The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has officially launched its data collection for the 2026 Operational Costs of Trucking report. For fleet managers and owner-operators navigating an increasingly complex economic landscape, this is more than just a survey—it is a strategic opportunity to gain a competitive edge.

By submitting your 2025 operational data, you contribute to the industry’s most trusted “gold standard” benchmarking tool. ATRI is calling for participation from for-hire motor carriers of all sizes, from one-truck owner-operators to massive fleets with over 10,000 power units.

Benchmarking Your Success

For a first-year manager or a seasoned executive, the ATRI report is “pure gold” for financial planning. It allows you to move beyond internal guesses and compare your costs against anonymized peer groups of similar size and sector.

Current trends from the ATRI 2025 analysis show that while fuel costs have fluctuated, non-fuel expenses hit a record-high $1.78 per mile recently. Participating in the 2026 study helps you identify exactly where your fleet stands in relation to these record highs, particularly in categories like:

• Driver Wages: Which rose 2.4% last year but remained below inflation.

• Equipment Costs: Specifically truck and trailer payments, which surged 8.3%.

• Maintenance: Average repair costs currently hover around $0.20 per mile.

New for 2026: Multi-Year Insights

This year, ATRI has enhanced the value for returning participants. For the first time, the customized reports will include year-over-year (YoY) comparisons. This allows you to evaluate your performance trends directly over time, seeing if your cost-saving initiatives are actually moving the needle or if external market pressures are outpacing your efforts.

Knowledge is Power

Participation is entirely confidential. ATRI uses a specialized research team to handle data, and results are only ever published in aggregate form. In exchange for your time, you receive two high-value rewards:

1. An Advance Copy: Be the first to see the full 2026 report before it hits the public.

2. A Customized Peer Report: A private document comparing your specific operational costs to an anonymized group of peer carriers.

As Andrew Hadland, CFO of Hirschbach Motor Lines, recently noted via PR Newswire, these reports are “important inputs for ensuring healthy performance” during economic headwinds.

How to Participate

The deadline to submit your 2025 data is Friday, April 24, 2026. You can submit your data via a secure online form or by downloading a PDF from the ATRI website.

Also read: Class 8 Truck Orders Surge as 2027 EPA Pre-Buy Begins