ATRInsider November 2021 | Vol. 17 Issue 4
ATRI's 2021 Top Industry Issues Sets Stage for ATA's 2021 MC&E
ATRI released the 17th annual Top Industry Issues report at ATA’s Management Conference and Exhibition during the “Big Reveal” panel held October 24, 2021. The panel featured ATRI President Rebecca Brewster as moderator along with panelists Hugh Ekberg, CRST President & CEO, Hayden Cardiff, Idelic CEO & Founder, and Bill Hambrick, professional driver for Werner Enterprises and an America’s Road Team Captain. The Top Industry Issues report identified a number of the industry’s key concerns including the driver shortage, driver retention, driver compensation, lawsuit abuse reform, truck parking and for the first time, the shortage of diesel technicians.

“The ATRI list of top industry issues provides a critical snapshot of the challenges impacting our industry at any given moment,” said ATA Chair Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, president and CEO of Garner Trucking, “and this year is no exception as supply chain constraints dominate the nation’s headlines. ATRI’s annual analysis not only captures the industry’s sentiment on the criticality of each of these issues but also maps out a course for addressing each through the stakeholder-ranked strategies.”

To see recommended strategies for addressing the issues and a breakdown of the carrier and driver top issues, you can download a copy of the report by visiting (here).
ATRI Updates Two Key Environmental Research Resources
ATRI recently released updated versions of its Sustainability and Idling Regulations Compendiums. The ATRI Sustainable Freight Practices Compendium was first launched in 2014 to serve as a one-stop shop for information on sustainable freight practices that can be implemented by motor carriers and their drivers. The compendium also identifies how public sector practices such as congestion mitigation, research and testing, and the use of standards can advance sustainable freight goals. ATRI has now updated all three sections of its Sustainable Freight Practices Compendium – Driver, Vehicle, and Public Sector – with the latest research and data from across the U.S.
 
For over 10 years now, ATRI has provided an online compendium of the various idling regulations that limit how long commercial vehicles can idle. ATRI continues to monitor the development of idling regulations across the country and provides the compendium as a free service to help trucking companies and truck drivers comply with the myriad state and local idling regulations. The latest update to the Idling Regulations Compendium includes the Minneapolis truck parking ban which takes effect January 1, 2022.
ATRI Explores Electric Vehicle Taxation to Support Transportation Infrastructure
Recently released ATRI research describes a framework for electric vehicle (EV) taxation to support transportation infrastructure. Through a small tax on the electricity that is used in transportation, the report identifies an approach to efficiently connecting the growing number of U.S. electric vehicles with highway trust fund (HTF) revenue streams.

At present, electric vehicles do not contribute substantively to state and federal highway trust funds. In fact, there are numerous programs that subsidize the use of electric vehicles, thus exacerbating the infrastructure investment deficit. ATRI’s analysis quantifies this revenue loss at more than $4 billion over the next 10 years.

“This analysis demonstrates how an electricity tax can easily emulate all the key components of a fuel tax,” said Paul Enos, CEO of Nevada Trucking Association and a former member of ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee. “Moving forward with an efficient utility-based approach will help EV owners support the infrastructure that they use every day.” (Read More)
Strategies for Increasing Awareness and Adoption of New Safety Technologies for Trucks Outlined
During a presentation at ATA’s MC&E in Nashville, ATRI Senior Vice President Dan Murray discussed the work being done to advance awareness and adoption of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) by fleets and drivers. Murray described how the FMCSA-sponsored Tech-Celerate Now program is focused on elevating acceptance and understanding of the safety benefits associated with a range of ADAS and to encourage adoption of ADAS applications. (Read More)
Motor Carriers Urged to Participate in Tech-Celerate ADAS Survey
As part of the Tech-Celerate Now program, ATRI is currently soliciting carrier input on issues and opportunities that can speed up, or slow down, adoption of ADAS technologies in trucks. The Tech-Celerate Now research team is conducting the second survey of carriers and drivers to better understand how ADAS awareness and perspectives have changed since the program commenced.  Results of the survey will be released in early 2022. 

Carriers are encouraged to take the survey by visiting https://www.research.net/r/ADAS-YR1-Carrier.
Closing Keynotes for Upcoming Women in Trucking Accelerate Conference to Include Acting Administrator of the FMCSA, Meera Joshi and ATRI Senior Vice President, Dan Murray
On Tuesday, November 9th at the 2021 Women in Trucking Accelerate Conference and Expo, ATRI Senior VP Dan Murray will join FMCSA Acting Administrator Meera Joshi to provide the closing keynote address. The session will focus on the trucking industry’s top challenges and opportunities. (Read More)
Visit Us in Dallas at the WIT Accelerate Conference Nov. 7-9
If you’re at the Women in Trucking Conference and Expo in Dallas this week, stop by the ATRI and Tech-Celerate Booths #210 and #211 to visit the ATRI staff, learn about Tech-Celerate Now, and pick-up some of the latest ATRI research. We look forward to seeing you there!
While ATRI celebrates its 20th year of providing critical research to address trucking's top issues, consider this…

So far this year ATRI has released impactful research on multiple top trucking issues including its comprehensive analysis of a national Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax, the Annual Top Truck Bottleneck List, the results of the beta test of the ATRI Younger Driver Assessment Tool and most recently, the 2021 Critical Issues in Trucking report. If you Google any of these hot topics online, you’ll find ATRI’s name referenced in almost every single search that comes up. Now, multiply that impact by 20 years. That's 20 years that ATRI has been working tirelessly for trucking, and if you are in trucking that means that ATRI is working for YOU. If you’ve ever downloaded a FREE ATRI report from TruckingResearch.org, then you understand and appreciate the value that ATRI delivers each and every day.
 
Why not join the hundreds of individuals and organizations who have generously provided support and contributions over the last two decades to ensure ATRI’s legacy for the future? 
 

Join ATRI in Recognizing Its Newest Contributors
Quality Carriers
Keller Logistics Group
TCSI-Transland, Inc.
Deco Systems, Inc.
Amanda Schuier
Ben Banks
Covenant Logistics
U.S. Xpress
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 recognizing our newest contributors. Along with our current annual supporters, their contributions allow us to deliver on our mission each and every day.

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. 
More Coverage of ATRI's 20th Anniversary
Alabama Trucker Magazine - The Answer is in the Data
Tennessee Trucking - Qualitative Insights
Iowa Lifeliner - Up Close and Personal
Arkansas Trucking - Data Driven
Rhode Island Rhode Warrior - Two Decades of Data
ATA's Mid Year Meeting - ATRI 20th Anniversary Celebration
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.