The Newsletter of the Non-Profit Research Organization for the Trucking Industry | | ATRInsider October 2026 | Volume 22, Issue 5 | | Fuel Prices Emerge as the Trucking Industry's Top Concern | | ATRI President Rebecca Brewster counted down this year’s Top 10 Trucking Issues during the Big Reveal session at ATA's MC&E, with perspectives from Ben Banks, President, TCW, Jason Damron, America's Road Team Captain and Gary Johnson, Head of Safety and Compliance Strategy, Motive. | | |
ATRI released its 22nd annual Top Industry Issues survey results at ATA's Management Conference and Exhibition (MC&E) in Charlotte.
This year’s list includes Fuel Prices, Lawsuit Abuse Reform, CSA and Insurance Cost/Availability. Two issues that debuted on the 2025 list have remained top 10 concerns again this year: Artificial Intelligence in Trucking and Diesel Emissions Regulations.
“Just as we started to see some positive signs in the freight economy, the cost of diesel topped $6.50 per gallon,” said Ben Banks, TCW President. “With operating costs continuing to climb overall, this spike in fuel costs is particularly painful for small- to mid-size fleets. ATRI’s annual analysis is so essential for trucking to not only quantify the issues, but more importantly, to understand what we can collectively do as an industry to address each.”
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| More than 48 percent of the survey respondents were motor carrier executives and personnel, truck drivers represented 26 percent, with the remaining 26 percent made up of other freight stakeholders. Among truck driver respondents – both owner-operators and company drivers – Fuel Prices, Truck Parking and Driver Compensation were the top three concerns, while motor carriers ranked Lawsuit Abuse Reform, Fuel Prices and the Driver Shortage as their top three concerns. | |
| 2026 Truck Driver and Motor Carrier Top Three Concerns | | |
The complete results of the annual survey were released as part of the 2026 American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition. [Read More]
The full report can be found on ATRI’s website here.
| | ATRI Names Page Siplon Next President and COO | | |
The Board of Directors of ATRI has announced the selection of nationally recognized transportation and logistics executive Page Siplon as its next president and chief operating officer. Siplon will join ATRI in November, working alongside current ATRI President Rebecca Brewster to ensure a seamless leadership transition before succeeding her upon her retirement in February 2027.
Siplon brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning private industry, economic development, public policy, and military service. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of TeamOne Logistics, where he led the organization for more than a decade, guiding its growth and expanding its capabilities. His leadership focused extensively on the trucking workforce, driver recruitment and retention, safety, and the operational challenges facing motor carriers.
Prior to joining TeamOne, Siplon spent more than a decade leading logistics and innovation initiatives for the State of Georgia. As Executive Director of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics, he worked with industry and government leaders to advance freight transportation initiatives and strengthen Georgia’s logistics competitiveness. Siplon also founded and led the nationally recognized Georgia Logistics Summit, which grew to become one of the nation’s largest logistics conferences. He later assumed leadership of Georgia’s broader Centers of Innovation program, overseeing six strategic industry sectors statewide. Siplon’s industry leadership also extended to the national level, where he served as Vice Chairman of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness, helping inform national discussions on transportation, logistics, and supply chain policy. [Read More]
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ATRI Elects Ben McLean Board Chairman,
Welcomes Two New Board Members
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| ATRI has elected Ben McLean, Chief Executive Officer of Ruan Transportation Management Systems, as Chairman of its Board of Directors. ATRI also announced the appointment of two new Board members: Ben Banks, President of TCW, Inc., and Nathan Meisgeier, President and Chief Legal Officer of Werner Enterprises. | | |
Ben McLean,
Chief Executive Officer, Ruan
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Ben Banks,
President , TCW, Inc.
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Nathan Meisgeier,
President and Chief Legal Officer, Werner Enterprises
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McLean, who was first appointed to the ATRI Board of Directors in October 2017, will lead the 13-member Board of trucking industry presidents and CEOs. He succeeds Derek Leathers, Chairman and CEO of Werner Enterprises, who is completing four years of service as ATRI Chair.
“We are excited to have Ben McLean lead the ATRI Board,” said Rebecca Brewster, ATRI President and COO. “His commitment to research excellence and innovation will help drive the Institute forward for years to come. We also want to thank Derek Leathers for his dedicated service as Chairman and welcome Ben Banks and Nathan Meisgeier to the Board. Their extensive industry experience and insights will be tremendous assets to ATRI as we continue advancing our research mission.”
Read the full press release on ATRI's website.
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ATRI Research Identifies Key Telematics Performance
Measures for Motor Carriers
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ATRI has released new research identifying the telematics measures and functionalities that have the greatest importance to motor carriers for improving safety, operations and maintenance.
The report, From Telematics Data to Decisions: Trucking's Use of Telematics Data to Improve Performance, provides the industry with a focused, motor carrier-based assessment and ranking of key performance indicators (KPI) from telematics data that deliver the greatest value.
