06/28/2023 18:41

Attention professional truck drivers: Anticipate a surge in the number of motorists embarking on roadways during the forthcoming Fourth of July duration, marking a historical milestone in road conditions.

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Truckers, Brace for a Road Share with Holiday Travelers

According to AAA, an estimated 50.7 million individuals residing in the United States will embark on journeys and road trips spanning a distance of 50 miles or greater from their primary residences during the upcoming Independence Day weekend. That's why the trucking industry should prepare. 

This notable figure establishes a fresh pinnacle in holiday travel statistics. Remarkably, the majority of these sojourners will opt for the convenience and flexibility of automobile transportation.

In comparison to the preceding year, this surge in domestic travel over the extended weekend exhibits an impressive increment of 2.1 million individuals. It is worth noting that this year's projection eclipses the previous record for the July 4th weekend, which was set in 2019 and encompassed a total of 49 million travelers. Imagine the traffic congestion and possible traffic accidents. 

The upcoming July 4th weekend is anticipated to establish a groundbreaking milestone in terms of vehicular travel among U.S. citizens.

According to estimations by AAA, an impressive national average of 43.2 million individuals are projected to embark on their holiday journeys via automobiles, representing a notable surge of 2.4% compared to the previous year and a substantial 4% escalation from the corresponding figures in 2019.

Expect distance travel and not just residential street visits.

Further Assessment by the American Automobile Association 

So, according to AAA, they're considering the Independence Day holiday travel period as the chunk of time spanning from Friday, June 30 to Tuesday, July 4, just for this forecast, you know?

"We've never seen travel numbers this through the roof for the Fourth of July weekend," said Paula Twidale, the big shot Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. "This just goes to show that even though there's not a whole lot of options and prices are sky high, people ain't holding back on their summer adventures. Lots of folks actually listened to us and got their bookings in early, which just proves how badly everyone wants to hit the road."

Major highways should indeed implement highway safety programs to make sure road share with truckers and millions of motorists will experience accident-free miles. The goal is the make highways safe with an elite team to manage them. 

Gas Prices on this Holiday

Guess what? Gas prices this summer are way lower than they were just a year ago!

On July 4th, 2022, the average cost for a gallon of regular gas was a whopping $4.80. But hold onto your seat because things have changed for the better!

Over the past few months, gas prices have been super steady, hanging around the range of $3.50 to $3.60 per gallon. And you know what to thank for this awesome news? The cost of oil has gone down, making it a win for all of us at the pump. Enjoy those savings, my friend!

Quick Tip: Here's a list of DOT Consortium services we offer at Labworks USA with respective rates that can be your reference to have better expense projections.

The Busiest Day? 

According to transportation data and insights provider, INRIX, the forthcoming Independence Day holiday weekend is anticipated to witness its busiest day on Friday, June 30.

Commuters should brace themselves for a substantial increase in travel times, with an estimated surge of almost 30% compared to regular days. A sudden stop could strand motorists. Same as not monitoring highway speeds could be a result of this busy day where people are most probably are on a rush. 

Metropolitan cities such as Boston, Seattle, and Washington, DC are projected to experience the most severe traffic conditions during this period. INRIX advises individuals to plan their journeys either in the morning or after 6 p.m. in order to avoid encountering the heaviest holiday congestion.

Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX, advises drivers to be ready for longer-than-usual delays on their way to popular holiday destinations due to an anticipated surge in travelers this weekend. To ensure a less frustrating experience during Independence Day travel, Pishue suggests utilizing traffic apps, staying updated with notifications from local departments of transportation, and making use of 511 services. These proactive measures can greatly assist in minimizing the traffic-related frustrations associated with holiday travel.

Best and Worst Times to Travel 

Worst Times to Travel

Thu, June 29 - 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM 

Fri, June 30 - 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Sat, July 1 - 1:00 PM

Sun, July 2 - Minimal Traffic Impact Expected

Mon, July 3 - Minimal Traffic Impact Expected

Tue, July 4 - 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Wed, July 5 - 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Best Times to Travel

Thu, June 29 - Before 12:00 PM 

Fri, June 30 -  Before 10:00 AM, After 6:00 PM

Sat, July 1 -  Before 12:00 PM 

Sun, July 2 - Minimal Traffic Impact Expected

Mon, July 3 - Minimal Traffic Impact Expected

Tue, July 4 - Before 11:00 AM, After 6:00 PM

Wed, July 5 - Before 2:00 PM

In Conclusion

As trucking moves America, so as the citizens with it.

Whether it is about commercial traffic, air traffic (air travel), or whatever traffic configurations, there will always be an existence of bad traffic. With that, we always need to pay attention to traffic conditions especially during this holiday busy weekend and not cause any transportation crisis. 

To our beloved truck drivers...

From Labworks USA, Happy Fourth of July! 

If you are looking for more information about drug and alcohol testing as a truck driver, visit LabWorks USA. Our DOT Consortium's friendly team will be more than happy to discuss any concerns you may have and work with you to ensure you are always fully compliant specially with random DOT drug and alcohol testing pre-employment testing. Moreover, if you need help with FMCSA Clearinghouse registration, we can further support you.