MENU
SEARCHThe American Transportation Research Institute is asking motor carriers to participate in research on rising insurance costs and strategies for managing risk.
ATRI is asking motor carriers to submit data on their insurance coverage and information on their use of safety technology and alternative insurance arrangements.
HDT Graphic
The American Transportation Research Institute is asking motor carriers to participate in research on rising insurance costs and strategies for managing risk.
Trucking auto liability premiums rose by 36% per mile in the past eight years amid persistent unprofitability for insurers, even as truck crashes declined over the past four years, according to ATRI.
In 2025, insurance cost/availability and lawsuit abuse, a primary contributor to rising insurance costs, were voted as the third- and second-greatest issues facing the trucking industry, respectively.
In response to this financial pressure, fleets are reevaluating their total cost of risk by pursuing a variety of new technologies, training protocols, and insurance schemes, such as self-insurance or captives.
Prior ATRI research detailed how fleets reduced coverage and raised deductibles from 2018 to 2020 in search of savings, self-incentivizing safety improvements but still experiencing higher premiums. Expanding on this research is a top priority for the research arm of the American Trucking Associations.
Motor carriers are requested to submit data on their coverage stacks for the years 2021 through 2024, in addition to information on their use of safety technology and alternative insurance arrangements.
All data is kept completely confidential for analysis in aggregate form only, and ATRI will sign non-disclosure agreements as desired.
“The total cost of risk is growing annually for every fleet, regardless of size,” said Josh Hankins, J.B. Hunt senior VP of Safety & Security, in a news release.
“While many carriers are cutting back on insurance coverage to control expenses, premiums keep climbing — and reducing coverage only heightens exposure to catastrophic litigation. Today, trucking faces a perfect insurance storm.”
All participating carriers will receive a customized report that compares their fleet’s cost of risk to an anonymized peer group. Motor carriers can complete the survey at https://www.research.net/r/MC-Insurance-Survey
The deadline is Friday, December 19.
Winter roadway “pileups” aren’t one crash — they’re a chain reaction. Here’s what triggers them, how truck drivers can spot the danger early, and what to do if you're suddenly trapped in the mess.
Read More →
The long-awaited registration system promises a single portal — and tighter fraud controls.
Read More →
Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.
Read More →
Detroit’s next-generation ABA6 safety system adds cross-traffic detection and enhanced side guard assist with left-turn protection, targeting high-risk urban scenarios.
Read More →
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
Read More →
New requirements add firm deadlines and independent review steps, addressing long-standing complaints about inconsistent rulings and slow response times.
Read More →
Five states still aren't ready to accept commercial driver medical exam information directly from the medical examiner's registry.
Read More →
Heavy Duty Trucking's Top 20 Products awards recognize the best new products and technologies. Check out the award presentations at the 2026 Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting.
Read More →
The Detroit® Gen 6 engine platform proves that real progress doesn’t require a complete redesign. Built on 20 years of trusted technology, these engines are designed for efficiency, stronger performance, and greater reliability than before. And they do it all while complying with 2027 EPA standards on every mile.
Read More →
Aperia Technologies introduced a new automatic tire inflation system for steer axles and a partnership with Fontaine Fifth Wheel to integrate coupling status into its Halo Connect platform.
Read More →