The findings determined that the metrics that have the most impact are not always the most widely used. Managing cost-per-mile, for example, received the highest Importance score in the operations category, yet was used by only 73 percent of respondents. The report’s KPI gap analysis provides fleets and telematics providers with a blueprint for focusing on KPIs that matter most. [Read More]
If you missed ATRI’s Telematics Briefing Room webinar, watch the full recording by clicking here.
| | | Top 10 Opportunities for Greater Adoption | | ATRI Launches Trucking Industry Surveys on Impacts of Truck Driver Health | | |
ATRI is seeking input from motor carriers and truck drivers through two new surveys focused on driver health.
Truck drivers face unique health challenges, from finding healthy food on the road to remaining physically active. As a result, they are more likely than workers in other industries to experience negative health conditions that can reduce quality of life and life expectancy. In addition to these well-documented personal repercussions of poor driver health, the U.S. supply chain depends on the well-being of drivers to deliver freight safely and efficiently.
This ATRI research will identify the impact of driver health on trucking operations and costs to further underscore its importance to the industry:
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Drivers are asked anonymously to share basic health information (e.g. time duration of their medical cards) as well as their experience with maintaining health and wellness while on the road.
- Motor carriers are asked for fleetwide averages for medical card durations, insurance costs, and operations key performance indicators. Motor carriers are also strongly encouraged to share the driver survey with their driver workforce.
Industry stakeholders are invited to participate by Friday, November 13, 2026. The online data collection form can be accessed here. All responses are completely confidential.
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ATRI Contributors
Thank You
for Your Support!
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| 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 10/26/2026) | | |
A&M Transport
A. Duie Pyle, Inc.
ACT 1
ACT Expo
Alabama Trucking Association
Alaska Trucking Association
Alfie Bingham
Alliance Interstate Risk
American Trucking & Transportation Insurance
Amy Boerger, RAC Alumni
ArcBest Corporation
Arizona Trucking Association
Arkansas Trucking Association
Auto Haulers Association of American
Bison Transport
Blake Grolmus
Brett Merritt
Brian Neal
C.H. Robinson Worldwide
Cargo Transporters
Carla Rose, ATRI Staff
Charlene Poe
Chip Duden, RAC Alumni
Chris Denman
Colin Abernathy, RAC Alumni
Cottingham and Butler
CRST
Cummins Inc.
David Britton
Derek and Nicole Leathers
Distribution Solutions, Inc.
Erica Denney, RAC Member
Excargo Services, Inc.
Farruggio’s Express, Inc.
Fast Sled Propulsion
FedEx Corporation
Florida Trucking Association
FreedomTrucks of America, LLC
Freightage
Fullbay, Inc.
Gentle Giant Moving Company
Georgia Trucking Association
Great West Casualty Company
Gregg Troian
Groendyke Transportation
Guillory Petroleum Transport
Heniff Transportation Systems
Hirschbach
Illinois Trucking Association
Indiana Motor Truck Association
Inland Marine Underwriters Association
Iowa Motor Truck Association
IWLA Insurance Company
J&M Tank Lines, Inc.
James Burg Trucking Company
JB Hunt
Jeremy Reymer, RAC Alumni
Jim Voss
Joe Lombardo
John A. Smith
John Brune
John Flannagan, RAC Alumni
John Whittington, RAC Alumni
Johnsrud Transport, Inc.
Justin Olsen
Kansas Motor Carriers Association
Kentucky Trucking Association
Kris Terry
Kyle Weaver, RAC Member
Landstar Systems
Lester R. Summers, Inc.
Lockton Companies, LLC
Louisiana Motor Transport Association
Lynette Woodie, RAC Member
Maine Motor Transport Association
Mary Jane Evans
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Mary Russo
Maryland Motor Truck Association
Maverick Transportation
Melton Truck Lines
Michigan Trucking Association
Mike Stapleton, RAC Alumni
Mike Tunnell, Retired ATRI Staff
Minnesota Trucking Association
Mississippi Trucking Association
Missouri Trucking Association
Montana Trucking Association
Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.
Motor Transport Association of CT
Nancy Bendickson
Nathan Meisgeier
National Confection and Snacks Logistics Council
National Tank Truck Carriers
Nationalease
Netco Express
New Mexico Trucking Association
North Carolina Trucking Association Foundation
North Dakota Motor Carriers Association
Ohio Trucking Association
Old Dominion Freight Line
Oregon Trucking Association
Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
Peter Friedmann
PGT Trucking LLC
Pitt Ohio
Preferred Materials, Inc.
Prime, Inc.
R&L Carriers
Rebecca Brewster, ATRI Staff
Rhode Island Trucking Association
Rich and Lisa Bren
Robert Bernatchez
Robert Hanlon
Robert McCann
Robert Moore
Robert Post
Roberts Perryman, PC
Ruan Transportation Management Systems
Ryder System Inc.
Shorty and Ro Whittington
South Carolina Trucking Association
Southeastern Freight Lines
Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association
Steve Wyatt
Stokes Trucking
Structall Building Systems
Texas Trucking Association
The Evans Network of Companies
Tim Kordula, RAC Member
Toledo Trucking Association
Tom Heimgartner
Tom Jones
Tom Kearney
Tommy Hodges
Total Transportation of Mississippi LLC
Towing and Recovery Management Summit
TRIP Insurance Co., Ltd.
