ATRI Seeks Driver Input on Costs and Benefits of HOS and ELD Rules

ATRI is seeking truck driver input on the safety benefits and compliance costs of hours-of-service rules and the ELD mandate through October 16.

Truck drivers are being asked to weigh in on the real-world impact of hours-of-service rules and the electronic logging device mandate as part of a new research project from the American Transportation Research Institute.

ATRI launched the research on September 16 with the goal of developing a framework that can measure both the costs and benefits associated with trucking regulations. The first phase will focus specifically on HOS and ELD requirements, giving drivers, motor carriers and law enforcement an opportunity to share their experiences through a new industry survey.

Survey Takes a Closer Look at HOS and ELD Requirements

Rather than asking participants to evaluate the regulations as a whole, the survey breaks them into individual components.

Respondents will evaluate the overall HOS rules, the ELD mandate and nine specific provisions within the two regulations. Each will be considered in terms of its perceived safety benefits and the cost of complying with it.

Participants can also recommend changes they believe could improve safety benefits or reduce compliance costs, giving ATRI additional information about where existing requirements may have room for improvement.

Research Could Extend Beyond HOS and ELD Rules

The project grew out of a broader research priority identified by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee earlier this year.

In April, ATRI announced plans to develop a framework for evaluating trucking regulations based on their benefits and costs. The organization identified the project as one of its research priorities for 2026.

HOS and ELD requirements will serve as the first test of that approach, but the framework is being designed for wider use. Future research could apply the same methodology to regulations involving trucking safety, workforce issues and environmental requirements.

Drivers Have Until October 16 to Participate

ATRI is accepting responses from truck drivers, motor carriers and law enforcement through October 16, 2026. Individual responses will remain confidential, with findings presented only in aggregated and anonymized form.

Drivers who want to provide feedback can complete ATRI’s HOS and ELD survey here.

The responses will help ATRI build a method for comparing the intended benefits of trucking regulations with the costs associated with complying with them, beginning with two requirements that directly affect day-to-day operations across the industry.