Truck drivers do not need a research report to tell them how tough the freight market has been lately. Still, the latest findings from the American Transportation Research Institute put real numbers behind what most drivers already know from experience.
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:
- Economy
- Lawsuit abuse reform
- Insurance cost and availability
- Truck parking
- Driver compensation
- CSA
- English language proficiency
- Diesel emission regulations
- Driver training standards
- 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:
- Driver compensation
- Truck parking
- English language proficiency for drivers
- Broker issues
- Detention and delays at customer facilities
- AI in trucking
- Driver training standards
- Autonomous trucks
- ELD mandate
- Diesel emission regulations
Motor Carrier Top Concerns for 2025:
- Economy
- Lawsuit abuse reform
- Insurance cost and availability
- CSA
- Driver shortage
- Driver retention
- Driver distraction
- Diesel emission regulations
- Truck parking
- 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
