Diesel Prices Hijack Trucking’s Worry List

ATRI’s annual survey finds cautious optimism about freight, but diesel costs, litigation, and insurance continue to squeeze fleets. Drivers have different priorities on several issues.

The economy has slipped from the top of trucking’s worry list, but the issue taking its place offers little relief for fleet budgets: fuel prices.

Diesel costs jumped 17 spots to become the trucking industry’s No. 1 concern in the American Transportation Research Institute’s 2026 Top Industry Issues survey. The economy, which held the top spot for three years, dropped to sixth.

The shift suggests some cautious optimism about the freight market. But with fuel costs climbing on top of already record-high non-fuel operating expenses, fleets still face plenty of pressure.

This story was originally published by TruckingInfo (HDT). Read the full story at TruckingInfo (HDT) →