Fuel prices jumped 17 spots to become the trucking industry’s biggest concern in 2026, according to the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual Top Industry Issues report. Lawsuit reform ranked second, while concerns about federal carrier safety scores climbed to third.
The economy, which topped the list for three consecutive years, fell to sixth. Driver shortages and retention returned to the top 10, and artificial intelligence moved up as respondents weighed its uses against risks to jobs, security and cargo theft.
ATRI gathered responses from more than 3,000 trucking industry participants, who selected and ranked their three biggest concerns.
