View this ATRInsider as a Webpage

The Newsletter of the Non-Profit Research Organization for the Trucking Industry

ATRI Research Expands Insights on the Scale and

Causes of Growing Trucking Litigation

ATRI has released new research on the scope of tort litigation in the trucking industry and the factors that influence case outcomes. Also included are new updates on third-party litigation financing, carrier policies and procedures that impact the likelihood of lawsuits, whether Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations represent full compliance or minimum standards, and a new plaintiff focus on product liability suits.

Using a variety of federal and industry litigation data sources, the research analyzes six years of truck tort cases. In 2022 alone, the report estimates that there were 12,817 state truck-tractor tort cases, as many as 147 of which were improperly prevented from reaching federal court – where cases are often more protected from potential bias.  The largest half of awards – those most damaging to the industry – rose at an average rate of 5.7 percent per year.

Negligence Types with Lower Settlements than Verdicts in Cases over $1 Million

The report identifies numerous factors that statistically lead to higher awards, including types of negligence (such as improper hiring or onboarding) and injuries (such as moderate and severe traumatic brain injury). It found that settlements were lower than verdicts in cases with awards of $5 million or more but higher than verdicts with awards under $1 million. Three types of alleged negligence were statistically correlated with defense victories, including improper turn, improper merge, and failure to yield. [Read More]

ATRI Announces Recruitment for Research Advisory Committee

ATRI has launched its recruitment of candidates for the 2027-2028 Research Advisory Committee. ATRI RAC members represent a diverse cross-section of the trucking industry, including motor carriers, industry suppliers, professional truck drivers, government and academia. 

RAC members are required to participate in one in-person meeting annually and actively engage in ATRI’s research studies throughout the year. This includes serving on subcommittees working directly with ATRI researchers to develop research methodologies and data collection tools. RAC member responsibilities also include providing data for ATRI research initiatives and promoting ATRI’s research findings.

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an online application, detailing your interest in serving and your unique industry background that best positions you to serve on ATRI’s RAC. The ATRI Board of Directors will appoint members to the 2027-2028 RAC when they meet later this year.

“You can talk to any of the 250+ individuals who have served on ATRI’s RAC over the years and they will almost certainly tell you it is one of the most rewarding professional experiences of their careers. RAC members play a critical role in identifying the trucking industry’s top research needs and we look forward to identifying a new slate of nominees for the 2027-2028 RAC,” said ATRI President Rebecca Brewster.

The online application is available now and also allows you to nominate an industry colleague for consideration. The application will remain open through Friday, May 15, 2026. 

For nearly 25 years, ATRI has provided award-winning research to improve the trucking industry’s safety and productivity. Our mission is clear and our dedicated team of research professionals deliver on that mission each and every day. In recognition of all that ATRI does, the following organizations and individuals supported ATRI with a charitable contribution in 2025. (As of 12/31/2025)

In Honor of

Ed Crowell

Mike Tunnell

In Memory of

Angela Kane

John Pruitt

Roger Tucker

Whether you make a personal contribution or contribute on behalf of your organization, your financial support will ensure that we can continue to produce award-winning research to support your business and your industry. Please consider adding your name to this list of industry leaders by giving to ATRI today.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster joins Jimmy Mac and Dave Nemo on Road Gang Radio for a discussion on ATRI's 2026 Top Industry Issues. Click image above to listen.

ATRI Senior Research Associate Dr. Alex Leslie joins CCJ for a discussion on ATRI's latest report on the trucking litigation. Click image above to watch.

ATRI VP Jeff Short joins OOIDA for a discussion on ATRI's cargo theft research. Click image above to listen.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster presented the latest research to the National Confection and Snacks Logistics Council (NCSLC) in November.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster served on the panel of judges for the 2026-2027 America's Road Team.

ATRI's Alex Leslie presented on Ops Costs during the Current Research in Truck Operations session at the 2026 TRB Annual Meeting.

