ATRI launched the research on September 16 with the goal of developing a framework that can measure both the costs and benefits associated with trucking regulations. The first phase will focus specifically on HOS and ELD requirements, giving drivers, motor carriers and law enforcement an opportunity to share their experiences through a new industry survey.

Survey Takes a Closer Look at HOS and ELD Requirements

Rather than asking participants to evaluate the regulations as a whole, the survey breaks them into individual components.

Respondents will evaluate the overall HOS rules, the ELD mandate and nine specific provisions within the two regulations. Each will be considered in terms of its perceived safety benefits and the cost of complying with it.

Participants can also recommend changes they believe could improve safety benefits or reduce compliance costs, giving ATRI additional information about where existing requirements may have room for improvement.

Research Could Extend Beyond HOS and ELD Rules

The project grew out of a broader research priority identified by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee earlier this year.

In April, ATRI announced plans to develop a framework for evaluating trucking regulations based on their benefits and costs. The organization identified the project as one of its research priorities for 2026.

HOS and ELD requirements will serve as the first test of that approach, but the framework is being designed for wider use. Future research could apply the same methodology to regulations involving trucking safety, workforce issues and environmental requirements.

Drivers Have Until October 16 to Participate

ATRI is accepting responses from truck drivers, motor carriers and law enforcement through October 16, 2026. Individual responses will remain confidential, with findings presented only in aggregated and anonymized form.

Drivers who want to provide feedback can complete ATRI’s HOS and ELD survey here.

The responses will help ATRI build a method for comparing the intended benefits of trucking regulations with the costs associated with complying with them, beginning with two requirements that directly affect day-to-day operations across the industry.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: September 21, 2026

Source: The Trucker

The post ATRI Seeks Driver Input on Costs and Benefits of HOS and ELD Rules appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Now in its 22nd year, the survey asks participants to rank the industry’s most pressing concerns and identify potential strategies for addressing them. ATRI uses the results to produce its annual Top Industry Issues Report, which highlights the priorities identified by different segments of the trucking industry.

The 2026 survey will remain open through Oct. 2, with results scheduled to be released on Oct. 18 during the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Survey Compares Priorities Across the Industry

One of the distinguishing features of ATRI’s annual report is its comparison of responses from truck drivers and motor carriers.

The research organization analyzes how different groups rank industry issues, providing insight into where priorities align and where they differ. The report also tracks changes over time, allowing the industry to see which concerns have become more or less significant from year to year.

Drivers Encouraged to Share Their Perspectives

Bob Bramwell, an America’s Road Team Captain and professional driver for ABF Freight, encouraged drivers to participate in the survey and use it as an opportunity to highlight the issues affecting them most.

“ATRI’s annual survey gives all truck drivers a collective voice,” Bramwell said. “If your top concern is the lack of truck parking, driver compensation, detention at customer facilities, driver training, infrastructure or something else, this is your chance to bring those issues to light and have your voice heard.”

He also encouraged drivers to share the survey with others in the industry to help broaden participation.

Results Help Shape Industry Discussions

ATRI’s annual Top Industry Issues Report is widely referenced throughout the trucking industry by carriers, industry associations, policymakers and researchers.

Past reports have identified issues such as truck parking, detention, driver compensation, lawsuit abuse, infrastructure and fuel prices among the industry’s highest priorities, while also tracking how those concerns change over time.

Drivers, carriers and other industry stakeholders interested in participating can complete the survey by clicking here before the Oct. 2 deadline.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: August 27, 2026

Source: Truckers News

The post ATRI Opens 2026 Top Industry Issues Survey for Truck Drivers and Carriers appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Built specifically for the transportation industry, the Career Driver, powered by Truck Drivers USA mobile app, creates a space where drivers can showcase their experience, build their professional profile, grow their network, develop their skills, and connect with interested carriers. At the same time, carriers gain better access to driver qualifications, pre-screening insights, and candidate communication tools, helping them identify the right fit faster and with more confidence. Drivers also have access to an AI Driver Agent that works in the background to match them with CDL jobs from verified carriers, provide driver pay insights to help them better understand their market value, apply for qualifying opportunities, and even contact matched carriers to schedule conversations on the driver’s behalf at times that fit their availability.

