NYC Congestion Pricing Impact on Commercial Trucks

New York City’s controversial congestion pricing program is now in full swing, and the early data is in. While many in the trucking industry have been vocal critics of the policy, a new analysis from Geotab offers some surprising insights for fleet managers and commercial drivers.

Based on over 16,000 trips into Lower Manhattan, Geotab’s report reveals that trucks are moving faster, traffic is thinning out, and fleets are adapting, though idling times remain mostly unchanged.

Here’s what you need to know.

Between January and May 2025, compared to the same stretch in 2024, truck traffic through Lower Manhattan changed significantly. According to Geotab:

• 44% of Lower Manhattan streets saw faster commercial vehicle travel times between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Medium- and heavy-duty truck volume dropped, replaced by a rise in smaller multi-purpose fleet vehicles like vans, pickups, and SUVs.

• Idling time hasn’t shifted much, despite better traffic flow.

For drivers who’ve fought gridlock downtown, this will feel familiar. With fewer big rigs on the road, those who do make deliveries or pickups in the congestion zone might find it easier to get in and out—at least during certain hours.

The Central Business District Tolling Program, which launched in January 2025, charges $21.60 per heavy-duty truck entry into Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours of 5 a.m.–9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.–9 p.m. on weekends. It’s no surprise, then, that many businesses are finding ways to downsize their fleets or reroute larger vehicles around the zone.

While truckers and industry groups have pushed back, calling the fees unfair and disproportionate, New York officials claim the program is working. New York governor Kathy Hochul recently doubled down, saying the cameras are “staying on,” and touting the program as a “huge success.”

For fleet managers, this data paints a clear picture: businesses are turning to smaller, more nimble vehicles to handle deliveries in the congestion zone. While that shift could mean more flexibility and cost savings, it also raises new questions about load planning, routing, and vehicle utilization.

If you’re managing a mixed fleet in or around NYC, it may be time to reevaluate how you make deliveries south of 60th and with which vehicles.

In more driver-friendly news, the NYC Council just passed legislation requiring the city to create designated overnight truck parking in Industrial Business Zones (IBZs). This builds on the city’s Overnight Truck Parking Pilot, launched earlier this year.

This means:

• Metered overnight truck parking is coming to select IBZs.

• Large tractor-trailers are included.

• It’s meant to reduce illegal parking in residential areas and provide legal rest spots for truckers.

The Trucking Association of New York is calling it a significant win—and drivers across the city will likely agree.