The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, has released its 21st annual top industry issues report revealing the trucking industry’s leading issues.
For the third year in a row the economy was top of the list. This year’s list also includes lawsuit abuse reform, insurance cost and availability, and truck parking. The list also debuts four first-time issues including English language proficiency for drivers and artificial intelligence in trucking.
“We’re in the third year of this extended freight recession and the pain is real,” said Andy Owens, A&M Transport President.
“Operating costs climbed to their highest ever at the same time that freight pricing has bottomed out. ATRI’s annual analysis is so critical for our industry to not only quantify the issues, but more importantly, to understand what we can collectively do as an industry to address each.”
While the Economy retained its number one spot, lawsuit abuse reform and insurance cost and availability each rose one spot, to be the second and third top concerns, respectively. The lack of available truck parking dropped two spots this year to the fourth concern and driver compensation held on to its fifth position.
Over 46 percent of the survey respondents were motor carrier executives and personnel, truck drivers represented 30 percent, with the remaining 23 percent made up of other freight stakeholders. Among truck driver respondents, driver compensation, truck parking and English language proficiency were the top three concerns, while motor carriers ranked the economy, lawsuit abuse reform, and insurance cost and availability as their top three concerns.
Over 4,200 trucking industry stakeholders participated in this year’s survey which was released as part of 2025 American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference and Exhibition.
