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

Leadership Insights from the ATRI Board: Gregg Troian

I was first appointed to ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee in 2023. While I was familiar with ATRI prior to being appointed to the RAC, that two-year term on the RAC provided a behind-the-scenes look at how the industry’s award-winning research organization delivers for us each and every day. And honestly, those two years solidified my understanding of how valuable an asset ATRI is to all of us, whether motor carrier, industry supplier, professional truck driver or elected official. 

The 2023-2024 RAC on which I served identified top research needs in areas such as truck parking, cargo theft, recruiting and retaining women drivers, the diesel technician shortage, and understanding litigation impacts on the trucking industry. Those studies have all been published by ATRI and are shaping how this industry – and our elected officials – understand and address those critical topics. 

After my term on the RAC concluded, I was very fortunate to be nominated by ATRI Board Chair Derek Leathers to serve on the ATRI Board of Directors. Along with my fellow Board members, I now have the opportunity to annually review the RAC’s recommendations for priority research and determine how ATRI assigns its resources to getting that work done. This full circle view of ATRI’s research process makes it clear to me that our industry has to step forward for ATRI. Whether that be providing data for ATRI’s research, making a charitable contribution or volunteering to serve on the RAC, we all have a vested interest in ATRI’s continued success.

ATRI is currently soliciting applications for individuals interested in serving on the 2027-2028 RAC. If you feel called to serve in this role, I can assure you that it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your professional career. The application is available on ATRI’s website and will be open through May 15, 2026. Later this year, my fellow Board members and I will review the candidate list and appoint the members of the 2027-2028 Research Advisory Committee. I hope you’ll consider adding your name to that list today.

Gregg Troian

President

PGT Trucking, Inc.

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 report. Trusted by thousands of industry decisionmakers every year, ATRI’s Ops Costs analysis is a key barometer of freight market conditions and is the leading public benchmarking tool for motor carriers of all sectors, from owner-operators to 10,000+ truck fleets. 

The report tracks cost metrics such as driver pay, equipment expenditures, and insurance premiums as well as key performance indicators such as non-revenue mileage, driver utilization, mileage between breakdowns, and revenue per truck per week.

All participating motor carriers receive a customized report that compares their costs and operations to an anonymized peer group of the same sector and size. New in 2026, customized reports for multi-year participants will also include year-over-year comparisons to more directly evaluate trends over time.

For-hire motor carriers are invited to participate by Friday, April 24, 2026. Data for the year 2025 can be submitted online or by PDF: both forms are available on ATRI’s website along with a sample customized report and other helpful information for participants. All confidential data is protected and published only in anonymized averages.

ATRI Releases Annual List of Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks

ATRI has released its 15th annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America, with the interchange of Interstate 294 and Interstates 290/88 in Chicago ranking as the most congested freight bottleneck in the country. 

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. 

The 2026 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures the level of truck-involved congestion at more than 325 locations on the national highway system. The analysis, based on an extensive database of freight truck GPS data, uses several customized software applications and analysis methods, along with terabytes of data from trucking operations to produce a congestion impact ranking for each location. ATRI’s truck GPS data is also used to support the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Freight Mobility Initiative. The bottleneck locations detailed in this latest ATRI list represent the top 100 congested locations, although ATRI continuously monitors more than 325 freight-critical locations.



For the first time ever, the intersection of I-294 and I-290/I-88 in Chicago is the top freight bottleneck in the country, surpassing the long-standing number one bottleneck in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The remaining Top 10 bottlenecks include: 

2.    Fort Lee, NJ: I-95 at SR 4

3.    Atlanta: I-285 at I-85 (North)

4.    Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59

5.    Atlanta: I-75 at I-285 (North)

6.    Atlanta: I-20 at I-285 (West)

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

8.    Houston: I-10 at I-69/US 59

9.    Cincinnati: I-71 at I-75

10. McDonough, GA: I-75

ATRI’s analysis, which utilized data from 2025, found traffic conditions continue to deteriorate from recent years, in some instances due to work zones that result from increased infrastructure investment. Average rush hour truck speeds were 33.2 MPH, 2.8 percent slower than the previous year. Among the top 10 locations, average rush hour truck speeds were 29.6 MPH. [Read More]

ATRI's Research Advisory Committee Meets to

Identify its Top Research Priorities for 2026

ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) held its Annual Meeting March 10-11, 2026 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 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 the 2025-2026 ATRI Research Advisory Committee members. (Photo by Karen Foote)

On April 14, 2026, 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 2026 top priority research topics.

ATRI Announces Recruitment for Research Advisory Committee

ATRI is recruiting for 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.

