Supply Chain Resilience Can Fight the Hidden Cost of Congestion
Twenty-first century supply chains are too complex to simply ask, “What just happened?” Operators need to think strategically.
Home » Blogs » Think Tank » Supply Chain Resilience Can Fight the Hidden Cost of Congestion Think Tank RSS Supply Chain Resilience Can Fight the Hidden Cost of Congestion October 22, 2026 Michael Cottle, SCB Contributor We’ve all experienced the headache of being stuck in traffic, our frustration mounting as minutes tick away. Traffic congestion is usually considered a commuter problem, but it also hits freight shipping in unexpected ways that affect us all.
While the average urban driver lost 72 hours sitting in traffic last year, congested freight networks have added $109 billion annually to the price of goods paid by consumers. For freight operators, congestion and road closures are ongoing operational and financial problems that receive far less attention than the commuter experience.
The problem is lack of visibility. Most freight companies rely on transportation metrics that mask the variability in traffic networks. And that variability drives up freight expenses.
Addressing the hidden costs of these conditions means understanding where congestion is likely, and which planned future closures will impact long-distance transportation. Historical and planned traffic data can help operators anticipate disruptions and build resilience into their supply chains.
This story was originally published by SupplyChainBrain. Read the full story at SupplyChainBrain →
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