Trucking is Getting More Expensive; ATRI Report Explains Why

Mileage Matters | August 25, 2026

Trucking is getting more expensive. ATRI report explains why

The Trucker- The cost of running a trucking operation continues to climb, with several major expense categories rising faster than inflation, according to the latest analysis from American Transportation Research Institute. According to the report, trucking costs, not considering fuel, rose by 4.2% from 2024 to 2025.

Federal & State Regulations

Federal judge halts DOT's CDL records demand

Overdrive- A U.S. District Court Judge has effectively stopped the Department of Transportation from moving forward with demands for 17 million driver records while lawsuits play out. The dispute stems from a pair of suits filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia after federal agencies sought driver records from the Commercial Driver’s License Information System as reported in last week's Mileage Matters.

PHMSA publishes reducing undue paperwork burdens to domestic carriers Final Rule

CVSA.org- The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has published a final rule to provide domestic carriers and facility operators the option to maintain electronic copies of emergency response information rather than requiring a hard copy printed on paper.

IRS-authorized e-file provider and new MTA member Send 2290 is offering fellow members a discount to file their Form 2290 by August 31

Government

Spear out at ATA after leading trucking’s largest federation for a decade

FleetOwner- Chris Spear’s decade-long leadership of the American Trucking Associations, the industry’s largest trade federation, is over. The sudden departure cuts short the contract extension he signed in 2024, which was expected to keep him at the helm through 2029.

Michigan says electric trucks can’t ride for free

Landline- Certain trucks in Michigan could soon face a new road tax. Lawmakers are looking at a new way for electric trucks to help pay for the roads they use. Rep. Pat Outman, R-Six Lakes, is leading the push. His plan would create a road funding system for large trucks powered by electricity.

Annual Meeting

September 10-11, 2026

The Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island

Registration & Sponsorships

Thank You Sponsors

President's Club

Bronze Sponsor

Send 2290

Bronze Sponsor

Operations

Recall Roundup: NHTSA targets truck wipers, marker lights, turn signals, and liftgates

FleetOwner-The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently issued recall notices for commercial vehicles, including brands from Rivian, Mack, and more.

Managers say they don’t feel ready to lead an AI-fluent workforce

Trucking Dive- Employers expect managers to lead a workforce that has expertise in artificial intelligence, but 43% of managers said they felt either poorly equipped to lead these employees or not equipped at all, according to a new survey from Indeed and market research company YouGov..

Call on Washington

September 22-23

Washington, D.C.

Each year, MTA’s informal “Political Road Team” travels to Washington, D.C., personally sharing the concerns of Michigan trucking companies with legislators on Capitol Hill.

MTA is looking for members to join the delegation.

Business

What to know about Trump’s 50% tariffs on Canadian goods that just went into effect

The Trucker- After trade negotiations crumbled at the eleventh hour, U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on scores of Canadian imports kicked in Saturday. The new levies are expected to affect about 5% of Canada’s annual exports to the U.S., roughly $20 billion in goods.

Revoked ELD maker reveals 'huge' demand for HOS-cheat devices

Overdrive- The vendor behind a recently revoked electronic logging device shed light on the black market for hours-cheating devices -- and demand for them from from carriers.