ATRI’s ‘Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry’ report spotlights parking woes

The American Transportation Research Institute recently released its report outlining what over 3,700 industry stakeholder respondents across North America see as the most critical issues facing the trucking industry. The report remarks, “among respondents represented were motor carrier executives and personnel (45.9%), professional truck drivers (31.3%) and other industry stakeholders (22.8%), including industry suppliers, driver trainers, and law enforcement.” The report includes a combined top concerns list and a split version, which polls motor carriers’ and drivers’ concerns separately.

Looking at the combined top concerns, the economy came in first followed by truck parking, similar to last year’s ranking. Third place was lawsuit abuse reform, fourth was insurance cost and availability, and fifth was driver compensation. Notably, the driver shortage fell from fourth place in 2023 to ninth place. From 2017-2021, the driver shortage was the top combined issue among respondents.

Splitting up the respondent data between drivers and motor carriers yields a more nuanced picture of what each side sees as top issues. Truck drivers ranked truck parking first, followed by driver compensation, economy, detention/delay at customer facilities, and speed limiters to round out the top five. For motor carriers, the economy remained the top concern followed by lawsuit abuse reform, driver shortage, insurance cost and availability, and driver retention.

One growing issue that failed to make the top 10 list for overall concerns was driver retention. The report notes, “This is the first year since 2012 that Driver Retention has not been a Top 10 industry concern. As is the case with Driver Shortage receiving its lowest ranking ever this year, this drop from the Top 10 list is likely tied to the freight recession and the broader economy.”