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 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 03/30/2026)

Alabama Trucking Association

Amy Boerger

ArcBest Corporation

Arkansas Trucking Association

Brett Merritt

C.H. Robinson Worldwide

Colin Abernathy

Erica Denney

Fast Sled Propulsion

Florida Trucking Association

FreedomTrucks of America

Georgia Motor Trucking Association

Heniff Transportation Systems

Hirschbach

Iowa Motor Truck Association

Joe Lombardo

John Flannagan

Kansas Motor Carriers Association

Kentucky Trucking Association

Kyle Weaver

Maine Motor Transport Association

Mary Jane Evans

Maryland Motor Truck Association

Michigan Trucking Association

Missouri Trucking Association

Motor Transport Association of CT

National Confection and Snacks Logistics Council

National Tank Truck Carriers

New Mexico Trucking Association

Ohio Trucking Association

Old Dominion Freight Line

Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association

Pitt Ohio

Robert Hanlon

Ruan Transportation Management Systems

Tim Kordula

Total Transportation of Mississippi

Towing and Recovery Management Summit

UPS

Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association

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 CCJ for a discussion on ATRI's Trucking Litigation research. Click image above to watch video.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster joins Fox 32 Chicago to discuss ATRI's Top 100 Truck Bottleneck List, which was released in February. Click image above to watch.

ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray joins Dave Nemo on RadioNemo for a discussion on Dan's service on FHWA's Research and Technology Coordinating Committee. Click image above to listen.

Members of the ATRI team, Andrew Fain, Jeff Short, Audrey Clark and Rebecca Brewster at the 2026 ATRI RAC Annual Meeting.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster presents the latest ATRI research at the 70th Annual Food Shippers Conference.

ATRI RAC Chairman Andy Owens, CEO – Manager

A&M Transport, leads the 2026 ATRI RAC Annual Meeting.

ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray serves alongside former ATRI RAC member, Amanda Schuier, Strategic Maintenance Director at Jetco Delivery, on a panel of industry leaders during the 2026 ATA's TMC Annual Meeting.

ATRI Research Analyst Andrew Fain presents on a Truck Parking panel at the 2026 Eastern CMV Safety Summit.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster discusses ATRI's latest research with FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs during MATS 2026.

ATRI's Dan Murray and Carla Rose work the TechCelerate booth at ATA's 2026 TMC Annual Meeting.

ATRI's Rebecca Brewster and Carla Rose with Steve Brand, ART Captain and Professional Driver for FedEx Freight. Steve was named a TA/Petro Citizen Driver of the Year at the 2026 MATS.

ATRI President Rebecca Brewster surveys professional drivers at

the ATRI booth during the 2026 MATS.

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

April 1: Great West Casualty Company Leadership Symposium, Knoxville, TN – Jeff Short

April 1-2: ATA's Safety, Security & Human Resources 2026 National Conference & Exhibition, Oklahoma City, OK – Carla Rose

April 7-8: Illinois Trucking Association Safety & Maintenance Council meeting, Bloomington, IL – Andrew Fain

April 7-10: Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation, Orlando, FL – Dan Murray

April 8-9: Great West Casualty Company Leadership Symposium, Indianapolis, IN – Rebecca Brewster

April 15: Indiana Motor Truck Association Spring Transportation Summit, Indianapolis, IN – Dan Murray

April 20: Trucking Profitability Strategies, Athens, GA - Rebecca Brewster

April 26-27: Intermediaries & Reinsurance Underwriters Association 2026 Annual Meeting & Underwriting & Claims Conference, Delray Beach, FL - Dan Murray

April 27: Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association 98th Annual Membership Conference, Pittsburgh, PA - Rebecca Brewster

April 28: Cottingham & Butler Captive Meeting, Orlando, FL - Rebecca Brewster

April 29: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Crime Summit, Minnesota - Dan Murray

April 29: Arkansas Trucking Association Annual Convention, Little Rock, AR - Rebecca Brewster

May 6: Utah Trucking Association Management Conference & Trucking Expo, St. George, UT - Rebecca Brewster

May 6-7: ACT Expo, Las Vegas, NV - Alex Leslie

May 12-13: 2026 Towing and Recovery Management Summit, Denver, CO - Alex Leslie

May 12-13: Great West Casualty Company Leadership Symposium, Irving, TX - Rebecca Brewster

May 14: Nevada Trucking Association Safety Council Webinar, Online - Rebecca Brewster

May 19: Fullbay Diesel Connect Meeting, Phoenix, AZ - 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 RAC Application for the 2027-2028 term. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with the latest from ATRI’s research each week.

DID YOU KNOW... ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) is responsible for annually identifying the trucking industry’s top research priorities. RAC members represent a diverse group of trucking industry stakeholders including motor carriers, industry suppliers, law enforcement, academia, government and professional truck drivers. The RAC members meet annually to review a series of research proposals, typically 20-25. They discuss the merits of each for improving the industry’s safety and productivity and at the end of the process, they vote to identify the top 5-6 priority topics that ATRI’s research team will work on over the course of the next year.

RAC members are appointed by ATRI’s Board to serve two-year terms. The online application is now open for those interested in being considered for a position on the 2027-2028 RAC. The next appointments to the ATRI RAC will be made by the ATRI Board in October 2026 for the 2027-2028 Research Advisory Committee.

Click here to apply or nominate an industry colleague.

The application will remain open through Friday, May 15, 2026.

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

Addressing the Shortage of Qualified Diesel Technicians

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.