Every fall, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) asks the trucking industry what worries it most. This year about 3,100 carriers, drivers and others answered. The results came out Oct. 18 at the ATA conference in Charlotte. I was there for the conference.
I run a family business, and I have spent my career as a CPA and insurance broker looking at the numbers behind other people's businesses. So here is how I read this list: not just what is on it, but which items an owner can actually do something about.
Source: ATRI 2026 Top Industry Issues
Fuel jumped from #18 to #1, which will not surprise anyone running trucks this year. The economy fell to #6 after three years at the top. And the driver shortage is back in the top 10 at #5.
You cannot set the price of diesel. But when costs you cannot control go up, the ones you can control matter more. Three items on this list are in that group.
"You can't control the price of diesel. You can control how well you know your own numbers. That's where every good decision starts."
Stephen Davis, CPA, President and CEO, SE Davis & Associates
For most fleets, workers' comp is a big part of the insurance bill. It is priced on your payroll, your job codes and your claims history, and small mistakes add up: a driver in the wrong job code, an open claim that could be closed, a payroll estimate that turns into a bill at audit. Look at each piece, not just the total. Our renewal checklist walks through the 7 things to check.
Hiring a driver costs a lot more than keeping one. Ask your drivers what matters most to them. The answer is not always more cents per mile. Often it is being paid on time, being treated fairly and having benefits that cover their family.
When you look at what a driver really costs you, count payroll taxes, workers' comp and benefits, not just the paycheck. That full number is where most of the room is.
One more thing worth saying: a strong safety record helps with two other items on the list, lawsuits (#2) and CSA (#3), and it shows up in your insurance price too.
This is the work we do every day for trucking companies. We look at your workers' comp, payroll and benefits, get options from PEOs that work with trucking, and show them to you side by side in plain words. The review costs you nothing, because the PEO you choose pays us. If a change does not make sense, we will tell you.
The list will change next year. What will not change is that the owners who come out ahead know their numbers and plan early. If you want a second set of eyes on yours, I am glad to help.
Start With a No-Cost Review of Your Current Setup or call (865) 876-7928.
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Stephen Davis is President and CEO of SE Davis & Associates. He is a licensed CPA and insurance broker.