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

ATRI Report Shows Trucking Profitability Severely Squeezed by High Costs, Low Rates

ATRI has released the 2025 findings of its leading costs and performance benchmarking report, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking.



The industry’s average cost of operating a truck in 2024 was $2.260 per mile, a 0.4 percent decline compared with the previous year. However, when lower fuel costs are excluded, marginal costs rose 3.6 percent to $1.779 per mile – the highest costs ever recorded by ATRI for non-fuel operating costs.

Operating cost trends varied by line-item in 2024. Fuel as well as repair and maintenance expenses each declined from 2023 to 2024, and driver wages – the primary contributor to cost increases in the three years following the COVID-19 pandemic – rose by just 2.4 percent, half a percentage point less than inflation. Given the present trucking industry recession, carriers were particularly hard-hit by growing costs in several line-items, including truck and trailer payments (which rose by 8.3 percent to a record-high $0.390 per mile) and driver benefits costs (which rose 4.8 percent to $0.197 per mile).

Carrier profitability suffered across all industry sectors under these pressures, as the findings show in stark detail. Average operating margins were below 2 percent in every sector aside from LTL, and the truckload sector had an average operating margin of -2.3 percent. (Read More)

ATRI Research Highlights Evolving Truck Driver Demographics

ATRI has released new research detailing a notable demographic shift in the U.S. truck driver workforce. The research examines how broader societal and labor force trends are reshaping the industry and presents strategies for motor carriers to engage younger, more diverse, and historically underrepresented populations. The research is organized into two key phases: 

1. chronological changes in truck driver demographics; and
2. pathways into trucking careers for former foster youth and justice-involved individuals.

The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the industry’s most pressing workforce challenges, including an aging driver population, low female representation — women currently comprise just 4.1 percent of truck drivers — and shifting employment models. With the average truck driver now 47 years old and retirements accelerating, the research emphasizes the need to modernize recruitment messaging to better resonate with younger generations. Overall, the research provides a roadmap to help carriers enhance recruitment, improve retention, and build a more resilient driver workforce.

The report also highlights opportunities to expand access to trucking careers for individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds, particularly former foster care youth and justice-involved individuals. These groups may face unique challenges, but with the right support, trucking can offer a stable and rewarding career path. (Read More)

ATRI has released updated versions of its Sustainability and Idling Regulations Compendiums. The ATRI Sustainable Freight Practices Compendium first launched in 2014 to serve as a one-stop shop for information on sustainable freight practices that can be implemented by motor carriers and their drivers. The compendium also identifies how public sector practices such as congestion mitigation, research and testing, and the use of incentives can advance sustainable freight goals. ATRI has now updated all three sections of its Sustainable Freight Practices Compendium – Driver, Vehicle, and Public Sector – with the latest research and data.

For 20 years, ATRI has provided an online compendium of the various idling regulations that limit how long commercial vehicles can idle. ATRI continues to monitor the development of idling regulations across the country and provides the compendium as a free service to help trucking companies and truck drivers comply with the myriad state and local idling regulations.“ATRI’s Sustainable Freight Practices and Idling Regulations Compendiums continue to be among the most frequently accessed pages on the ATRI website, underscoring the industry’s commitment to proactively reducing its environmental footprint,” said ATRI President Rebecca Brewster. 

The updated compendiums are available online using these links:

• Sustainable Freight Practices Compendium
• Idling Regulations Compendiums

Thank You!

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 the first half of 2025.

In Honor of

Ed Crowell

In Memory of

Angela Kane

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 Senior Research Associate Alex Leslie joins Doug Marcello for a discussion on ATRI's 2025 Operational Costs of Trucking Research. Click image above to watch video.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster joins Radio Nemo for a discussion on ATRI's updates to its Sustainability and Idling Regulations Compendiums. Click image above to listen.

ATRI Vice President Jeff Short joins Matt Cole and Jason Cannon with CCJ for a discussion on ATRI's report on repealing the federal excise tax. Click image above to watch video.

ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray joins industry leaders in a panel at the Logistics Leaders Conference in June.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster joins a panel of industry leaders for a discussion on the trucking issues at the Georgia Motor Trucking Association annual convention in June.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster kicked off ATA's NAFC Meeting in June with a discussion on ATRI's latest research.

The ATRI team discusses their strategic plans for this year's upcoming research during their staff research planning retreat at the Alabama Trucking Association HQ in June.

The ATRI team in front of Alabama Trucking Association's HQ during their

annual staff research planning retreat in June.

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

July 23-24: Kentucky Trucking Association Annual Conference, Jamestown, KY – Rebecca Brewster

July 24 at 8:30 a.m ET: ATRI on the Air on Radio Nemo's Road Gang Radio - Alex Leslie discusses ATRI's 2025 Operational Costs of Trucking report.

July 29: Minnesota Trucking Association 2025 Annual Conference, Brainerd, MN - Abbigail Huffman

July 30-31: Texas Trucking Association 2025 Annual Conference, Austin, TX – Rebecca Brewster

August 1-2: Louisiana Motor Transport Association 2025 Annual Convention, Orange Beach, AL - Rebecca Brewster

August 11-12: Oregon Trucking Association 2025 Annual Convention, Bend, OR - Rebecca Brewster

August 26-27: Arkansas Trucking Association Accounting & Finance Council, Little Rock, AR - Alex Leslie

August 26-27: Southeast CMV Summit, Tuscaloosa, AL - Jeff Short

September 9: Amerit Future Forward Summit, San Diego, CA - Rebecca Brewster

September 10-11: Great Lakes Relocation Council 2025 Conference, Cincinnati, OH - Rebecca Brewster

September 21-22: Ohio Trucking Association 2025 Annual Conference, Columbus, OH - Rebecca Brewster

September 24-25: Indiana Motor Truck Association 2025 Annual Convention, French Lick, IN - Rebecca Brewster

ATRI's Weekly Key Research Highlights

Each Wednesday, ATRI shares key research findings from one of its studies on social media. In one of the latest posts, ATRI Research Analyst Andrew Fain discusses the findings from ATRI's Cost of Congestion research. Be sure to follow ATRI on LinkedIn to keep up with the latest from ATRI’s research each week.

Evolving Truck Driver Demographics: Issues and Opportunities

An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2025 Update

Expanding Truck Parking at Public Rest Areas

Expanding Truck Parking at Public Rest Areas - Executive Summary

Repealing the Federal Excise Tax on New Truck Equipment: Impacts and Opportunities for Industry Safety and Operations

ATRI's Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks - 2025

Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry - 2024

Cost of Congestion to the Trucking Indsutry: 2024 Update

Costs and Consequences of Truck Driver Detention: A Comprehensive Analysis

AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE | TruckingResearch.org

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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.