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

Leadership Insights from the ATRI Board: Harold Sumerford, Jr.

ATRI’s annual Top Industry Issues survey found insurance cost and availability as the third-greatest trucking industry challenge (behind only the economy and lawsuit abuse), so it is no surprise that ATRI’s Trucking’s Rising Insurance Costs: Issues and Opportunities has received so much attention over the past weeks. What I appreciate about this report is that it assesses key problems as well as solutions. 

The first set of findings outlines the state of liability insurance in trucking, which doubles as policy stack benchmarking. Numerous factors influence coverage decisions, so it’s illuminating to see how other fleets set coverage limits, deductibles, and self-insurance. The data on cost trends for excess coverage is particularly concerning. We are all familiar with the high cost of primary coverage and the typical response playbook (raise deductibles, self-insurance levels, etc.). But to see the cost of  the $10-15 million excess layer jump by 45 percent in just 4 years tells me that nuclear verdicts are making a big mark on pricing – and that fleets need to start thinking outside the box to manage risk costs at these levels.

The second set of findings evaluates key cost reduction strategies that fleets are using. The big takeaway here is an encouraging one: fleets who bet on themselves and put in the work successfully reduced costs. Total cost of risk (premiums plus losses) decreased the more risk fleets retained, and fleets that reduced total purchased coverage saw lower total cost of risk in the subsequent year. Training and technology are key to realizing these improvements, and the report confirms that the deployment of six specific truck safety technologies were correlated with lower liability losses.

This is a highly detailed report full of precise, instructive metrics. It might not be for beach readers, but it is for readers who want a one-stop primer on what is happening in auto liability insurance and how to reduce costs. I credit ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee for its vision and guidance in this research.

I also want to underscore how vital motor carrier participation was in this research. You don’t get detailed findings without detailed data, which is why J&M Tank Lines made it a priority. If your fleet participated, you have my thanks and that of everyone in the industry. If you didn’t, put this study to use and get involved with the next one.

Harold Sumerford, Jr., Chief Executive Officer

J&M Tank Lines, Inc.

ATRI Research Analyzes Motor Carrier Responses

to Rising Insurance Costs

ATRI has released new research detailing the rising costs of commercial auto liability insurance in the trucking industry and the risk management strategies that motor carriers use to mitigate those costs.

From 2021 to 2024, liability insurance premium costs rose by 18.6 percent to 10.2 cents per mile – outpacing consumer inflation by 5.4 percentage points – at the same time that heavy-duty truck-involved crash rates fell by 2.6 percent industry-wide. The research confirms that a sharp rise in crash claims expenses fueled this rise in insurance costs: among respondents, per-mile liability losses rose by an average of 33.1 percent over the same period.

Premium Cost per Mile by Excess Coverage Level, 2021-2024

Premium costs for excess coverage in particular rose at an even higher rate. From 2021 to 2024, per-mile premium costs for the $5-10 million insurance layer rose by 34 percent to 1.58 cents, and per-mile premium costs for the $10-15 million layer rose by 45 percent to 1.05 cents. These increases in excess coverage expenses point to the role of rampant litigation in inflating claims costs.



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ATRI Releases New Research Priorities for 2026

At its recent meeting in Atlanta, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) Board of Directors, led by Chairman Derek Leathers of Werner Enterprises, reviewed and approved the 2026 Top Research Priorities. The research priorities were identified by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) at its annual meeting held March 10-11 in Washington, DC. 

ATRI’s RAC selected a diverse set of research priorities designed to address some of the industry’s most critical issues focused on improving safety, enhancing driver health and wellness, and understanding how major weather events impact trucking operations. The 2026 ATRI top research priorities are:

• Outcomes of Coaching Practices and Front-Line Management on Safety  
• Advancing “Beyond Compliance”  
• State Benchmarking: Identifying the Best Business Climate States for Trucking  
• Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Federal and State Regulations by Stakeholder Group
• Quantifying the Relationship Between Medical Card Status & Operational Impacts  
• Major Weather Event Impacts on Trucking  

Click here to read the full press release with a description of each research priority.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster Announces Retirement

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster has announced that she will retire in early 2027, after serving the organization for 34 years, 25 of which she has led ATRI as its president and chief operating officer.

During her tenure at ATRI, the organization has grown into the trucking industry’s most respected source for industry data and analysis, capturing numerous awards for research excellence. 

