By Kevin Smith
What Drivers Have Focused on Most
For seven years, two issues have dominated truck drivers’ concerns: how much they earn and where they can park at the end of the day. Since 2019, these topics have held the top two spots in the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual Critical Issues in Trucking survey. The newest survey, shared at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference and Exhibition, again places pay first and parking second.
How Priorities Have Shifted Over Time
In 2016, electronic logging devices (ELDs) were the top issue, with parking in third place. In 2017, ELDs stayed at number one, and parking climbed to second. In 2018, hours-of-service rules ranked first, while parking once again held second. Driver pay did not appear in the top 10 in any of those years.
Parking’s Long-Running Influence
Parking has remained a major concern across the whole industry. In ATRI’s combined rankings of carriers, drivers, and other groups, parking stayed in the top five for almost every year from 2016 to 2025. Driver pay did not enter the overall top 10 until 2019 but has stayed there since. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, pay was the third-highest concern behind the driver shortage and driver retention.
Regulatory Issues Stay Prominent
Truckers consistently rank regulations among their biggest frustrations. ELDs have appeared every year since 2016, though their importance has declined. Hours-of-service rules appeared seven times in the past decade but dropped off the list after 2022. Speed limiters triggered debate but made the top 10 only four times. The federal Compliance, Safety, Accountability system also appeared several times, reflecting concerns over data accuracy and safety ratings.
Delays and Infrastructure Problems
Issues that cut into drivers’ time—and income—have remained common across surveys. Detention at loading docks is a major complaint because long waits reduce driving hours. Congestion and poor infrastructure also cost the industry significant time and money, including an estimated $109 billion and 6.4 billion gallons of wasted fuel each year.
Training and Technology Concerns
Drivers continue to express worry about the quality of training new drivers receive. Training standards have been on the list for seven years in a row. At the same time, autonomous trucks have become a more realistic part of the industry, raising concerns about job security, especially as many experienced drivers near retirement.
Other Shifting Issues
The economy appeared in five of the past ten years but did not make this year’s driver list, even though it returned as a top concern for carriers. Driver health showed up inconsistently, reflecting the challenges of maintaining wellness on the road. Fuel prices appeared only three times. Driver retention and the driver shortage rarely appear in drivers’ own lists, despite being major concerns for the broader industry.
What Drivers Did Not Mention This Year
Missing from this year’s rankings are the ongoing freight recession, rising layoffs, and a wave of company bankruptcies and sales. Even with these pressures, the survey shows drivers remain focused on pay, parking, fair regulations, and their future in a changing industry.
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