Not surprisingly, the cost of fuel and the nation's economy top the American Transportation Research Institute's annual survey of the top 10 critical issues facing U.S. truckers.


The results of the survey of more than 5,000 trucking industry executives were released in New Orleans at the 2008 Management Conference and Exhibition of the American Trucking Associations. ATRI also solicited and tabulated strategies for addressing each issue.

Aside from fuel costs and the economy, other "Top Ten" issues include driver shortage and retention, government regulation, commercial driver hours-of-service, congestion and tolls and highway funding, among others.

The ATA-commissioned survey results and proposed strategies will be used by the ATA to better focus its advocacy role on behalf of the U.S. trucking industry and ATA Federation stakeholders.

"The annual ATRI survey proves invaluable in helping us chart a course of action for the future," said incoming ATA Chairman Charles "Shorty" Whittington (Grammer Industries, Grammer, Ind.) "and as ATA chairman I will work to see that the industry-identified strategies are implemented."

ATRI is ATA's 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research arm. A copy of the survey results is available from ATRI at www.atri-online.org.