Built specifically for the transportation industry, the Career Driver, powered by Truck Drivers USA mobile app, creates a space where drivers can showcase their experience, build their professional profile, grow their network, develop their skills, and connect with interested carriers. At the same time, carriers gain better access to driver qualifications, pre-screening insights, and candidate communication tools, helping them identify the right fit faster and with more confidence. Drivers also have access to an AI Driver Agent that works in the background to match them with CDL jobs from verified carriers, provide driver pay insights to help them better understand their market value, apply for qualifying opportunities, and even contact matched carriers to schedule conversations on the driver’s behalf at times that fit their availability.

The app will leverage the driver communities of Truck Drivers USA, ProDriverPoint, and GigDriverPoint to create a more connected ecosystem for drivers and carriers. By combining those trusted communities with Career Driver’s hiring technology, the platform creates a stronger experience for drivers and a smarter recruiting solution for carriers across the transportation industry.

“This is an exciting step forward in how we connect drivers and carriers,” said Lori Furnell, President of Truck Drivers USA. “With the Career Driver, Powered by Truck Drivers USA mobile app, we are creating a place where drivers can do more than just apply for jobs. They can build out their experience, strengthen their profile, and connect with real opportunities that match their skills. For carriers, it means better visibility into who a driver is, what they bring to the table, and whether they are the right long-term fit for the role.”

About Truck Drivers USA

Truck Drivers USA (TDUSA) is a two-sided driver recruitment platform connecting carriers with over 1.5 million drivers every month. TDUSA helps carriers hire faster with targeted advertising, email, SMS, and social campaigns that put open positions in front of the right drivers at the right time, delivering a steady flow of prequalified driver leads. At the same time, TDUSA helps drivers discover and apply to high-quality opportunities across the country. TDUSA makes connecting drivers and carriers fast, effective, and hassle-free.

For more information about Truck Drivers USA, visit https://truckdriversus.com/.

About Career Driver

Career Driver is an all-in-one hire engine built for the transportation industry. It delivers pre-qualified leads for all driver types and consolidates hiring workflows into one simple dashboard. From lead intake to seated driver, Career Driver eliminates manual work, improves recruiter efficiency, and helps transportation companies fill seats faster, whether they’re hiring CDL, passenger, or specialized drivers.

For more information about Career Driver, visit https://hiredriversnow.careerdriver.com/.

Last Updated: July 28, 2026

The post Career Driver Launches Mobile App, Powered by Truck Drivers USA, to Bring Drivers and Carriers Together in One Connected Hiring Ecosystem appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Released on July 15, the annual report found that the average cost to operate a truck increased to $2.336 per mile, up 3.4 percent from the previous year. While freight rates have shown signs of improving in 2026, many carriers responded to higher operating costs by reducing fleet size and leaving equipment idle to control expenses.

Repair, Maintenance, and Other Operating Costs Continued to Climb

ATRI found that operating costs increased across most expense categories during 2025, with several seeing significantly larger increases than the overall inflation rate.

The largest year-over-year increases included:

• Tolls increased 13.2 percent.
• Repair and maintenance costs increased 8.6 percent.
• Driver benefits increased 6.6 percent.
• Tire costs increased 6.4 percent.

Fuel costs remained relatively unchanged at approximately 48 cents per mile, while industry-wide driver pay increased 2.5 percent, making them the only major cost categories that grew more slowly than inflation.

Carriers Reduced Capacity to Offset Higher Expenses

As operating costs continued to rise, many fleets adjusted their operations to help manage expenses.

According to the report, carriers reduced average truck counts by 2.4 percent during 2025 and kept approximately 10 percent of their equipment idle rather than placing additional trucks into service. The findings suggest many fleets focused on controlling costs while waiting for freight demand and pricing to improve.

Although the increase in average operating costs amounted to about 8 cents per mile compared to 2024, the report notes that the overall cost reached the highest level recorded since ATRI began tracking the data.

Regional Operating Costs Varied Across the Country

The report also highlighted significant regional differences in trucking costs.

The Northeast remained the most expensive region to operate, recording the highest costs for driver wages and benefits, insurance, and tolls. The West ranked second, driven largely by higher fuel prices and truck and trailer expenses.

The Midwest was the only region to report declines in both fuel and wage costs from 2024 to 2025. Combined truck and trailer expenses also saw the smallest increase among all U.S. regions.

Freight Market Shows Signs of Improvement

Despite ongoing freight market challenges during much of 2025, ATRI found modest improvements in carrier profitability.

Less-than-truckload carriers reported operating margins of 11.6 percent, remaining essentially unchanged from the previous year. Truckload carriers improved from a 2.3 percent operating loss in 2024 to a 0.4 percent operating margin in 2025.

ATRI noted that freight rates have begun improving in 2026, but rising operating expenses continue to pressure fleet profitability.

Commenting on the report, PGT Trucking Chief Operating Officer Chad Marsilio said improving freight rates are encouraging, but fleets will still need to maintain disciplined cost management as operating expenses continue to increase.

The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.

Last Updated: July 28, 2026

Source: Trucking Dive

The post ATRI Report Shows Trucking Costs Reached Record High in 2025 appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) says the increase is necessary to cover rising maintenance and operations costs and to fund ongoing construction improvements at the Blue Water Bridge plaza.

This latest $1 per axle hike is the second phase of a staggered increase that began in 2024. “Following what MDOT said was an overwhelming response from a public survey, the bridge’s administration implemented the first $1 rate increase on Dec. 1, 2024, with this next $1 increase beginning this Dec. 1,” the department stated. Prior to this, toll rates had remained unchanged for 14 years.

The Blue Water Bridge spans the St. Clair River, connecting Michigan with Ontario, Canada, and serves as a key route for commercial freight traffic in the region. Truckers should factor this toll adjustment into route planning and shipping budgets as the holiday season approaches.

Discounts continue to be available for commuter EDGE Pass holders. This program offers benefits for both commercial and commuter vehicles. For more details, visit www.BlueWaterBridge.us.

Source: Truckers News

The post Blue Water Bridge Toll Hikes to $5.25 per Axle Starting December 1 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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