Fuel prices vault 17 spots to No. 1 on ATRI's 2026 Top Industry Issues list

Fuel prices vaulted 17 spots to become the trucking industry's top concern in the American Transportation Research Institute's annual ranking of industry issues, according to Transport Topics on Oct. 18. ATRI released its 22nd annual Top Industry Issues report Oct. 18 during the American Trucking Associations' 2026 Management Conference & Exhibition in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nearly 3,100 trucking industry stakeholders took part in the survey. The report identified fuel as the leading contributor to inflation, which rose 3.4% year over year in August and prompted the Federal Reserve to raise rates for the first time in three years, and said those costs are passed on to consumers through higher prices for goods and higher borrowing costs. The Energy Information Administration cautioned that even if hostilities ceased and tanker traffic normalized in the near term, diesel prices would not return to 2025 levels until at least 2028.

"Just as we started to see some positive signs in the freight economy, the cost of diesel topped $6.50 per gallon," said Ben Banks, president of TCW. "With operating costs continuing to climb overall, this spike in fuel costs is particularly painful for small- to midsize fleets."

Behind fuel prices, lawsuit abuse reform held at No. 2, the Compliance, Safety, Accountability program rose three spots to No. 3, and insurance cost and availability slipped one spot to No. 4. The driver shortage returned to the top 10 for the first time since 2024, at No. 5. After ranking as trucking's top issue for three consecutive years, the economy fell five spots to No. 6, reflecting cautious optimism among motor carriers. Artificial intelligence in trucking climbed three spots to No. 7, diesel emissions regulations remained at No. 8, and driver compensation and driver retention rounded out the list at No. 9 and No. 10.

The rankings split by who answered. More than 48% of respondents were motor carrier executives and personnel, truck drivers accounted for 26%, and other freight stakeholders made up the remaining 26%. Among truck driver respondents, including owner-operators and company drivers, fuel prices, truck parking and driver compensation were the top three concerns. Motor carrier respondents ranked lawsuit abuse reform, fuel prices and the driver shortage as their top three.