Each year, as autumn approaches, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) opens the door for thousands of voices to shape the national conversation in trucking. The ATRI Top Industry Issues Survey is more than just an annual poll—it’s an industry-wide pulse check, a chance for drivers, fleet managers, executives, and allied professionals to weigh in on the challenges and opportunities that define the road ahead. With the 2025 survey now open until October 10 and results set for release at the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) annual conference, anticipation is building across the sector.
This year’s survey comes at a pivotal moment. The trucking industry is navigating a landscape marked by cautious optimism, persistent disruption, and rapid technological change. The questions posed—and the answers gathered—will help set the agenda for advocacy, research, and policy action in the year to come. In this deep-dive preview, we’ll explore the history and impact of the ATRI survey, the top issues likely to dominate this year’s results, and why every stakeholder’s participation matters more than ever.
The ATRI Survey: Why It Matters
For nearly two decades, the ATRI Top Industry Issues Survey has served as the trucking industry’s barometer. Unlike many academic or government studies, this survey is built from the ground up, relying on direct input from those who live and breathe freight every day. Drivers, owner-operators, safety professionals, fleet executives, trainers, and industry suppliers all have an equal voice.
The survey’s importance is twofold. First, it captures the real-world concerns and priorities of people on the front lines—far beyond what headlines or press releases might suggest. Second, it provides a clear, data-driven roadmap for industry leaders and policymakers. When ATRI releases the annual Top Ten list, it becomes a focal point for discussion at the ATA conference and a reference for legislative and regulatory efforts in the months that follow.
In a sector as diverse and decentralized as trucking, consensus is rare. The ATRI survey is one of the few mechanisms that brings the industry together, highlighting both shared anxieties and emerging opportunities.
How the Survey Works
The ATRI survey is open to anyone with a stake in trucking—drivers, dispatchers, fleet managers, executives, suppliers, and even researchers. Participation is anonymous, and the process is refreshingly straightforward. Respondents are asked to rank a list of pressing industry issues in order of importance and, crucially, to offer their own insights about what’s missing or what solutions they’d propose.
The list of issues is curated each year based on previous surveys, industry trends, and emerging events. It typically includes perennial challenges like driver shortages, insurance costs, and regulatory burdens, as well as newer topics such as zero-emission mandates, cybersecurity threats, and the impact of AI and automation.
Once the survey closes on October 10, ATRI’s research team analyzes the data, identifies trends, and prepares a comprehensive report. The findings are unveiled at the ATA’s Management Conference & Exhibition, one of the largest gatherings of trucking professionals in North America. The resulting Top Ten Issues list becomes a touchstone for fleet strategies, industry advocacy, and media coverage throughout the following year.
The Context: Why 2025 Is a Turning Point
The 2025 edition of the ATRI survey lands at a unique moment in trucking history. After the turbulence of pandemic-era booms and busts, the industry is settling into a period of moderate growth and persistent complexity. Freight volumes are rising, but not at the breakneck pace of recent years. At the same time, fleets face an evolving regulatory landscape, ongoing labor shortages, and supply chain volatility that refuses to fade.
Technology is both a source of hope and anxiety. Electric trucks, AI-driven dispatch, and advanced telematics promise new efficiencies, but they also bring fresh challenges in cost, training, and integration. Meanwhile, new entrants, from tech startups to global logistics giants, are reshaping the competitive landscape.
Against this backdrop, the ATRI survey gives the industry a structured way to voice its priorities, frustrations, and hopes for the future. The issues that rise to the top will not only reflect the current mood but will also help chart the course for research, investment, and policy in the coming year.
What Issues Are Likely to Dominate in 2025?
While the final results won’t be known until the ATA conference, several themes are already emerging as likely contenders for the top spots on ATRI’s list.
Driver shortage and retention almost always top the rankings. Despite wage increases and recruitment campaigns, the industry continues to struggle with attracting new talent and keeping experienced drivers behind the wheel. An aging workforce, lifestyle demands, and competition from other sectors all play a role.
Regulation and compliance remain ever-present concerns. Fleets are grappling with new emissions standards, changing hours-of-service rules, and evolving requirements around driver classification and independent contractors. The push for zero-emission vehicles and stricter environmental policies is especially acute in states like California, but the ripple effects are national.
Insurance costs and litigation risk have become more prominent in recent years. Nuclear verdicts and rising premiums are squeezing margins, particularly for small and midsize carriers. Many in the industry worry that the current environment could threaten the viability of family-owned fleets.
