Rising trucking costs and highway congestion are adding pressure to supply chains. Texas roads are carrying a costly share of the nation’s freight traffic, with potential consequences for the prices consumers pay for everyday goods.
Affordability, understandably, has taken center stage this election season. While inflation is moderating compared to the post-pandemic surge, consumer prices in major Texas metropolitan areas have increased by roughly 3.0% over the 12-month period ending in September/August 2026. According to a Texas Public Opinion Research poll of 1,000 likely voters, “affordability and cost of living is the most important issue for voters by a significant margin,” with half of those surveyed choosing affordability and cost of living as either their first choice or second choice as the top issue.
Earlier this year, the Texas Trucking Association reported that 12 Texas locations appeared on the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual list of the nation’s 100 worst truck bottlenecks. Eight were in the Houston metropolitan area, underscoring the transportation challenges facing one of the country’s major freight hubs.
In line with TTA’s report, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute's 2025 congestion analysis identified Houston's Eastex Freeway as the state's most congested road segment for trucks, while several sections of Interstate 35 in the Austin area also ranked among the state's most congested truck routes. Interstate 10 and Interstate 35 segments in the Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth regions likewise appeared among the leading problem areas.
In September, autonomous trucking company Waabi cited data that more than 9,000 freight trucks travel between Houston and Dallas daily, with that volume projected to more than double by 2050. How the state addresses its transportation growing pains will affect its potential for economic growth.
Beyond dollar-draining congestion, American Transportation Research Institute reported in July that the average cost of operating a truck reached $2.336 per mile in 2025, a record in its annual analysis and a 3.4% increase from the previous year. Tolls rose 13.2%, while repair and maintenance costs increased 8.6%.
In Texas, freight movement is central to the economy. Higher fuel, maintenance and congestion costs can legitimately increase the expense of moving food, fuel and other goods. Those expenses help explain why transportation disruptions can affect prices at grocery stores and gas stations.
In addition to impacting consumer wallets, the performance of Texas's major freight corridors has implications for business location decisions, inventory strategies, distribution networks and capital investment. Texas's transportation network is an important part of the state's competitive position in manufacturing, international trade, energy and distribution.
As Texas policymakers pursue ways to unleash economic growth and relieve pressure on household budgets, strategies to effectively manage Texas’ transportation system must be a key component of the plan.