FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 5, 2025 Contact: Alex Leslie (651) 641-6162 ALeslie@trucking.org Washington, D.C. – The American Transportation Research Institute
ATRI today released new research detailing a notable demographic shift in the U.S. truck driver workforce. The research examines how broader societal and labor force trends are reshaping the industry and presents strategies for motor carriers to engage younger, more diverse, and historically underrepresented populations.
Today ATRI released the 2025 findings of its leading costs and performance benchmarking report, An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking.
The industry’s average cost of operating a truck in 2024 was $2.260 per mile, a 0.4 percent decline compared with the previous year. However, when lower fuel costs are excluded, marginal costs rose 3.6 percent to $1.779 per mile – the highest costs ever recorded by ATRI for non-fuel operating costs.
ATRI has released updated versions of its Sustainability and Idling Regulations Compendiums. The ATRI Sustainable Freight Practices Compendium first launched in 2014 to serve as a one-stop shop for information on sustainable freight practices that can be implemented by motor carriers and their drivers.
A World War 1 era tax, the Truck FET has long been an issue for buyers of new trucks. The tax currently adds an additional $20,000 to more than $50,000 to the cost of each new truck purchased, thus acting as a strong deterrent to new truck and trailer sales.
At its recent meeting in Des Moines, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) Board of Directors, led by Chair Derek Leathers of Werner Enterprises, reviewed and approved the 2025 Top Research Priorities. The research priorities were identified by ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) at its annual meeting held March 4-5 in Washington, DC.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has been engaged in critical transportation studies and operational tests since 1954. ATRI is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Sacramento.
ATRI’s primary mission is to conduct transportation research, with an emphasis on the trucking industry’s essential role in a safe, efficient and viable transportation system. ATRI’s research focus areas include: Congestion and Mobility; Economic Analysis; Safety and Security; Technology and Operations; Environment; and Transportation Infrastructure.
ATRI’s extensive experience covers a broad range of commercial vehicle operations including leadership and/or participation in numerous national freight analyses, technology research initiatives and field operational tests.
ATRI presently manages the U.S. DOT’s Freight Mobility Program, and has provided freight mobility and performance measures technical assistance to 31 state DOTs and 11 of the 15 largest MPOs in the U.S. ATRI has received top research awards from ITS America, TIDA, University of Minnesota and the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