Supply chain disruptions, while less severe than during the height of the pandemic, continue to create headaches. Delays at ports, equipment shortages, and unpredictable demand swings make planning difficult and add costs.
Technology adoption is both an opportunity and a challenge. Fleets are investing in digital freight platforms, telematics, and AI-powered tools, but integrating these systems and training staff remains a significant hurdle. Concerns about cybersecurity and data privacy are also on the rise.
Workforce development and training will likely be a growing focus, as fleets look to upskill drivers, technicians, and back-office staff for a more digital, automated future.
Finally, economic uncertainty and cost pressures are a constant backdrop. High interest rates, inflation, and global instability all weigh on fleet owners’ minds as they plan for the year ahead.
Why Participation Matters
One of the most powerful aspects of the ATRI survey is its inclusivity. Every corner of the industry is invited to participate, from long-haul drivers to C-suite executives. The survey’s open format means that unique perspectives—regional differences, modal specialties, or niche concerns—can all be captured and considered.
For individuals, this is a rare opportunity to shape the conversation at the highest levels. For companies, it’s a chance to benchmark their concerns against the broader industry and ensure their voices are heard in policy debates. For the industry as a whole, robust participation lends legitimacy to the findings and strengthens advocacy efforts with lawmakers and regulators.
It’s not just about identifying problems, either. The survey invites respondents to propose solutions, share best practices, and highlight innovations that are making a difference in their operations. This spirit of collaboration and problem-solving is essential as the industry faces challenges that no single company or association can solve alone.
How ATRI Uses the Results
Once the survey closes and the data is analyzed, ATRI publishes a detailed report that goes far beyond a simple ranking. The report breaks down responses by stakeholder group, region, and fleet size, offering nuanced insight into how different segments of the industry experience and prioritize issues.
The findings are presented at the ATA conference, where they spark lively debate and inform the association’s advocacy agenda for the coming year. Policymakers, regulators, and the media rely on the ATRI Top Ten list as a credible snapshot of industry sentiment. Research institutions and think tanks use the data to guide further study and innovation.
Over the years, the survey has helped elevate issues such as detention time, infrastructure investment, and truck parking from background gripes to policy priorities. It has also highlighted the growing importance of technology, workforce development, and environmental sustainability.
Looking Back: Past Issues and Progress
A brief look at previous ATRI surveys shows both the persistence of certain challenges and the industry’s ability to adapt. Driver shortage, regulation, and insurance costs have been perennial concerns, but the way the industry addresses them has evolved.
For example, the rise of driver-assist technology, flexible scheduling, and targeted recruitment has helped some fleets reduce turnover and attract new talent. Regulatory advocacy has resulted in changes to hours-of-service rules and the rollout of new safety initiatives. Industry-led efforts on parking, infrastructure, and training have gained traction with policymakers.
At the same time, new challenges have emerged. Cybersecurity was barely on the radar a decade ago, but today it’s a top concern as fleets digitize operations and face new threats. The shift toward sustainability and zero-emission vehicles has moved from a niche topic to a central issue, shaping investment and strategy across the sector.
The Road Ahead: What Will 2025’s Results Mean?
The release of the 2025 ATRI Top Industry Issues at the ATA conference will be more than a ceremonial moment. The findings will set the tone for industry advocacy, research funding, and strategic planning in the year ahead. They will influence how policymakers approach trucking, how companies invest in technology and talent, and how the public perceives the challenges and contributions of the sector.
For individual professionals, the results can offer validation, direction, and a sense of shared purpose. For companies, they provide benchmarks for internal planning and a basis for engaging with partners, customers, and regulators.
Perhaps most importantly, the survey’s collaborative spirit reminds the industry that, while challenges are many and complex, solutions are best found together. By participating, every stakeholder helps shape a more resilient, innovative, and responsive trucking sector.
How to Participate
For those interested in having their voice heard, the process is simple. The ATRI Top Industry Issues Survey is available online and open to all industry participants until October 10. Completing the survey takes only a few minutes, but the impact can last all year. The more diverse the input, the more robust and representative the results will be.
Conclusion
As the trucking industry stands at the threshold of 2025, the ATRI Top Industry Issues Survey offers a unique chance for every voice to count. The challenges are real and evolving, but so too is the industry’s capacity for adaptation and innovation. By participating in the survey and engaging with the findings, trucking professionals can help steer the sector toward a future that is safer, more sustainable, and more successful for all.
The countdown to October 10 is on. Now is the time to weigh in, be heard, and help shape the agenda for the year ahead.
