According to ATRI’s 2025 report, the freight recession that started nearly three years ago is still weighing heavily on the industry. More than 4,200 people took part in the survey, including over 1,000 drivers and carriers who said the economy is the biggest issue affecting their work.

“Now three years into a historic freight recession, freight rates and tonnage have remained stagnant across the trucking industry at the same time that per-mile costs increased considerably faster than inflation, a perfect storm that is squeezing fleet operating margins and necessitating extensive cost-cutting measures,” ATRI wrote in its report. “Total trucking employment and driver employment specifically continued to fall year over year amid layoffs, market exits, and bankruptcies. Unfortunately, the challenging economic conditions keep these freight capacity reductions from translating into improved rates.”

For the third year in a row, the economy was ranked as the top concern across the industry. It has become clear that drivers and carriers alike are struggling to stay profitable while operating costs keep climbing.

Rising Costs and Fewer Loads

Drivers on the road every day have seen it firsthand. Freight has been slow, spot market rates have dipped, and steady runs are harder to come by. The cost of fuel, insurance, and maintenance has not backed down either, which means many fleets are doing more with less. Some have even shut down or cut routes to stay afloat.

ATRI’s data mirrors what truckers have been talking about for months. After years of higher pay and strong freight demand, the market has cooled to the point that even large carriers are tightening their budgets.

What Truckers Are Most Concerned About

The survey showed that concerns stretch far beyond just rates and loads. Lawsuit abuse reform and insurance costs jumped ahead of other issues this year, showing how expensive it has become to operate a truck safely and legally. Truck parking, which ranked second in 2024, fell to fourth on the 2025 list.

Here are ATRI’s overall top 10 issues for 2025:

1. Economy
2. Lawsuit abuse reform
3. Insurance cost and availability
4. Truck parking
5. Driver compensation
6. CSA
7. English language proficiency
8. Diesel emission regulations
9. Driver training standards
10. AI in trucking

About 46 percent of survey respondents were from motor carriers, 30 percent were truck drivers, and the rest were other freight stakeholders.

Drivers and Carriers See the Market Differently

While everyone agrees that money is the biggest concern, the way each group views the challenges is slightly different. Drivers placed compensation as their top issue, while motor carriers focused on the economy as a whole. Both groups pointed to new technology, regulations, and detention delays as growing frustrations.

2025 Top Concerns for Truck Drivers:

1. Driver compensation
2. Truck parking
3. English language proficiency for drivers
4. Broker issues
5. Detention and delays at customer facilities
6. AI in trucking
7. Driver training standards
8. Autonomous trucks
9. ELD mandate
10. Diesel emission regulations

Motor Carrier Top Concerns for 2025:

1. Economy
2. Lawsuit abuse reform
3. Insurance cost and availability
4. CSA
5. Driver shortage
6. Driver retention
7. Driver distraction
8. Diesel emission regulations
9. Truck parking
10. Broker issues

Life on the Road Reflects the Data

The report may come from spreadsheets and survey responses, but the story it tells is one every driver already lives. When freight slows down, everyone feels it. For drivers who are paid by the mile, every empty trailer and canceled load adds stress. For carriers, keeping trucks running and drivers paid without solid freight rates is a constant balancing act.

Until freight demand rebounds, the numbers from ATRI will likely stay the same. For now, truckers continue to grind through one of the toughest markets in recent memory, hoping the road ahead brings better rates and more stability for everyone behind the wheel.

Source: Land Line Media

The post Truckers Feel the Pinch as Freight Recession Continues, ATRI Survey Shows appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Shape the Future of Trucking with Your Input  

“With the industry cost data that comes from ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking report, our fleet is able to apply the operational metrics to better manage our expenses,” said Dr. Robert Howard, Dohrn Transfer Company president, COO. “This information will help every carrier benchmark their financials and prepare them for contract negotiations. Equally valuable are the customized insights into how our costs and performance measure up to our peers in this challenging freight market.” 

The Importance of ATRI’s Benchmark Tool  

Recognized as the leading public resource for trucking cost benchmarking, ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking report aggregates confidential data from carriers of all sizes, regions, and specialties. Whether it’s a single-truck owner-operator or a fleet of 10,000+ vehicles, participants contribute valuable information that tracks cost trends and helps companies maximize profitability and efficiency. 