The app will leverage the driver communities of Truck Drivers USA, ProDriverPoint, and GigDriverPoint to create a more connected ecosystem for drivers and carriers. By combining those trusted communities with Career Driver’s hiring technology, the platform creates a stronger experience for drivers and a smarter recruiting solution for carriers across the transportation industry.

“This is an exciting step forward in how we connect drivers and carriers,” said Lori Furnell, President of Truck Drivers USA. “With the Career Driver, Powered by Truck Drivers USA mobile app, we are creating a place where drivers can do more than just apply for jobs. They can build out their experience, strengthen their profile, and connect with real opportunities that match their skills. For carriers, it means better visibility into who a driver is, what they bring to the table, and whether they are the right long-term fit for the role.”

About Truck Drivers USA

Truck Drivers USA (TDUSA) is a two-sided driver recruitment platform connecting carriers with over 1.5 million drivers every month. TDUSA helps carriers hire faster with targeted advertising, email, SMS, and social campaigns that put open positions in front of the right drivers at the right time, delivering a steady flow of prequalified driver leads. At the same time, TDUSA helps drivers discover and apply to high-quality opportunities across the country. TDUSA makes connecting drivers and carriers fast, effective, and hassle-free.

For more information about Truck Drivers USA, visit https://truckdriversus.com/.

About Career Driver

Career Driver is an all-in-one hire engine built for the transportation industry. It delivers pre-qualified leads for all driver types and consolidates hiring workflows into one simple dashboard. From lead intake to seated driver, Career Driver eliminates manual work, improves recruiter efficiency, and helps transportation companies fill seats faster, whether they’re hiring CDL, passenger, or specialized drivers.

For more information about Career Driver, visit https://hiredriversnow.careerdriver.com/.

Last Updated: July 28, 2026

The post Career Driver Launches Mobile App, Powered by Truck Drivers USA, to Bring Drivers and Carriers Together in One Connected Hiring Ecosystem appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Released on July 15, the annual report found that the average cost to operate a truck increased to $2.336 per mile, up 3.4 percent from the previous year. While freight rates have shown signs of improving in 2026, many carriers responded to higher operating costs by reducing fleet size and leaving equipment idle to control expenses.

Repair, Maintenance, and Other Operating Costs Continued to Climb

ATRI found that operating costs increased across most expense categories during 2025, with several seeing significantly larger increases than the overall inflation rate.

The largest year-over-year increases included:

• Tolls increased 13.2 percent.
• Repair and maintenance costs increased 8.6 percent.
• Driver benefits increased 6.6 percent.
• Tire costs increased 6.4 percent.

Fuel costs remained relatively unchanged at approximately 48 cents per mile, while industry-wide driver pay increased 2.5 percent, making them the only major cost categories that grew more slowly than inflation.

Carriers Reduced Capacity to Offset Higher Expenses

As operating costs continued to rise, many fleets adjusted their operations to help manage expenses.

According to the report, carriers reduced average truck counts by 2.4 percent during 2025 and kept approximately 10 percent of their equipment idle rather than placing additional trucks into service. The findings suggest many fleets focused on controlling costs while waiting for freight demand and pricing to improve.

Although the increase in average operating costs amounted to about 8 cents per mile compared to 2024, the report notes that the overall cost reached the highest level recorded since ATRI began tracking the data.

Regional Operating Costs Varied Across the Country

The report also highlighted significant regional differences in trucking costs.

The Northeast remained the most expensive region to operate, recording the highest costs for driver wages and benefits, insurance, and tolls. The West ranked second, driven largely by higher fuel prices and truck and trailer expenses.

The Midwest was the only region to report declines in both fuel and wage costs from 2024 to 2025. Combined truck and trailer expenses also saw the smallest increase among all U.S. regions.

Freight Market Shows Signs of Improvement

Despite ongoing freight market challenges during much of 2025, ATRI found modest improvements in carrier profitability.

Less-than-truckload carriers reported operating margins of 11.6 percent, remaining essentially unchanged from the previous year. Truckload carriers improved from a 2.3 percent operating loss in 2024 to a 0.4 percent operating margin in 2025.

