ATRInsider December 2022 | Vol. 18 Issue 6

ATRI’s 2022 Year in Review
In February ATRI released its Annual List of the Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks. ATRI’s bottleneck analysis, which utilized data from 2021, found traffic levels rebounded across the country as more Americans returned to work and consumer demand for goods and services continued to grow. Consequently, supply chain bottlenecks occurred throughout the country. Average rush hour truck speeds were 38.6 MPH, down more than 11 percent from the previous year. For the fourth year in a row, the intersection of I-95 and SR 4 in Fort Lee, New Jersey was once again the Number One freight bottleneck in the country. ATRI added a new dimension to the annual analysis with animations for select bottleneck locations.

In February ATRI also released The Impact of Rising Insurance Costs on the Trucking Industry, a top priority of ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC). This research assessed immediate and longer-term impacts that rising insurance costs have on carrier financial conditions, safety technology investments and crash outcomes as well as strategies used by carriers to manage escalating insurance costs.
The ATRI Research Advisory Committee Annual Meeting was held in March and RAC members identified a slate of top research priorities for 2022 that were later presented to the ATRI Board of Directors at their May meeting. The board reviewed and approved a list of recommended topics. The RAC selected topics that focused on the industry’s workforce, predatory towing, and quantifying the impact of driver training on safety and retention.

In July, ATRI released Integrating Younger Adults into Trucking Careers, examining how to best integrate younger adults aged 18 to 25 into trucking careers. The research synthesized a variety of data and analyses including younger driver surveys, carrier interviews, and the latest workforce statistics. It also documented motor carrier perspectives on participating in the new FMCSA Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program.

Zero-emission vehicles were the focus of two separate studies released by ATRI in May and December. The first quantified the CO2 impacts of zero-emissions vehicles and the second assessed the infrastructure challenges for nationwide vehicle electrification. These two studies highlighted the challenges and opportunities for further reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.
Rounding out the research in this very productive year, from August to October, ATRI released updates to three of its flagship studies:
In October during the 10th Annual Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation (MCIEF) conference in Orlando, ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray was unanimously selected by the MCIEF Board of Directors as one of the initial four recipients of the special honor and recognition as a Thomas Ruke Fellow. This designation recognizes MCIEF's most dedicated teaching fellows.
ATRI took its research on the road this year through presentations and exhibits at dozens of industry meetings and conferences throughout the country.
Rebecca Brewster recognizes outgoing
ATRI chair Judy McReynolds
This was also a busy year for the ATRI Board of Directors. Lou Rivieccio, UPS Corporate Transportation President and Srikanth Padmanabhan, Cummins Engine Business President became the two newest members of the Board. In October ATRI recognized outgoing chair Judy McReynolds, ArcBest Corporation Chairman, President and CEO for her leadership and accomplishments during her eight years as ATRI Board Chair and 12 years as a Board member. Derek Leathers, Werner Enterprises Chairman, President and CEO was named Chair of the ATRI Board of Directors in October.
To close out 2022, ATRI announced the members of the 2023 – 2024 Research Advisory Committee. This diverse cross-section of trucking industry stakeholders, made up of motor carriers, industry suppliers, commercial drivers, shippers, law enforcement, academia and government, is responsible for annually identifying the trucking industry’s top research priorities.
As the ATRI team wraps up a successful 2022, we are looking forward to a productive new year as we continue to deliver on our mission of research to improve the industry’s safety and productivity.

Happy Holidays from ATRI!
The Perfect Gift for ATRI
Wondering what to get ATRI to celebrate this holiday season? We have the perfect suggestion – one that’s sure to fit and reap benefits for you and your industry.

As the trucking industry’s 501c3 not-for-profit research organization, ATRI’s work on your behalf relies exclusively on charitable contributions. If you believe that ATRI’s research is making a difference for the trucking industry – please consider making a charitable contribution today.

Whether you make a personal contribution or contribute on behalf of your organization, your financial support will mean that we can continue to produce award-winning research to support your business and your industry.

Watch the video below to find out why these long-time ATRI contributors feel it’s important to make an annual contribution to ATRI.

Thank you in advance for your support of ATRI!
Visit Us in Washington, DC at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting January 8-12
If you're attending the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC next month, you'll have three opportunities to visit with ATRI.
 
ATRI Vice President Jeffrey Short will present Battery Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure Funding during a poster session to be held Tuesday, January 10 at 10:15 a.m. ET and ATRI Research Associate Alex Leslie, Ph.D. will present Impacts of Rising Commercial Auto Liability Costs during a poster session to be held Wednesday, January 11 at 8:45 a.m. ET.
 
You can also visit with the ATRI team in the TRB Exhibit Hall at booth #1034, where you can stop by and pick-up copies of ATRI's latest research. 
 
We look forward to seeing you there!
Download a Free Copy of ATRI's Latest Research
Charging Infrastructure Challenges for the U.S. EV Fleet - Dec. 2022
Charging Infrastructure Challenges for the U.S. EV Fleet - Exec Summary
Critical Issues in the
Trucking Industry - 2022
Predicting Truck Crash Involvement: 2022 Update
An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2022 Update
Integrating Younger Adults into Trucking Careers -
July 2022
AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE | TruckingResearch.org

ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501c3 not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.