By Maria Kalamatas | March 25, 2025 | The Logistic News
In a modest but notable leap forward, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has awarded the United States a “C” grade in its 2025 Report Card for the Country’s Infrastructure, marking the highest rating since the report’s inception in 1998. The improvement is being attributed to historic federal investment through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—but logistics professionals caution that significant gaps remain, especially in freight-critical infrastructure.
The ASCE’s Report Card, issued every four years, evaluates 18 infrastructure categories. The 2025 edition shows that nearly half have improved since 2021, when the U.S. earned a C-. Prior to that, the 2017 grade stood at a D+, highlighting a long history of underperformance.
Freight-related categories paint a more nuanced picture. Ports received a promising B grade, reflecting targeted investments and capacity expansion. Rail followed closely with a B-, aided by private sector capital and intermodal upgrades. However, aviation infrastructure still lags with a D+, while roads—critical for first- and last-mile delivery—also earned a D+. Bridges were rated a C, and inland waterways received a C-.
“The new grades in 2025 demonstrate that investment in infrastructure makes a difference,” said Darren Olson, Chair of the ASCE Committee on America’s Infrastructure. “The IIJA has jumpstarted tens of thousands of critical projects across the country, proving that public dollars spent on resilient infrastructure return long-term economic value.”
Signed into law in 2021, the $1.2 trillion IIJA committed over $550 billion to new infrastructure programs across transportation, water systems, broadband, and energy. The ASCE credits the legislation with reversing a decades-long decline in infrastructure quality. Still, Olson warned of a looming $3.7 trillion investment gap between 2024 and 2033—up significantly from the $2.59 trillion gap identified in 2021.
From a logistics and supply chain perspective, underperformance in road and aviation infrastructure continues to hinder efficiency, raise costs, and limit competitiveness. Delays, capacity bottlenecks, and aging assets weigh heavily on freight movement, especially as trade tensions and retaliatory tariffs increase pressure on U.S. supply chains.
“Each American household currently loses $2,700 per year due to poor infrastructure,” Olson said during a media briefing. “If we continue current federal investment levels, we can reduce that loss to around $2,000. Investing in infrastructure is an investment in American jobs, people, and the economy.”
Despite a temporary pause on IIJA funding earlier this year, Olson stated that progress is back on track and urged policymakers to build on the current momentum. He emphasized the need for resilient design, innovation adoption, and long-term funding solutions.
With freight volumes rebounding and infrastructure demands rising, logistics providers are watching closely. Improvements in ports and rail are encouraging, but deteriorating road and aviation networks remain pain points—especially for e-commerce, perishables, and just-in-time delivery models.
As global competition intensifies and reciprocal trade policies reshape the import-export landscape, robust infrastructure will be critical to maintaining the resilience and efficiency of U.S. freight networks.
“So much of what we do in the United States—whether in manufacturing, technology, or global competitiveness—relies on a foundation of infrastructure,” Olson concluded. “We’ve seen the benefits of investment. Now is the time to double down.”
