Decrease Manhattan sees fewer giant vehicles, sooner journey occasions underneath congestion pricing

A congestion pricing digicam in March 2024.

Photo by Dean Moses

Trucks are shifting sooner throughout the day in Manhattan since congestion pricing started this yr, in line with new research from a telematics and knowledge firm.

Research from Altitude by Geotab, an organization that analyzes knowledge about highway networks, reveals that between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., 44% of Manhattan roadways within the congestion reduction zone (CRZ) noticed sooner industrial car journey occasions. The firm noticed 16,000 car journeys within the space to assist conduct its analysis. 

However, 40% of roadways within the CRZ skilled “no discernible change” in pace and 16% had been slower on common after congestion pricing.

The knowledge additional reveals that the world hosts fewer giant vehicles — generally known as GVWR Classes 3-8 — however an elevated presence of multi-purpose autos, similar to last-mile supply vans.

As a part of the research, researchers in contrast knowledge from January by way of May 2024 to the identical interval in 2025 to see how industrial fleet exercise modified after congestion pricing launched on Jan. 5. 

Comparing the 2 five-month durations, researchers stated there have been 431 fewer mild, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles within the zone, although there was additionally a rise of 1,526 multi-purpose autos. 

Idling on the identical charge

The research additionally discovered that vehicles idle on the identical charge after congestion pricing. However, it didn’t present particulars on how usually or how lengthy vehicles remained idle both earlier than or after the tolls began. 

Congestion pricing expenses industrial vehicles a base toll of $14.50 to enter Manhattan south of 61st Street. Tolls fluctuate relying on the kind of truck and the time of day it enters the CRZ. 

Nate Veeh, performing vp of enterprise growth at Altitude by Geotab, stated the analysis offers an in depth understanding of how congestion pricing is impacting truck visitors within the space.

“Data insights are crucial for understanding and optimizing the dynamic world of transportation,” Veeh stated. “This study is a great example of how insights into a real-world problem like traffic congestion and introducing tolls can help us understand the impacts on traffic flow, fleet composition and idling.”

Juliette Michaelson, the MTA’s deputy chief of coverage and exterior relations, stated the research factors to congestion pricing’s quite a few advantages. 

“Traffic and accidents are down. Traffic speeds, transit ridership, foot traffic, air quality, and business bottom lines are all up,” she stated. “This is just the latest report to detail the benefits that congestion pricing is delivering for New York’s economy and quality of life, which means real savings for all New Yorkers.”

Meanwhile, the MTA reported final month that 2,076,163 fewer autos entered the CRZ in May alone. The company stated the baseline historic day by day common of autos coming into the tolling zone is 647,200 within the month. 

However, in May 2025, with congestion pricing, the common day by day car entries dropped to 580,227, in line with the MTA. 

As of June, congestion pricing’s whole internet income for the yr to this point totaled $219 million. The MTA stated the cash is used for public transit enhancements, together with higher accessibility at subway stations, extra battery-electric buses with complementary charging infrastructure, and structural enhancements similar to monitor upgrades, bridge restore, and buyer communication programs.

The Trucking Association of New York declined to touch upon this story.