American fleet executives are less worried about the economy and more worried about hours-of-service regulations, according to an annual list of the trucking industry’s top concerns.
The list, compiled by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), was released at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition.
• Hours-of-service rules that went into effect in 2013 were the top concern voiced by more than 4,000 trucking industry stakeholders who completed the survey.
• second was the driver shortage,
• CSA this year placed third
• Driver retention was the fourth biggest concern.
• The fifth biggest concern was the FMCSA’s plans to mandate electronic logging devices.
• The economy, which was the industry’s top concern from 2009-2011 dropped down to ninth spot.
• Driver distraction cracked the list, coming in 10th.
“ATRI’s annual survey of top industry issues gives us direct insight in to all of the complex forces affecting motor carriers and drivers so that we can plan accordingly, and focus on running a safe and profitable industry,” said ATA chairman Phil Byrd, president and CEO, Bulldog Hiway Express.
“As we all know, the trucking industry constantly faces changes and challenges to how we operate safely and efficiently,” ATA president and CEO Bill Graves said. “However, our industry has always responded to these issues with determination and ATRI’s work gives us the information to decide where to focus our energies first and foremost.”
