Fuel prices top trucking's concerns in ATRI's 2026 survey; drivers rank parking No. 2
ATRI's annual Top Industry Issues report shows fuel costs jumping 17 spots to first place, while carriers and drivers remain split on what matters most.
Fuel prices are the trucking industry's top concern this year, according to the American Transportation Research Institute's annual Top Industry Issues report, released Oct. 18.
The ranking is based on responses from more than 3,000 industry stakeholders across North America, including motor carrier executives and staff, company drivers, owner-operators, suppliers, driver trainers and law enforcement. The survey ran from Aug. 24 to Oct. 2. After a year of sharply higher diesel prices, fuel jumped 17 spots from the 2025 survey to take first place.
The overall top 10
- Fuel prices
- Lawsuit abuse reform
- CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability)
- Insurance cost and availability
- Driver shortage
- The economy
- Artificial intelligence in trucking
- Diesel emissions regulations
- Driver compensation
- Driver retention
The economy, which had been the No. 1 issue for three straight years, fell five spots. "Driver shortage" returned to the top 10 for the first time since 2024, and AI in trucking climbed three spots.
Drivers and carriers see things differently
Truck parking ranked 11th overall, falling out of the top 10 for the first time since 2012. Motor carriers did not include it in their top 10, but drivers, including owner-operators, ranked it No. 2.
Among multi-unit fleets, lawsuit abuse reform ranked first and fuel second. Driver shortage rose to No. 3 for carriers, with insurance and CSA rounding out their top five.
Drivers ranked compensation third, followed by autonomous trucks and English language proficiency enforcement at Nos. 4 and 5. Carriers ranked neither of those.
Splitting drivers further:
- Company drivers put compensation first. Fuel did not make their top five. They also flagged autonomous trucks and AI as major issues.
- Owner-operators put fuel first, and listed broker issues and diesel emissions regulations among their top concerns.
- Both groups ranked parking second and English proficiency fifth.
What enforcement thinks
ATRI also surveyed law enforcement. Officers ranked ELD fraud as their top concern, followed by CSA and driver distraction, with English proficiency and hours of service completing their top five.
Proposed fixes
For each top issue, respondents ranked strategies. On fuel, 65.2% said federal action to stabilize supply and limit price increases was the best approach. On CSA, the leading strategy, chosen by 37.3% of respondents, is asking FMCSA to address differences in enforcement between states and local jurisdictions that can affect scores based on where a carrier runs.
On insurance, the top strategy is a framework for upfront premium reductions when fleets adopt proven safety technology. ATRI said it is researching incentives for a "Beyond Compliance" program along those lines. On driver retention, respondents want research into why drivers leave the industry.
What it means for drivers and fleets
The report is a survey, not a policy document, but ATRI's list is widely cited by industry groups when setting their lobbying priorities in Washington. The gap between what drivers and carriers rank, especially on parking, pay and autonomous trucks, is worth noting for fleets thinking about retention. The full report is available from ATRI.