Pep Boys Identifies the Metro Areas With the Toughest Roads for Drivers
Pep Boys data reveals the top U.S. metro areas with the highest rates of road-related vehicle repairs and what drivers can do to stay ahead of costly wear and tear.
Pep Boys’ new report highlights the U.S. metro areas with the highest rates of road-related vehicle repairs, based on service trends across its operating markets.
Photo: Work Truck
2 min to read
Pep Boys released new data highlighting where drivers see the highest rates of road-related vehicle repairs. The company analyzed service trends from its shops nationwide and found that certain metro areas experience far more alignment, suspension and tire-related issues than the national average.
Ad Loading...
Those repairs can often signal local challenges, everything from extreme weather and heavy congestion to ongoing construction and uneven road surfaces.
Ad Loading...
The findings are based on Pep Boys’ internal repair data from September 2024 through September 2025 across the markets where the company operates. The rankings reflect where these repairs occur more frequently and are not tied to any official roadway quality ratings.
Top 30 Metro Areas With the Toughest Roads
So, what are the top 30 metro areas with the toughest roads fleets need to be aware of? Pep Boys’ findings show clear regional trends. Florida leads the pack with more affected metros than any other state, and many of the hardest-hit areas aren’t the country’s biggest cities.
A mix of weather, construction and local road conditions across the East Coast, Southeast, and Midwest all show up in the service data, creating a broad cross-section of markets where vehicles take a beating more often than average.
Cities were ranked by frequency of road-related repairs.
Orlando, FL
Chicago, IL
Panama City, FL
Lafayette, IN
Tampa–St. Petersburg, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Nashville, TN
New Orleans, LA
Tallahassee, FL
Knoxville, TN
Youngstown, OH
Charleston, SC
Augusta, GA
Evansville, IN
Springfield, MO
Columbus, OH
Baton Rouge, LA
Lafayette, LA
Philadelphia, PA
Mobile, AL
Miami–Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Dallas–Ft. Worth, TX
Pittsburgh, PA
Baltimore, MD
Boston, MA
Charlotte, NC
Norfolk, VA
San Francisco, CA
Harrisburg, PA
El Paso, TX
Ad Loading...
A map view highlighting U.S. metro areas identified by Pep Boys as having the highest rates of road-related vehicle repairs, based on service data.
Photo: Work Truck
A Closer Look at Two Key Markets
Orlando lands at the top of the list, with higher-than-average alignment and suspension work along with frequent single-tire replacements. Heavy commuter traffic, long construction zones and Central Florida’s shifting soil conditions likely contribute to what drivers experience in the area.
In addition, according to Pep Boys, Chicago’s harsh freeze-thaw winters show up in the data through increased tire replacements and wheel balancing needs. These patterns are common in regions where repeated winter cycles take a toll on pavement and, in turn, vehicle components.
What Can Fleet Drivers Do?
For fleets operating in areas with higher road-related repairs, we know it's not always possible to just "avoid the bad roads," so a little prevention can go a long way:
Keep up with routine tire inspections.
Schedule regular wheel alignments.
Check suspension components for early wear.
In other words, stay up on your preventive maintenance. Staying proactive can help extend vehicle life, reduce downtime and keep drivers safer on unpredictable roads.
It is that time of year again! Time for the 2026 list of the Top 50 Executive Fleets, presented by Automotive Fleet and Volvo as part of its annual Fleet 500. Download now to see this year's list of companies!
Applause has integrated TRUCE driving metrics directly into its employee-first performance and safety platform that transforms mobile devices into AI-powered telematics.
Do you want to see what it is like to experience Detroit Assurance’s Active Brake Assist? In this video, Work Truck will put you in the cab to see how it all works and then hear more details from DTNA’s Mike Young.
Violence risks do not stop at the driver’s door. Learn five practical steps fleets can take to spot threats early and protect workers before loss occurs.
Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.
If you have Altec, Ford, General Motors, Harbinger, Hyundai, Mack Trucks, or Volvo Trucks vehicles in your fleet, you should check these important recalls issued by the National Highway Safety Administration.
DOT says not so fast on marijuana. Even with federal reclassification efforts, commercial drivers in safety-sensitive roles remain subject to marijuana testing and prohibitions.
