The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research institute, has unveiled its list of the Top 10 critical issues facing U.S. truckers.

The driver shortage and diesel fuel issues top the list in ATRI’s survey of more than 4,000 trucking industry executives. The complete results were released in Dallas at the 2006 Management Conference and Exhibition of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the nation’s largest gathering of motor carrier executives. ATRI also solicited and tabulated strategies for addressing each issue.
Aside from driver shortage and diesel fuel, other Top 10 issues include:

• driver retention
• hours of service
• congestion
• government regulations
• highway infrastructure
• tort reform
• tolls/highway funding
• environmental issues

The ATA-commissioned survey results and proposed strategies will be utilized by the ATA to better focus its advocacy role on behalf of the U.S. trucking industry and ATA Federation stakeholders.
“I have long advocated for the industry to better prepare itself to deal with change,” said ATA Chairman Pat Quinn (US Xpress, Chattanooga, Tenn.), “and one way to do so is to better anticipate the challenges ahead. The ATRI survey results are invaluable in telling us what is important to motor carriers and which strategies ATA should pursue on their behalf.”
“On every legislative and regulatory topic, issues come and go so quickly today,” said Doug Duncan (FedEx Freight, Memphis, Tenn.), ATRI chairman. “If we’re not at the table with sound, science-based information and a common sense plan of action, then we’re going to get left behind and saddled with solutions that have no bearing on moving America’s freight safely and efficiently.”
ATRI is the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system. A copy of the survey results is available from ATRI at www.atri-online.og.