Truck Insurance Costs: ATRI Launching New Study

American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) Launches Study to Examine Truck Insurance Costs and Risk Strategies

ATRI Study Targets Rising Truck Insurance Costs

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has launched a new research effort to study truck insurance costs and how fleets manage growing financial risks. The project will focus on the steady rise in commercial auto-liability premiums in the U.S. Also, how carriers are adapting with safety programs, coverage changes, and alternative insurance structures.

Rising Truck Insurance Costs Across the Industry

Over the past decade, trucking companies have faced sharp increases in truck insurance premiums. ATRI data shows that average costs per mile for insurance have jumped by more than one-third in the last eight years. The study comes as many fleets continue to experience rate hikes. Even as crash rates decline and safety technology use expands.

Industry leaders say higher premiums are now one of the top financial pressures facing carriers of all sizes. In ATRI’s 2025 “Top Industry Issues” survey, truck insurance costs ranked among the most serious challenges.

What the New ATRI Study Will Cover

ATRI’s new study will collect data from motor carriers to analyze what’s driving the cost of truck insurance and how fleets can respond. The institute is requesting information from carriers for the years 2021 through 2024. Areas of focus include:

• Structure of insurance coverage, including deductibles, self-insurance, and captive programs.
• Use of safety and risk-management technologies.
• Impact of large legal settlements and nuclear verdicts on premium pricing.
• Steps fleets take to reduce exposure, from driver training to tech investments.

Carriers that participate will receive a confidential benchmarking report comparing their insurance and risk costs against similar fleets. ATRI noted that all submitted data will be kept confidential and may be protected under non-disclosure agreements if requested.

Risk Management Strategies Under Review

The truck insurance study will also explore how fleets balance coverage levels with financial risk. Some carriers have lowered coverage limits or raised deductibles to cut costs. Meanwhile, others have invested more in safety technology and legal defense programs.

ATRI said it aims to identify which strategies work best over time and which may increase long-term exposure to lawsuits or major claims. For many fleets, one bad verdict can erase years of savings. Therefore, making the right balance between coverage and cost is critical for survival.

Truck Insurance Cost Pressures Add to Fleet Challenges

Rising insurance costs come at a time when many carriers already face high fuel prices, equipment expenses, and softer freight rates. Some small and midsize fleets have struggled to renew policies or find affordable coverage. Insurance companies, meanwhile, continue to cite the growing size of settlements and the rising cost of claims as key factors behind rate increases.

As premiums climb, fleets are turning to creative solutions. Some are joining captive insurance programs or using self-insurance retentions. Others are expanding in-house safety and compliance teams to show underwriters their efforts to control risk. ATRI’s study will evaluate how these approaches affect both short-term and long-term insurance outcomes.

Truck Insurance Data Collection and Participation Deadline

Motor carriers interested in joining the ATRI study must submit their insurance and safety data by December 19, 2025. Submissions can be made electronically or through a PDF form available on ATRI’s official website. Fleets that participate will receive feedback and access to aggregated results once the study concludes.

ATRI said the final research will provide insights for both. Carriers and policymakers who want to understand the true cost dynamics behind truck insurance and risk exposure in the modern freight environment.

Why Truck Insurance Study Matters

Insurance costs have become a defining issue for the trucking industry. While tech improvements, training, and safety initiatives continue to expand, many carriers still face double-digit rate increases each renewal cycle. ATRI’s project aims to separate perception from data. This way will help the industry identify actionable steps that can control truck insurance costs without increasing liability risk.

The results could also guide insurance providers and state regulators as they assess how to support sustainable and fair coverage models for the nation’s commercial fleets. Given how closely insurance ties into crash liability, lawsuit trends, and operating costs, the study’s findings may influence future discussions on both safety policy and carrier financial stability.

Looking Ahead

As ATRI begins this new research, many in the trucking industry hope it will shed light on practical solutions that balance safety, coverage, and cost. Whether through technology adoption, risk-pooling, or more transparent underwriting practices. The goal is to make truck insurance fairer and more predictable for carriers of all sizes.

For now, fleets facing renewal season will be watching closely. The findings from ATRI’s study could help determine how the industry approaches insurance costs and risk management heading into 2026 and beyond.