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:
“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/
Data from Altitude by Geotab shows that travel time improvements are notable; 37% of roadways in Lower Manhattan experienced fast moving speeds in 2025 compared to 2024, indicating that reduced gridlock for freight is a sustained trend.
The analysis suggests that idling is an operational challenge rather than a traffic one. Even with clearer roads, commercial vehicles still spend significant time idling due to limited loading zone availability and the requirements of last-mile delivery.
Yes, but the trend has shifted. While there was an initial drop in large heavy-duty trucks in the first half of 2025, this trend did not hold for the full year. By the second half of 2025, vehicle composition had largely returned to 2024 patterns, suggesting fleets are still adapting rather than having made a permanent shift.
The key takeaway for cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco is that congestion pricing can improve gridlock but the impact on freight efficiency is nuanced. Fleets will adapt their vehicle types to find efficiencies. Policymakers however should also address loading zone management to reduce idling and environmental impact.
Altitude by Geotab leverages aggregate, anonymized telematics data from over 50,000 commercial vehicle trips. By comparing 2025 and 2026 movement patterns against pre-program 2024 baselines, it provides an aggregate view of how urban freight evolves under new tolling policies.
About Altitude by Geotab
Altitude by Geotab is a leading provider of advanced mobility insights and solutions for public and commercial sectors across North America. Headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, the company leverages its expertise in data analytics to help decision-makers gain a comprehensive understanding of road network movements. By delivering reliable and contextualized insights, it enables improved planning capabilities and better financial outcomes, while maintaining data confidentiality and privacy. Our solutions drive safer, more efficient and more sustainable mobility throughout North America. Learn more at altitude.geotab.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Geotab
Geotab is a global leader in connected vehicle and asset solutions, empowering fleet efficiency and management. We leverage advanced data analytics and AI to transform fleet performance, safety, and sustainability, reducing cost and driving efficiency. Backed by top data scientists and engineers, we serve over 55,000 global customers, processing 80 billion data points daily from more than 4.7 million vehicle subscriptions. Geotab is trusted by Fortune 500 organizations, mid-sized fleets, and the largest public sector fleets in the world, including the US Federal Government. Committed to data security and privacy, we hold FIPS 140-3 and FedRAMP authorizations. Our open platform, ecosystem of outstanding partners, and Marketplace deliver hundreds of fleet-ready third-party solutions. This year, we’re celebrating 25 years of innovation. Learn more at www.geotab.com and follow us on LinkedIn or visit Geotab News and Views.
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