ATRI Opens 2026 Survey on Truck Parking, Pay and Industry Priorities

Truck drivers, motor carriers and other industry stakeholders can now rank the issues they believe should receive the most attention in 2026. Heavy Duty Trucking reported August 24 that the American Transportation Research Institute opened its annual Top Industry Issues Survey. The 22-year research series compares priorities across the industry and separately examines the views of professional drivers and motor carriers.

The survey arrives as trucking moves through an uneven, capacity-driven recovery. Participants can weigh concerns including the economy, truck parking, driver compensation, detention, insurance, infrastructure, safety programs, driver training, English-language proficiency, emissions policy and artificial intelligence. ATRI asks respondents not only to identify important issues but also to rank proposed strategies for addressing them.

Last year's combined list placed the economy first, followed by lawsuit-abuse reform, insurance cost and availability, truck parking and driver compensation. CSA, English-language proficiency, diesel-emissions regulations, driver-training standards and artificial intelligence completed the top 10. The order can change when driver and carrier responses are separated, which helps explain where operational priorities align and where they diverge.

Responses remain open through October 2, and ATRI plans to release the results October 18 during the American Trucking Associations' Management Conference and Exhibition in Charlotte. The survey is a research and advocacy tool, not a vote that changes FMCSA regulations or state CDL requirements. Drivers who participate can describe real conditions such as unsafe parking searches, unpaid detention, training quality and compensation pressure. Fleets can contribute data-informed priorities involving operating costs, compliance and infrastructure. Broad participation gives policymakers and industry organizations a clearer picture of problems that affect safety, retention and freight performance.