ATRI noted that freight rates have begun improving in 2026, but rising operating expenses continue to pressure fleet profitability.

Commenting on the report, PGT Trucking Chief Operating Officer Chad Marsilio said improving freight rates are encouraging, but fleets will still need to maintain disciplined cost management as operating expenses continue to increase.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: July 28, 2026

Source: Trucking Dive

The post ATRI Report Shows Trucking Costs Reached Record High in 2025 appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The project, titled Safety Impacts of In-Cab Monitoring, will collect and analyze safety data from fleets before and after in-cab monitoring systems are deployed. ATRI said the goal is to identify whether there are measurable statistical relationships between the technology and improvements in safety outcomes.

Follow Up to Earlier Driver Research

The study builds on ATRI’s previous research into driver perspectives on in-cab monitoring systems, including driver-facing cameras.

While that earlier work focused on driver opinions, the new project will concentrate on operational and safety data collected from participating carriers. Researchers will compare safety metrics before and after implementation to evaluate the impact of the technology.

Looking At Fleet and Driver Practices

In addition to reviewing safety performance data, ATRI will examine how fleets and drivers manage information generated by in-cab monitoring systems.

According to ATRI, the research will identify specific carrier and driver strategies for using in-cab data that may contribute to improved safety results.

ATRI noted that fleets are increasingly adopting in-cab monitoring systems alongside other safety technologies.

Carriers Invited to Participate

Motor carriers interested in contributing data have until July 24 to participate in the study. ATRI said information can be submitted online or through a PDF submission form. The organization also noted that all submitted data will remain confidential and findings will be published only in an aggregated format.

Carriers interested in participating can access ATRI’s online submission process or PDF form through this link.

The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information that drivers can use.

Last updated: June 22, 2026

Source: The Trucker

Image Source: ATRI

The post ATRI Launches Study Examining Safety Impacts of Driver-Facing Cameras appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The survey is part of the TechCelerate program, a research initiative sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and supported by ATRI, the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council, and the OOIDA Foundation.

Researchers will use the latest responses to compare current feedback with information gathered during the original TechCelerate survey conducted in 2023.

Three Years After the Original Study

When the first TechCelerate survey was conducted in 2023, the goal was to better understand how trucking companies and drivers viewed onboard safety systems.

Since then, technology adoption has continued to evolve across the industry, creating an opportunity to revisit many of the same topics and see whether opinions and experiences have changed.

According to ATRI, the updated survey will help researchers compare findings from both studies while identifying areas where additional communication or issue resolution may be needed.

Drivers And Carriers Will Answer Different Questions

The project includes separate surveys for truck drivers and motor carriers. Drivers are being asked about their familiarity with onboard safety technology and their experiences using those systems during daily operations. The driver survey also asks participants which technologies they believe provide the greatest safety benefits and which provide the fewest benefits from a driver’s perspective.

Motor carriers will focus on a different set of issues, including technology preferences, adoption levels, driver acceptance, maintenance and repair concerns, and perceived safety benefits. The survey can be found here.

ATRI estimates that both surveys take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Researchers Hope to Track Industry Trends

One objective of the follow-up survey is to better understand how adoption levels and user perspectives have shifted since 2023. Comparing the two sets of responses may help researchers identify emerging trends, common concerns, and changes in how onboard safety systems are being viewed throughout the trucking industry.

The information collected will also support efforts to improve messaging surrounding onboard safety technology.

TechCelerate Continues Its Research Efforts

The TechCelerate program brings together industry organizations to study how technology is being adopted and experienced across trucking operations. The latest survey represents another step in that effort, providing updated feedback from both drivers and carriers as onboard safety systems become increasingly common throughout the industry.

Researchers say the information will help support future work focused on truck safety, operational efficiency, and technology adoption.

The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information that drivers can use.

Last updated: June 10, 2026

Source: The Trucker

The post ATRI Wants to Know How Drivers and Carriers View Today’s Truck Safety Technology appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The update gives drivers and fleets the ability to book overnight and longer-term parking at participating locations across North America. It also adds a paid reservation option to a platform already used by more than 1 million drivers for parking information, route planning, and real-time updates.