Triple G Express
Troy Turner
Trucking Association of New York
TrueNorth Companies
UPS
Utah Trucking Association
Vermont Truck and Bus Association
Virginia Trucking Association
Washington Trucking Associations
Werner Enterprises
Whalen Trucking Company
Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association
WTAEC
Wyoming Trucking Association
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In Honor of
Kevin Knight
Rebecca Brewster
In Memory of
Don Eaton
Dan Friden
John Groendyke
John Wren
Larry Simmons, Sr.
Russ McKinnon
| | 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 Justin, the host of Trucker Talk Radio, for a discussion on several of ATRI's most downloaded reports. Click the image above to watch the video. | | ATRI Vice President Jeffrey Short joins CCJ for a discussion on its Telematics report. Click the image above to watch the video. | | Out and About with the ATRI Team | | |
Trucking Association of New York President Kendra Hems presented ATRI President Rebecca Brewster with the 2026 TANY Outstanding Service Award in recognition of Rebecca's contributions to the trucking industry. | |
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ATRI President Rebecca Brewster shared insights from ATRI’s latest research at the Illinois Trucking
Association Annual Meeting & Expo.
| | ATRI Senior Research Associate examined litigation trends, the impact of nuclear verdicts and rising legal costs at the Nationalease Financial Officer's Meeting in Las Vegas. | ATRI President Rebecca Brewster with Contract Manager Joy Miller and incoming President Page Siplon at the ATRI booth during ATA's MC&E in Charlotte. | ATRI Research Assistant Carla Rose and TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell at the TechCelerate Now booth during ATA's MC&E in Charlotte. | | ATRI SVP Dan Murray and ATA Director of Data Science and Economics Lindsay Bur join a panel to discuss the industry issues and economic outlook for trucking at the ISAAC Horizon 2026 user conference in Quebec. | Left to right: members of the ATRI team, incoming President Page Siplon, Research Assistant Carla Rose, Contract Manager Joy Miller, Research Associates Jack Spalding and Alex Leslie, and Vice President Jeff Short at the ATRI booth during ATA’s MC&E in Charlotte. | Fleet Owner Editor-in-Chief Josh Fisher interviews ATRI President Rebecca Brewster at the Fleet Owner booth during ATA's MC&E in Charlotte. | | |
The ATRI Team and trucking industry friends gather together to celebrate ATRI President Rebecca Brewster’s
retirement following ATA’s MC&E Closing Night Party in Charlotte.
| | Upcoming opportunities to hear the ATRI team talk about the latest research: | | |
November 3-4: 2026 Arkansas Trucking Association Accounting and Finance Council and TMC Meetings, Little Rock, AR - Alex Leslie
November 11-12: Safety 21 Advisory Council 2026 Deployment Partner Consortium Symposium, Pittsburgh, PA - Jeffrey Short
November 12-13: 2026 South Carolina Trucking Association Fall Convergence Conference, Greenville, SC - Dan Murray
November 17-18: Northwestern University Business Advisory Council Meeting, Evanston, IL - Dan Murray
December 2-3: Trucking Association Executive Council Membership, Marketing and Communications Meeting, Des Moines, IA - Rebecca Brewster, Andrew Fain and Carla Rose
December 1-2: FHWA Research and Technology Coordinating Committee, Washington, DC – Dan Murray
| 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 Cargo Theft research. Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep up with the latest from ATRI’s research each week. | |
DID YOU KNOW… Cargo theft has always been a problem – in recent years, however, the crime has been exacerbated by a rapidly expanding visibility into supply chains and goods movement, and an increasing reliance on information systems. While supply chain visibility and automation have dramatically improved operational efficiency over the last two decades, that same digital environment has given cargo thieves opportunities to redirect and ultimately steal cargo, costing the industry billions.
ATRI's research quantified the very real costs of cargo theft to trucking firms and logistics service providers, totaling as much as $6.6 billion annually – or $18 million per day. On a per carrier basis, average losses top $520,000 annually – costs that are ultimately borne by consumers.
Cargo theft takes many forms including 1) pilferage, where partial loads are stolen from inside warehouses or trailers, 2) straight theft where loads are stolen, and 3) the emerging practice of strategic theft; which includes planned and targeted theft of specific cargo, sometimes involving load boards, identity impersonation, and/or double-brokering.
ATRI’s research provides clear, actionable steps that truck drivers and motor carriers can take to minimize the likelihood of being cargo theft victims. But the research also lays out a clear rationale for why more attention to this issue is warranted at the federal and state level.
Click here to download the full ATRI study and one-page executive summary.
| | Download a Free Copy of ATRI's Latest Research | | Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry - 2026 | | From Data to Decisions: Trucking's Use of Telematics Data to Improve Performance | | Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update | | ATRI Truck GPS Data Brochure | | Trucking's Rising Insurance Costs: Issues and Opportunities | | ATRI's Top 100 Truck Bottleneck List | |
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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. | | | | |
