Oct 8, 2008 10:12 AM

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), a not-for-profit research institute, has unveiled its list of the top 10 critical issues facing United States truckers.

Cost of fuel and the nation’s economy top the list in ATRI’s survey of more than 5,000 trucking industry executives. Complete results were released in New Orleans LA at the 2008 Management Conference and Exhibition of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the nation’s largest gathering of motor carrier executives. ATRI also solicited and tabulated strategies for addressing each issue.

Other top 10 issues include driver shortage and retention, government regulation, commercial driver hours-of-service, congestion and tolls, and highway funding.

The ATA-commissioned survey results and proposed strategies will be used by the trucking group to better focus its advocacy role on behalf of the U.S. trucking industry and ATA Federation stakeholders.

"On every legislative and regulatory topic, issues come and go so quickly today," said Bill Graves, ATA president and chief executive officer. "If we’re not at the table with sound, science-based information and a common-sense plan of action, then we’re going to get left behind, and saddled with solutions that have no bearing on moving America’s freight safely and efficiently."

Visit www.atri-online.org for a copy of the survey results.

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