Chris Oliver, chief marketing officer at Trucker Path, said the company will continue adding locations until the network reaches national coverage.

App Adds Booking Option to Existing Parking Tools

Trucker Path has long offered drivers parking information built from real-time user reports and crowd-sourced availability updates.

The new reservation network adds another option. Drivers can still use the app to search for free parking availability, but they can also reserve paid parking in advance when they want more certainty before the end of a shift.

The company said the reservable network includes professionally managed locations and is designed for both overnight and longer-term parking.

Parking Search Time Remains a Costly Problem

The update comes as drivers continue to struggle with limited truck parking in many parts of the country.

Trucker Path said parking availability is estimated at one space for every 11 trucks on the road. The company also cited American Transportation Research Institute data showing drivers spend about 56 minutes per day searching for parking.

That lost time can add up to six or seven hours per week, reducing productivity and adding pressure near the end of a driver’s available hours.

Oliver said the average reservation cost is about $20 and argued that recovering roughly 50 minutes of drive time can offset that cost.

Predictive Data Will Support Parking Reservations

Trucker Path said the reservation tool will be supported by predictive analytics based on historical parking use and time-of-day patterns.

That means the app is intended to do more than show a list of parking locations. The company says the data will help drivers identify bookable parking options before they reach a stop.

The added certainty may be especially useful in busy freight markets, unfamiliar routes, or areas where legal parking regularly fills up before the end of the day.

Security And Yard Utilization Are Part of the Pitch

Trucker Path also pointed to safety and cargo security as reasons for expanding reservable parking. Oliver said freight is increasingly targeted during unsecured dwell times, and reserved parking can help drivers and fleets plan stops at managed locations.

The company also said the program can benefit parking providers. Cody Horchak, CEO of Realize Mobility, said reserved parking through Trucker Path has helped the company better monetize yard space while improving utilization and customer predictability.

What Drivers Can Take from the Expansion

The new parking network does not eliminate the truck parking shortage, but it does give drivers another option inside an app many already use.

Drivers who prefer free parking can continue using Trucker Path’s existing parking availability tools. Drivers who want a guaranteed space can now reserve parking directly through the app at participating locations.

As the network grows, the biggest impact may be planning. More reservable spaces could help drivers spend less time hunting for parking late in the day and more time deciding where a stop fits into the rest of the trip.

The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information that drivers can use.

Last updated: June 8, 2026

Source: The Trucker

The post Trucker Path Adds 50,000 Reservable Parking Spots for Drivers appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Federal law generally prohibits foreign truck drivers operating under B-1 visas from performing point-to-point freight transportation inside the United States beyond a limited permitted activity.
Under current rules, B-1 visa holders are typically allowed to complete one pickup or delivery within the U.S. tied to an international movement. However, ATRI said anecdotal reports suggest some foreign drivers may be operating outside those limitations and conducting additional domestic freight activity beyond border commercial zones.

ATRI Says Research Will Focus on Industry Impact

ATRI’s new survey asks truck drivers and motor carriers to share information about where and when suspected unauthorized cabotage activity is being observed.
The organization said survey responses will help support a larger research effort aimed at measuring the economic impact unauthorized cabotage may have on U.S. freight operations, trucking jobs, and carrier competition.
“Cabotage laws were created to protect U.S. jobs and ensure that a level playing field exists,” said Kaitlyn Holmecki, American Trucking Associations’ director of international policy. “When illegal low-cost transportation services undercut domestic freight operations, the entire trucking industry pays the price.”
ATRI said the research findings will eventually be used to help build an economic model estimating the broader financial impact unauthorized cabotage activity may have across the trucking industry.

Survey Responses Will Remain Confidential

The organization said all responses submitted through the survey will remain confidential and will only be used in summary statistical reporting.
The survey remains open through June 12 and is available to both truck drivers and motor carriers.
Cabotage enforcement has remained a recurring topic throughout trucking as concerns continue surrounding cross-border freight operations, labor costs, regulatory enforcement, and competitive pressure tied to international freight movement.

