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

ATRI Issues Call for Motor Carriers to Participate in Annual Operational Costs Data Collection

ATRI has issued a request for motor carriers to participate in its annual Operational Costs of Trucking research.

Now in its 16th year, ATRI's annual Operational Costs of Trucking research is one of the most widely used and most comprehensive benchmarking tools in the trucking industry. ATRI confidentially collects costs and operational data directly from trucking fleets and owner-operators, and its analysis reveals key trends for fleets of each sector, size, and region of the country. Participating fleets will receive a customized report comparing your cost metrics to an anonymized peer group of fleets of the same size and sector.

“With the industry cost data that comes from ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking report, our fleet is able to apply the operational metrics to better manage our expenses,” said Dr. Robert Howard, Dohrn Transfer Company President and COO. “This information will help every carrier benchmark their financials and prepare them for contract negotiations. Equally valuable are the customized insights into how our costs and performance measure up to our peers in this challenging freight market.”

For-hire motor carriers are encouraged to provide operational cost data to ATRI by Friday, April 25. All confidential information is protected, and it is published only in anonymized, aggregate form.

ATRI’s 2025 Bottleneck List Provides Critical Insight into Infrastructure Investment Needs throughout America

ATRI recently released its 14th annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America. For the seventh year in a row, the intersection of I-95 and SR 4 near the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey, is the top freight bottleneck in the country.

The remaining Top 10 bottlenecks include:

2. Chicago: I-294 at I-290/I-88

3. Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59

4. Atlanta: I-285 at I-85 (North)

5. Nashville: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)

6. Atlanta: I-75 at I-285 (North)

7. Los Angeles: SR 60 at SR 57

8. Cincinnati: I-71 at I-75

9. Houston: I-10 at I-45

10. Atlanta: I-20 at I-285 (West)

As Congress prepares to reauthorize the nation’s surface transportation programs, this timely analysis can help local, state, and federal governments target funding where it is needed most. ATRI’s analysis also quantifies the value of infrastructure investment through a spotlight on Chicago’s Jane Byrne Interchange. Once the number one truck bottleneck in the country for three years in a row, the recently constructed interchange saw rush hour truck speeds improve by nearly 25 percent after construction was completed. (Read More)

ATRI has announced the appointment of Gregg Troian, PGT Trucking, Inc. President to its Board of Directors. Mr. Troian was appointed by ATRI Chairman of the Board Derek Leathers, Werner Enterprises Chairman and CEO.

“We are excited to welcome Gregg to the ATRI Board of Directors,” said ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster. “His experience as a member of the RAC gives him a strong appreciation for our research prioritization process, which combined with his industry expertise makes him an excellent addition to the Institute’s Board of Directors.”

ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) held its Annual Meeting March 4-5, 2025 in Washington, DC to identify the top research priorities for the trucking industry. Led by ATRI RAC Chair Andy Owens, the RAC members reviewed and deliberated on over 27 individual research topics before finalizing a list of the top priorities for 2025. Research topics reviewed covered a wide range of critical industry issues including workforce development, safety, industry operations, technology, environmental issues, and transportation infrastructure.

Click here for names of ATRI's Research Advisory Committee members. (Photo by Karen Foote)

On April 16, 2025, ATRI RAC Chair Andy Owens will present the top priority topics to the ATRI Board of Directors for their review and approval before finalization. Once approved by the ATRI Board, ATRI’s professional research team will commence on those research studies this summer. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2025 top priority research topics.

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 quarter of 2025.

Alabama Trucking Association

ArcBest Corporation

Arkansas Trucking Association

Atlas World Group

Auto Haulers Association of America

Chad Marsilio

Co-Pilot Vision Systems

CRST

Dan Van Alstine

Darsana Capital Partners

Fast Sled Propulsion

Florida Trucking Association

Georgia Motor Trucking Association

Great West Casualty Company

Heniff Transportation Systems

Hirschbach 

Iowa Motor Truck Association

ITF Group 

John Drake

Joy Miller

Kansas Motor Carriers Association

Kentucky Trucking Association

Keystone Risk Partners

Lyons and Gail Heyman

Maine Motor Transport Association

Maryland Motor Truck Association

Missouri Trucking Association

New Mexico Trucking Association

Ohio Trucking Association

Old Dominion Freight Line

Pitt Ohio

Roberts Perryman, PC

Ruan Transportation Management Systems

Ryder System Inc.

Usher Transport

Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association

In Honor of

Ed Crowell

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.

The ATRI Team in DC at the 2025 Annual RAC meeting earlier this month.

Newly appointed ATRI RAC chair, Andy Owen, CEO of A & M Transport, Inc., oversees the 2025 ATRI RAC meeting in DC.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster presents at the 2025 ATRI RAC meeting.

ATRI Research Assistant Carla Rose working the ATRI booth in the exhibit hall at the ATA's 2025 TMC Annual Meeting.

ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray on the air with Dave Nemo at ATA's 2025 TMC Annual Meeting.

ATRI RAC Member Emily Plummer, ART Captain and professional driver for Prime discusses driver issues during ATRI's 2025 RAC meeting.

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

March 25-27: Towing and Recovery Management Summit, Fort Lauderdale, FL – Alex Leslie

March 27-29: Mid-America Trucking Show, Louisville, KY – Rebecca Brewster, Carla Rose and Andrew Fain

April 3-4: 56th Atlas Forum, Chicago, IL – Rebecca Brewster

April 9-11: 2025 I-NUF Conference, Los Angeles, CA – Jeff Short

April 10 at 12:00 p.m. ET: WEBINAR | University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies Freight 101 Webinar Series: Unpacking Freight from Producers to Front Door – Dan Murray

April 10 at 9:00 a.m ET: ATRI on the Air on the Nemo Show on SiriusXM Ch. 146 – Jeff Short

April 14-17: MCIEF 2025 Annual Conference, Orlando, FL – Dan Murray

April 22-24: ATA's Safety Security and Human Resources Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY – Abbigail Huffman and Carla Rose

April 24-27: Alabama Trucking Association Annual Convention – Rebecca Brewster

May 4-6: ATA's 2025 Mid-Year Management Session, Scottsdale, AZ – All ATRI Staff

ATRI's Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks - 2025

Cost of Congestion to the Trucking Indsutry: 2024 Update

Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry - 2024

Costs and Consequences of Truck Driver Detention: A Comprehensive Analysis

An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2024 Update

Identifying and Mitigating the Challenges Faced by Women Truck Drivers

AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE | TruckingResearch.org

Atlanta, GA • Minneapolis, MN • Washington, DC • Sacramento, CA

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.