“Serving the trucking industry through ATRI has been one of the greatest privileges of my life and I sincerely appreciate the Board’s long-time support of and confidence in my leadership,” said Brewster. “The ATRI team is well-positioned to carry on ATRI’s mission of research to improve the industry’s safety and productivity and I look forward to working with the new leader on the transition.”

ATRI’s Board of Directors, led by Werner Enterprises Chairman Derek Leathers, has appointed a search committee of Board members to identify Brewster’s successor. ATRI Board member Brenda Neville, Iowa Motor Truck Association President and CEO will chair the search committee.

“Rebecca’s leadership of ATRI has made a lasting impact on the trucking industry,” said Leathers. “We are grateful for her three decades of leadership and the legacy she will leave behind.”

The position description is available on ATRI’s website and interested individuals are asked to submit a resume and cover letter to the ATRI Search Committee by July 10, 2026.

ATRI Seeks Trucking Industry Input on the Scale of Unauthorized Cabotage in the U.S.

Recognizing that federal law prohibits foreign B-1 visa-holding truck drivers from engaging in point-to-point service while operating in the U.S., ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee identified research to assess the scale and impact of cabotage activities in the U.S. as a top priority.

ATRI’s cabotage research includes a trucking industry survey that asks truck drivers and motor carriers to provide input on when and where this illegal activity is most often observed. The survey findings will help develop an economic model that will calculate the real costs and impacts that cabotage has on U.S. truck drivers and truck fleets.

All survey responses will be kept strictly confidential and used only in summary statistics.

The survey can be found here, and will remain open through Friday, June 19, 2026.

ATRI Seeks Motor Carrier and Truck Driver Insight

on Adoption of Onboard Safety Technologies

ATRI is conducting a follow-up survey to motor carriers and truck drivers on adoption levels and user perspectives for onboard safety technologies. The research is part of the ongoing TechCelerate program, which is sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The TechCelerate research team includes ATRI, ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) and the OOIDA Foundation.

The Motor Carrier survey helps identify which safety technologies are most and least preferred by motor carriers, and what issues and perspectives they’ve encountered relating to truck driver acceptance, repair & maintenance and safety benefits – among other topics. The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The motor carrier survey can be found here - https://www.research.net/r/2026-MC-ADAS-Survey.

The Truck Driver survey focuses on truck driver familiarity and experiences with the onboard safety technologies, and which technologies had the most and fewest safety benefits, from a driver’s perspective. The truck driver survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The truck driver survey can be found here - https://www.research.net/r/2026-Driver-ADAS.

For 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 2026. (As of 06/12/2026)

Alabama Trucking Association

Alfie Bingham

American Trucking & Transportation Insurance Co. 

Amy Boerger, RAC Alumni

ArcBest Corporation

Arkansas Trucking Association

Blake Grolmus

Brett Merritt

Carla Rose, ATRI Staff

C.H. Robinson Worldwide

Charlene Poe

Chris Denman

Colin Abernathy, RAC Alumni

Cottingham and Butler

CRST

David Britton

Erica Denney, RAC Member

Excargo Services, Inc.

Fast Sled Propulsion

FedEx Corporation 

Florida Trucking Association

FreedomTrucks of America, LLC

Fullbay, Inc.

Georgia Trucking Association

Great West Casualty Company

Gregg Troian

Heniff Transportation Systems

Hirschbach 

Indiana Motor Truck Association

Inland Marine Underwriters Association

Iowa Motor Truck Association

James Burg Trucking Company

JB Hunt

Jeremy Reymer, RAC Alumni

Joe Lombardo

John Flannagan, RAC Alumni

Kansas Motor Carriers Association

Kentucky Trucking Association

Kris Terry

Kyle Weaver, RAC Member

Maine Motor Transport Association

Mary Jane Evans

Maryland Motor Truck Association

Michigan Trucking Association

Mike Tunnell, Retired ATRI Staff

Minnesota Trucking Association 

Missouri Trucking Association

Motor Transport Association of CT

Nancy Bendickson

Nathan Meisgeier

National Confection and Snacks Logistics Council

National Tank Truck Carriers

New Mexico Trucking Association

North Carolina Trucking Association Foundation

Ohio Trucking Association

Old Dominion Freight Line

Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association

Peter Friedmann

PGT Trucking LLC

Pitt Ohio

Prime, Inc.

