ATRI Launches Survey to Rank Trucking's Most Painful Issues

ATRI Launches 2025 Survey to Rank Trucking Industry’s Top Concerns

21st Annual Top Industry Issues Survey

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has officially launched its 2025 Top Industry Issues Survey. The organization is requesting input from truck drivers, motor carriers, and other industry stakeholders. Now in its 21st year, the survey highlights key challenges in trucking and monitors how these concerns change over time.

ATRI Provides Insight for Truck Drivers and Carriers

The annual ATRI survey is used across the industry to prioritize the most pressing issues. It provides both drivers and carriers with an opportunity to share their experiences and influence strategies for addressing challenges.

ATA Chair Dennis Dellinger, President and CEO of Cargo Transporters, said the survey plays a central role in shaping discussions. “For over 20 years, the industry has relied on the annual Top Industry Issues Survey to highlight the critical issues facing our nation’s supply chain,” Dellinger explained. “ATRI’s research provides an opportunity…to weigh in on the most challenging topics that affect our day-to-day operations.”

ATRI Highlights Truck Drivers’ Role in the Survey

For professional drivers, ATRI offers a way to ensure their concerns are heard. Lloyd Howell, an America’s Road Team Captain and professional driver with TCW, Inc., emphasized that issues such as truck parking, driver compensation, and detention at customer facilities remain major challenges.

“ATRI’s annual survey gives truck drivers an opportunity to make our collective concerns known,” Howell said. “Whether your top challenge is truck parking, driver compensation, detention at customer facilities, traffic congestion or something else, this is your chance to bring those issues to light.”

27 Critical Trucking Industry Issues Listed

Participants in the survey are asked to select their top three issues from a list of 27. These cover long-standing concerns and emerging challenges alike. Some of the options are:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Trucking
• Autonomous Trucks
• Battery Electric Vehicles
• Broker Issues
• Cargo Theft
• Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
• Detention / Delay at Customer Facilities
• Diesel Emissions Regulations
• Diesel Technician Shortage
• Driver Compensation
• Driver Retention
• Economy
• Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate
• English Language Proficiency
• Fuel Prices
• Hours-of-Service (HOS)
• Insurance Costs and Availability
• Marijuana Legalization
• Predatory Towing
• Transportation Infrastructure / Congestion / Funding
• Truck Parking

The wide scope reflects the complexity of the industry and the challenges it faces.

ATRI Will Release Results in October

The 2025 survey will remain open until October 10. Results are scheduled for release on October 26 at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition in San Diego, California.

The annual survey is one of ATRI’s most recognized efforts, guiding industry decision-making year after year.

Stakeholders from across the industry are encouraged to participate in the 2025 survey online..