Altitude by Geotab Data Reveals Average of 15% Efficiency Boost in NYC Congestion Zone

ATLANTA, GA (March 18, 2026) – Fifteen months after the implementation of New York City’s congestion pricing, new aggregate telematics data from Altitude by Geotab reveals that commercial fleets have undergone a notable operational shift. Rather than avoiding Lower Manhattan, operators have increased vehicle trip efficiency by an average of 15% to offset the costs of entering the zone.

Building on the foundational NYC commercial vehicle congestion report released in July 2025, this 12-month update compares movement patterns from early 2026 against pre-program 2024 baselines.

The analysis, which examined over 50,000 commercial vehicle trips, found that while the number of unique vehicles entering the zone increased by less than 2%, those vehicles are being used far more intensively. On average, daily trips within the zone per vehicle rose from 4.0 in 2024 to 4.6 in 2025.

While only slightly more commercial vehicles are entering Manhattan after congestion pricing, each vehicle is making more trips within the congestion pricing zone than in 2024.

Key Findings Include:

• Local Traffic Improvements: 37% of roadways within the congestion zone experienced faster average speeds, with improvements noted in Little Italy, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side.
• The Idling Paradox: While commercial vehicles are idling less per trip, their total daily idle time has increased slightly because they are making more trips per day.
• From Heavy to Light Vehicle Types: During the first half of 2025, there was a notable decrease in medium- and heavy-duty trucks entering the Manhattan Congestion Relief Zone, mirrored by an increase in Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs). However, vehicle composition in the second half of 2025 returned to patterns similar to 2024, suggesting this shift was not permanent.
• Mixed Speed Results: Despite improvements in some corridors, 46% of roads showed no significant change in speed, and 16% actually became slower. 

“What our data shows is a complex, data-driven adaptation by commercial fleets,” said Nate Veeh, AVP, Business Development, Altitude by Geotab. “They have adapted to absorb the congestion toll, maximizing trip intensity from around 4.0 to 4.6 daily trips per vehicle. However, this efficiency hasn’t necessarily translated into permanent congestion relief. This suggests that while fleets are ‘adapting’ to absorb the congestion pricing, the policy has not yet achieved a permanent reduction in commercial congestion or idling emissions.”

For more information, visit https://altitude.geotab.com/news-and-releases/nyc-congestion-pricing-2026-update/