R&L Carriers

Rebecca Brewster, ATRI Staff

Rhode Island Trucking Association

Robert Bernatchez

Robert Hanlon

Robert McCann

Roberts Perryman, PC

Ruan Transportation Management Systems

Ryder System Inc.

Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association

Stokes Trucking

Texas Trucking Association

Tim Kordula, RAC Member

Tommy Hodges 

Total Transportation of Mississippi LLC

Towing and Recovery Management Summit

Trucking Association of New York

UPS

Utah Trucking Association

Virginia Trucking Association

Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association

In Honor of

Rebecca Brewster

In Memory of

Larry Simmons, Sr.

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 host Spencer Tenney on In The Hot Seat podcast for a discussion on what ATRI has seen in 20+ years of analyzing the industry's top concerns. Click image above to watch video.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster joins host John Mahle of Triple T Transport on an episode of Stay In Your Lane podcast alongside Joe Lombardo, President of EGE Avenue and Associates, for a discussion on navigating bottlenecks and rising costs—and who’s really losing out in today’s freight market. Click image above to watch video.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster and Senior Vice President Dan Murray make their last presentation together at ATA's 2026 Mid-Year Management Conference before Rebecca's upcoming retirement in February 2027.

ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray presents at the Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation Meeting 2026 Annual Conference.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster joins Maverick President John Culp and USA Truck CEO George Henry for a panel discussion on trucking's operational costs at the 2026 Arkansas Trucking Association Annual Conference.

ATRI Senior Research Associate Alex Leslie presents at Fullbay's Diesel Connect conference in Arizona.

ATRI Research Analyst Andrew Fain presents at the Illinois Trucking Association 2026 Safety and Maintenance Conference.

ATRI Research Assistant Carla Rose works the TechCelerate booth at ATA's 2026 Safety Security and Human Resources Conference.

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

June 14-15: 2026 International Parking & Mobility Institute Parking & Mobility Conference & Expo, Milwaukee, WI – Dan Murray

June 16-17: WIT on the Road, Thomasville, NC – Rebecca Brewster

June 23-24: Iowa Motor Truck Association Finance Symposium, Des Moines, IA - Rebecca Brewster

June 24: Women in Trucking Webinar - A Career of Impact, Online - Rebecca Brewster

June 28-July 1: American Society of Civil Engineers International Conference on Transportation & Development, Detroit, MI - Carla Rose and Jeff Short

June 28-30: SMC³ Connections 2026, Palm Beach, FL - Rebecca Brewster

July 9-10: Louisiana Motor Transport Association Annual Convention, Gulf Shores, AL - Rebecca Brewster

July 19-23: 2026 Trucking Association Executive Council Annual Meeting, Steamboat Springs, CO - Rebecca Brewster and Andrew Fain

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 Truck Parking at Public Rest Areas research. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with the latest from ATRI’s research each week.

DID YOU KNOW… The lack of available truck parking remains a top industry challenge. Drivers are often forced to choose between driving past their available hours-of-service or parking on a shoulder or ramp to get their mandated rest, so it’s no wonder that the nation’s professional truck drivers consistently rank truck parking as one of their top two concerns.

ATRI research has been focused on identifying solutions to this issue for decades and in our latest truck parking study, we examined what states are doing to expand truck parking at public rest areas. The research was conducted in partnership with AASHTO, representing the 50 state departments of transportation. ATRI and AASHTO surveyed the states to quantify the number of truck parking spaces provided at rest areas, amenities offered to truck drivers, current plans for expansion, and to identify states’ new and innovative approaches to meet the demand for truck parking.

Nationally, the average rest area has 19 truck parking spaces, with states in the south and midwest providing even more spaces. Among the challenges that states face in expanding their truck parking footprint is the lack of funding, community pushback and finding suitable land for expansion.

However, states are looking outside the box to identify new truck parking opportunities, including allowing truck parking at fixed weigh stations and repurposing welcome centers and park and ride lots for truck parking.

The results of ATRI’s research are available as a state-by-state dashboard on the website here.

#TruckingResearch

Trucking's Rising Insurance Costs: Issues and Opportunities

ATRI's Top 100 Truck Bottleneck List

Trucking Litigation: A Forensic Analysis

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

Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry - 2026

The Fight Against Cargo Theft: Insights from the Trucking Industry

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.