Industry groups supporting stronger enforcement have argued that unauthorized domestic freight activity involving foreign drivers can place downward pressure on freight rates and create competitive disadvantages for U.S.-based carriers and drivers operating under domestic regulations.
ATRI encouraged truck drivers and fleets with firsthand observations related to cabotage activity to participate in the survey as part of the ongoing research effort.

The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information that drivers can use.

Last updated: May 19, 2026

The post ATRI Launches Survey Examining Unauthorized Cabotage Activity in U.S. Trucking appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The American Transportation Research Institute is collecting input from motor carriers to better understand how telematics data is shaping performance tracking, safety decisions, and maintenance planning.

This effort is part of a larger research initiative titled Capitalizing on Telematics, which was selected by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee in 2025 as a top priority. The goal is to capture what is actually working in the field and where technology is headed next.

What the Survey Is Looking At

The survey focuses on how fleets are currently using telematics systems and what kind of value they are getting from that data.

That includes:

• How performance metrics are tracked across drivers and equipment
• Ways telematics is being used to improve safety outcomes
• The role of data in maintenance planning and reducing downtime
• Emerging tools and capabilities that fleets are starting to adopt

The research is aimed at building a clearer picture of how data is being turned into real operational improvements.

“The result of this research will be a best practices guide for leveraging telematics data to improve overall performance, with a focus on safety, operations, and maintenance metrics,” ATRI said.

How to Participate

Motor carriers can take part in the survey through ATRI’s online survey here. Responses are confidential and will be used strictly for research purposes.

The survey is open for a limited time, with a deadline set for April 17.

The post ATRI Launches Telematics Survey Focused on Real-World Fleet Performance appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The American Transportation Research Institute has opened participation for its 2026 Operational Costs of Trucking annual report, an industry resource that tracks how expenses and performance metrics are shifting year over year. The report is designed to help operators better understand cost pressures, efficiency trends, and broader market conditions.

The data collected will reflect full-year 2025 operations and will be used to establish anonymized cost averages and performance benchmarks across different fleet sizes and operating models.

Why Cost Data Matters Heading Into 2026

As market conditions evolve, understanding cost structure has become increasingly critical for organizations balancing labor, equipment, insurance, and utilization pressures. One carrier executive participating in the study highlighted how the report supports operational planning during uncertain economic cycles.

“There are signs of growing opportunities for trucking in 2026, but only if fleets can maintain disciplined, nimble operations,” said Andrew Hadland, CFO, Hirschbach Motor Lines. “ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking and the customized report we receive as participants are important inputs for ensuring healthy performance in our costs and operations despite economic headwinds.”

The annual study has become a planning reference point for organizations evaluating where expenses are rising, where efficiencies can be gained, and how internal performance compares to peers.

What the Operational Costs of Trucking Report Measures

According to ATRI, the report is used each year by thousands of industry decision-makers as a high-level indicator of freight market conditions and cost trends.

“ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking is trusted by thousands of industry decisionmakers every year as a key barometer of freight market conditions and is the leading public benchmarking tool for motor carriers of all sectors, from owner-operators to 10,000+ truck fleets,” ATRI said.

The report analyzes a wide range of financial and operational data points, including:

• Driver compensation
• Equipment and maintenance expenses
• Insurance premiums
• Non-revenue mileage
• Driver utilization
• Mileage between breakdowns
• Revenue per truck per week

These metrics allow participants to assess both cost control and operational effectiveness within a broader industry context.

What Participants Receive in Return

Organizations that submit data receive a customized benchmarking report comparing their costs and performance against an anonymized peer group of similar size and sector.

New for 2026, ATRI will also provide multi-year participants with year-over-year comparisons in their customized reports. This added feature allows organizations to more directly evaluate trends over time rather than relying solely on single-year snapshots.

All submitted data remains confidential and is published only in aggregated, anonymized averages.

How and When to Participate

For-hire motor carriers are invited to participate by April 24. Data for the 2025 calendar year can be submitted online or by PDF. Sample customized reports and additional participation details are available here.

All submitted data is kept confidential and is published only in anonymized averages.

To read the previous Operational Costs of Trucking report, click here.

Source: The Trucker

The post ATRI Opens 2026 Data Collection for Annual Operational Cost Benchmarking Report appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.