ATRInsider March 2021 | Vol. 17 Issue 1
New Research Documents the Realities of a National Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax
ATRI recently released a new report detailing the costs of deploying and operating a national vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax. This study was identified as a top research priority by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee in 2020.

It was found that replacing the federal fuel tax with a VMT tax that is assessed on 272 million private vehicles could result in collection costs of more than $20 billion annually – or 300 times higher than the federal fuel tax. The central reason for this large increase in costs is the shift in collection points – from a couple hundred fuel terminal operators to every registered motor vehicle in the U.S. (Read More)
ATRI Issues Call for Motor Carriers to Participate in Insurance Costs Data Collection
ATRI has launched a new data collection initiative to better understand the rising costs of trucking insurance and how those costs are ultimately impacting the industry’s overall operational costs. This research was identified by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee as a top research priority in 2020.
 
Motor carriers are asked to provide data through an online data collection form that will quantify changes in deductibles, excess insurance over minimum requirements, and how drivers and fleets are balancing insurance costs against rising risk levels. The research will be complementary to ATRI’s annual Operational Costs of Trucking, but will provide more granular detail on one of the most volatile cost centers in the annual analysis. All submitted data will be kept strictly confidential and aggregated. As needed, ATRI will sign a confidentiality agreement.
 
Carriers are asked to provide data by Friday, April 23, 2021. 
ATRI Releases Annual List of Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks
Last month ATRI released its annual list highlighting the most congested bottlenecks for trucks in America.

The 2021 Top Truck Bottleneck List measures the level of truck-involved congestion at over 300 locations on the national highway system. The analysis, based on truck GPS data from over 1 million freight trucks 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. DOT’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 300 freight-critical locations.

For access to the full report, including detailed information on each of the 100 top congested locations, visit ATRI's website at TruckingResearch.org.
Thanks to Our Loyal Supporters!
This year ATRI celebrates 20 years of providing critical research to address the trucking industry’s top issues. Since our reorganization into ATRI in 2001, the Institute has relied on charitable contributions from industry stakeholders to support our research improving the industry’s safety and productivity. As we celebrate 20 years of research excellence, please join us in thanking our most loyal supporters – those organizations and individuals who have provided charitable contributions annually to ATRI for 5 or more of our 20 years. Their consistent support allows us to deliver on our mission each and every day.
The following organizations have consistently supported ATRI through an annual contribution for 15 or more of our 20 years.
  • Ability Tri-Modal Transportation Services
  • Alabama Trucking Association
  • American Trucking Associations
  • Arkansas Trucking Association
  • Colorado Motor Carriers Association
  • Combined Transport
  • FedEx
  • Georgia Motor Trucking Association
  • Great West Casualty Company
  • Idaho Trucking Association
  • Illinois Trucking Association
  • Iowa Motor Truck Association
  • Kansas Motor Carriers Association
  • Kentucky Trucking Association
  • Maine Motor Transport Association
  • Maverick Transportation
  • Minnesota Trucking Association
  • Missouri Trucking Association
  • Motor Transport Association of Connecticut
  • Nevada Trucking Association
  • Ohio Trucking Association
  • Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association
  • South Carolina Trucking Association
  • TAEC Region II
  • Tennessee Trucking Association
  • Texas Trucking Association
  • Trucking Association of New York
  • UPS
  • Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association
  • Wyoming Trucking Association
  • Yellow
The following organizations and individuals have consistently supported ATRI through an annual contribution for 10 to 14 of our 20 years.
  • ArcBest Corporation
  • Arizona Trucking Association
  • Boyle Transportation
  • Cargo Transporters
  • C.H. Robinson
  • Cummins Inc.
  • Indiana Motor Truck Association
  • J.J. Keller & Associates
  • Maryland Motor Truck Association
  • New Hampshire Motor Transport Association
  • New Mexico Trucking Association
  • Oklahoma Trucking Association
  • Old Dominion Freight Line
  • PrePass Safety Alliance
  • Rhode Island Trucking Association
  • Schneider
  • Shorty & Ro Whittington
  • Tommy Hodges
  • Usher Transport
  • Vermont Truck & Bus Association
  • Volvo Trucks North America
  • Western TAEC
The following organizations and individuals have consistently supported ATRI through an annual contribution for 5 to 9 of our 20 years.
  • A&M Transportation
  • American Moving and Storage Association
  • Best Way Express
  • Bob Costello
  • Bulldog Hiway Express
  • Canadian Trucking Alliance
  • Central Oregon Trucking Company
  • Chris Spear
  • Dave & Betsy Manning
  • Florida Trucking Association
  • Garner Transportation Group
  • Grand Island Express
  • Groendyke Transport
  • J&M Tank Lines
  • K-Limited Carrier
  • Longistics
  • Marcello & Kivisto, LLC
  • Mississippi Trucking Association
  • National Tank Truck Carriers Association
  • North Carolina Trucking Association Foundation
  • North Dakota Motor Carriers Association
  • Oregon Trucking Association
  • Pitt Ohio
  • Prime, Inc.
  • Randy Boyles
  • Rebecca Brewster
  • Southeastern Freight Lines
  • Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association
  • Total Transportation of Mississippi, LLC
  • TransSafe Consulting
  • Trimac Transportation
  • Ventura Transfer Company
  • Walmart
  • Werner Enterprises
Giving to ATRI is easy and can be done online. Make a commitment today to join these organizations and other industry peers to support the trucking industry’s research leader, securing ATRI’s future for the next 20 years. 
ATRI Announces 2021-2022
Research Advisory Committee Members
In December ATRI released the names of those individuals appointed by the ATRI Board of Directors to serve on the 2021-2022 Research Advisory Committee (RAC). Among other activities, ATRI’s RAC meets annually to identify the top research priorities for the trucking industry. RAC members represent a diverse cross-section of trucking industry stakeholders including motor carriers, industry suppliers, commercial drivers, shippers, law enforcement, academia and government.
AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE | TruckingResearch.org

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.