Rethinking Hours of Service: FMCSA Looks at More Flexible Driver Schedules

For years, hours-of-service regulations have been one of the most closely watched areas of trucking compliance. The rules are designed to prevent driver fatigue, but they can also create challenges when traffic, weather, loading delays, detention, and unpredictable customer schedules interfere with a driver's planned day.

Now, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is taking a closer look at whether drivers can be given more control over when they drive and when they rest—without compromising highway safety.

The Rising Cost of Trucking: What the Latest ATRI Data Means for Shippers

The cost of moving freight by truck is climbing again—and the latest data from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) shows why.

According to ATRI’s 2026 Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, the average cost of operating a truck reached $2.336 per mile in 2025, a 3.4% increase from the previous year and the highest per-mile cost recorded in ATRI’s history. Even more telling, operating costs excluding fuel increased 4.2% to $1.854 per mile.

The findings come at an important time for manufacturers, distributors and other freight shippers. Transportation costs are not simply determined by the price of diesel. Driver compensation, equipment, insurance, maintenance, tolls and other operating expenses all influence what it costs a carrier to put a truck on the road.