ATRI SVP Dan Murray presented the latest research at Women in Trucking Accelerate Conference in November.

In December, ATRI's Dan Murray and Audrey Clark attended FMCSA's Midwest Commercial Vehicle Safety Summit in Kansas City, where they had the opportunity to meet up with FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs.

Members of the ATRI Team—Dan Murray, Jeff Short, Jack Spalding and Andrew Fain at the ATRI booth during the 2026 TRB Annual Meeting.

Members of the ATRI Team, from left to right—Jack Spalding, Jeff Short, Carla Rose, Rebecca Brewster, Dan Murray, Audrey Clark, Alex Leslie and Andrew Fain at their January annual staff retreat in Washington, DC.

Upcoming opportunities to hear the ATRI team talk about the latest research:

January 29 at 1 p.m. ET: Netradyne Webinar - ATRI's Top Trucking Issues Revealed + Expert Predictions for 2026 – Dan Murray

February 2 at 9 a.m ET: Nemo Nation on Radio Nemo – Carla Rose

February 4: National Automobile Dealers Association 2026 ATD Show, Las Vegas, NV – Dan Murray

February 4-5: North Carolina Trucking Association Women in Trucking Summit, Wilmington, NC – Rebecca Brewster and Carla Rose

February 9 at 9 a.m. ET: Nemo Nation on Radio Nemo - Andrew Fain

February 12-13: National Tank Truck Carriers' Executive Forum, Las Vegas, NV – Rebecca Brewster

February 16 at 9 a.m ET: Nemo Nation on Radio Nemo – Rebecca Brewster

February 23-25: New Hampshire Motor Transport Association 2026 Winter Conference, Key West, FL – Rebecca Brewster

February 24: Freight Lecture at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN – Dan Murray

February 26 at 10:30 a.m ET: ATRI on the Air on Radio Nemo's Road Gang Radio – Jack Spalding discusses ATRI's Top 100 Truck Bottleneck List

March 2 at 9 a.m ET: Nemo Nation on Radio Nemo – Alex Leslie

March 2: 2026 Food Shippers of America Annual Conference, Orlando, FL – Rebecca Brewster

March 4: Great West Casualty Company Leadership Symposium, Omaha, NE - Rebecca Brewster

March 10-11: ATRI Research Advisory Committee Annual Meeting, Washington, DC – All ATRI Staff

March 15-18: American Trucking Associations' Technology and Maintenance Council Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN – Dan Murray and Carla Rose

March 16 at 9 a.m ET: Nemo Nation on Radio Nemo – Rebecca Brewster

March 16-17: Great West Casualty Company Leadership Symposium, Boise, ID – Alex Leslie

ATRI's Weekly Key Research Highlights

Each Wednesday, ATRI shares key research findings from one of its studies on social media similar to the one below where we highlighted ATRI's latest research on cargo theft. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with the latest from ATRI’s research each week.

DID YOU KNOW… ATRI's latest research on cargo theft documents the high cost of theft to both motor carriers – who average more than $520,000 in annual theft losses, and to logistics service providers (LSPs) – who average more than $1.84 million in annual losses. The annualized cargo theft cost to the industry is as high as $6.6 billion, or more than $18 million per day.

To download the full report and executive summary, visit ATRI’s website here, or click the image below.

Trucking Litigation: A Forensic Analysis

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - The Fight Against Cargo Theft: Insights from the Trucking Industry

Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry - 2025

The Fight Against Cargo Theft: Insights from the Trucking Industry

Addressing the Shortage of Qualified Diesel Technicians

Evolving Truck Driver Demographics: Issues and Opportunities

An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2025 Update

ATRI's Idling Regulations Compendium - Updated June 2025

Expanding Truck Parking at Public Rest Areas

AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE | TruckingResearch.org

Atlanta, GA • Minneapolis, MN • Washington, DC

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.