Diesel Prices Top Trucking Concerns

On October 18, 2026, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released its annual Top Industry Issues report.

Nearly 3,100 people from the trucking industry participated in the survey, including truck drivers, carriers, and other industry professionals.

For 2026, fuel prices became the industry's number one concern. Rising diesel costs have placed significant financial pressure on trucking companies, especially small fleets and owner-operators.

The economy, which held the top position for three consecutive years, dropped to sixth place.

!What This Means for CDL Drivers

According to the survey, CDL drivers identified three major concerns:

1. High diesel fuel prices. 2. Lack of truck parking. 3. Driver compensation.

Trucking companies ranked lawsuit abuse reform, fuel prices, and driver shortage as their biggest concerns.

The report shows that drivers and trucking companies face different challenges, but rising fuel costs affect both groups.