The data points gathered include key operational cost metrics like driver wages, insurance expenses, and equipment financing or purchasing costs. Insights into operational performance indicators, such as non-revenue mileage, average dwell times per stop, and miles driven between vehicle breakdowns, are also included.  

How to Participate  

Data for the 2024 calendar year can be submitted confidentially via ATRI’s online form or through an emailed PDF form. A simplified version for owner-operators has also been introduced, making this process accessible for smaller trucking operations. 

Motor carriers who contribute will gain access to a customized report comparing their fleet’s costs and performance against anonymized data from similarly sized companies in their sector. Additionally, participants receive an early release of the full report. 

To add your input, submit the requested information no later than Friday, April 25. The data collection form, a sample customized report, and an FAQ resource are available online here. ATRI emphasizes that all contributions will remain confidential and will only be published in an aggregated, anonymized format. 

Source: The Trucker  

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ATRI’s 2025 Top Truck Bottleneck List leverages massive amounts of GPS data from commercial trucks to assess congestion levels at over 325 critical points across the national highway system. Using advanced software and data analytics, ATRI compiles detailed rankings that highlight the most problematic spots for truck-involved traffic.

The Slowdown Continues

A review of 2024 data revealed that traffic conditions at many truck bottlenecks are worsening. Infrastructure upgrades intended to expand roadway capacity contributed to the stagnation, as construction areas caused temporary slowdowns. On average, rush-hour truck speeds at Fort Lee dropped to 34.2 MPH, a 3% reduction compared to the year before. Across the top ten bottlenecks, rush-hour truck speeds averaged just 29.7 MPH.

“Delays inflicted on truckers by congestion are the equivalent of 436,000 drivers sitting idle for an entire year,” observed ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster.

Aside from wasted time, traffic congestion bears a heavy environmental and financial burden. Trucks stuck in gridlock burned an estimated 6.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel, generating over 65 million metric tons of unnecessary carbon emissions.

Infrastructure Investment: A Double-Edged Sword

While construction has added to current congestion woes, the upgrades are essential to long-term improvements. “Illinois was once home to the top bottleneck in the country, but following a sustained effort to expand capacity, the Jane Byrne Interchange in Chicago no longer ranks in the top 10,” noted Brewster.

The $800 million reconstruction of the Jane Byrne Interchange offers a success story for how investments in infrastructure can deliver measurable results. Truck speeds during rush hours improved nearly 25% post-construction. Before the updates, vehicle speeds during daytime hours ranged from 12 to 37 MPH. By addressing chokepoints strategically, such projects can dramatically reduce congestion, cut emissions, and boost economic growth.

Notably, Chicago’s I-290 at I-90/I-94, once the nation’s worst bottleneck, has now fallen to 15th place on the list, sliding two spots from last year.

Bottleneck Challenges Impact Everyone

The release of ATRI’s analysis coincides with government efforts to reauthorize the federal highway bill. According to Chris Spear, President and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, this research provides a clear “road map” for addressing America’s most severe traffic bottlenecks.

“These bottlenecks not only choke our supply chains, adding $109 billion annually to the cost of transporting everyday goods that Americans rely on, but they also impact the quality of life for all motorists,” Spear said. “Targeted investments to reduce this traffic congestion are exactly the kinds of projects, with a measurable return on investment, that taxpayers come to expect of their elected officials.”

Wasteful Gridlock by the Numbers

Traffic-related delays result in massive losses beyond time and money, increasing environmental pollution while straining logistics networks. ATRI’s findings demonstrate how systematic strategies can address these inefficiencies, offering benefits for industries, individuals, and the planet.

The Remaining Top 10 Bottlenecks for Freight Traffic

While New Jersey holds the unenviable title of worst freight bottleneck, other major cities also find themselves grappling with extreme congestion. Here’s the rest of ATRI’s Top 10 list for 2025:

• 2. Chicago: I-294 at I-290/I-88

• 3. Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59

• 4. Atlanta: I-285 at I-85 (North)

• 5. Nashville: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)

• 6. Atlanta: I-75 at I-285 (North)

• 7. Los Angeles: SR 60 at SR 57

• 8. Cincinnati: I-71 at I-75

• 9. Houston: I-10 at I-45

• 10. Atlanta: I-20 at I-285 (West)

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

The post ATRI Ranks the Worst Freight Bottlenecks of the Year – Here’s Where Truckers Are Slowing Down appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.