid and remote work trends, the typical “rush hour” isn’t as common. Congestion times are spreading throughout the day rather than concentrated in morning or evening peaks.

Cities with the worst congestion levels (LA, NYC, SF) represent areas where fleets may see elevated operational costs and slower deliveries, as well as potential spikes in fuel consumption and emissions. 

What Does the TomTom Study Mean for Fleets?

Automotive Fleet connected with Senior Account Manager Pete Costello at TomTom to gain real-world insight for fleets.

AF: TomTom’s data suggests traditional rush hours are becoming less defined. How can fleets adjust delivery windows or service schedules in response to more “spread-out” congestion?

Costello: The Traffic Index data shows that the clearly defined rush hour is fading. Instead of sharp peaks in the morning and evening, we’re seeing congestion spike throughout the day. Knowing this, fleet managers should plan for a variety of congestion scenarios. Leveraging location data to understand traffic patterns, including real-time congestion and incidents along their routes, makes it easier to be flexible and adaptable to evolving road trends. Our data shows midweek travel is typically the busiest, giving fleets a possible opportunity to plan around that clustering by adjusting staffing or pushing non-urgent deliveries to less congested days.

AF: From a cost perspective, where does congestion hurt most today? Fuel, labor, or something else?

Costello:From a cost perspective, congestion today hits fleets most through time, which naturally drives up labor and fuel costs. While we can’t speak to any one fleet dataset directly, our Traffic Index shows that in major metros, drivers are losing dozens of hours per year to traffic jams. That can add up quickly, leading to more overtime, reduced productivity per vehicle, and extra fuel spent idling. 

AF: How can fleets turn traffic data into actionable insights rather than just reporting?

Costello: Fleets can turn real-time and historical traffic data into actionable insights. With precise delivery locations and route optimization, fleets can adjust departure times, reroute around congestion and incidents, and schedule deliveries before delays happen. Address and location data help identify precise delivery points, turning insights into smarter daily operations rather than just reports. Digital mapping infrastructure like our Orbis Maps lets fleets integrate precise vehicle localization into trucks, enabling advanced driver-assistance systems and helping minimize road incidents in real time.

AF: Looking ahead, what traffic or congestion trends worry you most over the next five years?

Costello: What’s top of mind for the team here at TomTom is building better solutions for alleviating traffic. Dynamic approaches, such as increased investment in public transit and road infrastructure, and strategies like NYC’s congestion pricing, tend to have a measurable positive effect on traffic patterns. In fact, our data shows that the city’s traffic benefits from this policy. On the other hand, decisions that focus solely on static infrastructure, such as road widening, often have a smaller impact and don’t address the underlying bottlenecks created by poorly coordinated road networks. Looking ahead, we’re focused on using our real-time traffic insights and AI-driven mapping to help cities move beyond reactive fixes and toward smarter, data-led strategies that measurably improve how people and goods move every day.