The Rising Cost of Trucking: What the Latest ATRI Data Means for Shippers

The cost of moving freight by truck is climbing again—and the latest data from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) shows why.

According to ATRI’s 2026 Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, the average cost of operating a truck reached $2.336 per mile in 2025, a 3.4% increase from the previous year and the highest per-mile cost recorded in ATRI’s history.  Even more telling, operating costs excluding fuel increased 4.2% to $1.854 per mile.

The findings come at an important time for manufacturers, distributors and other freight shippers.  Transportation costs are not simply determined by the price of diesel.  Driver compensation, equipment, insurance, maintenance, tolls and other operating expenses all influence what it costs a carrier to put a truck on the road.

For shippers, understanding these cost pressures is increasingly important when developing transportation budgets, negotiating freight rates and choosing a carrier.

Trucking Costs Are Rising Even When Fuel Isn't the Biggest Problem

Fuel has historically been one of the most visible—and volatile—expenses in trucking.  But ATRI's latest data demonstrates why looking only at fuel prices can provide an incomplete picture.

In 2025, overall trucking operating costs increased even as fuel costs moved lower.  Non-fuel operating expenses increased 4.2%, exceeding the 2.7% inflation rate for the year.  That means carriers are confronting higher expenses in areas that cannot simply be reduced by buying fuel at a lower price.

Among those expenses are:

• Driver wages and benefits
• Truck and trailer payments
• Insurance
• Repair and maintenance
• Tires
• Tolls
• Permits and regulatory compliance
• Technology and communications
• Administrative expenses

The result is a transportation market in which carriers must carefully manage every mile.

Tolls Recorded One of the Largest Increases

One of the most significant increases highlighted by the latest report was toll expense.

According to ATRI's data, tolls increased 13.2% from 2024 to 2025, making them the fastest-growing cost category identified in the report.  For carriers operating through major metropolitan areas and heavily tolled corridors, these expenses can add up quickly. A single shipment may encounter multiple toll facilities depending on its origin, destination and routing.

For shippers, this matters because transportation rates reflect the actual cost of operating through these areas.

This is particularly relevant to companies moving freight throughout the Northeast, where congested highways, bridges, tunnels and toll facilities can significantly affect the cost and time associated with a shipment.

Equipment Is Getting More Expensive

Another major pressure on trucking companies is the cost of equipment.

The previous ATRI operational-cost analysis found that truck and trailer payments increased to approximately 39 cents per mile in 2024, an increase of 8.3%.  ATRI noted that equipment payment costs had increased substantially over the longer term as well.

Modern tractors and trailers are sophisticated pieces of equipment.  Today's trucks can include:

• Advanced driver-assistance systems
• Electronic logging systems
• Collision mitigation technology
• Cameras and telematics
• Sophisticated emissions systems
• Advanced refrigeration systems
• Enhanced safety equipment

These technologies can improve safety and efficiency, but they also contribute to acquisition, maintenance and repair costs.

For carriers, keeping equipment properly maintained isn't optional.  A breakdown can mean more than a repair bill—it can mean a missed delivery appointment, driver downtime, replacement equipment and additional logistical costs.

The Driver Remains One of the Most Important Costs

Behind every shipment is a professional driver.

Driver compensation remains one of the industry's largest operating expenses.  ATRI's 2025 analysis showed driver wages approaching 80 cents per mile, while driver benefits also increased.

This is important because trucking companies are competing for qualified drivers while also dealing with the costs associated with recruiting, retaining and training their workforce.  Higher compensation costs aren't necessarily a negative development.  In fact, attracting experienced, safety-conscious drivers is an important investment for carriers.

For shippers, the takeaway is simple: the cheapest transportation option isn't always the least expensive option.  A carrier with experienced drivers, reliable equipment and strong safety practices may prevent costly problems that don't appear on an initial rate quote.

Maintenance Costs Don't Disappear

Trucks are working machines that accumulate enormous mileage.  Even when repair and maintenance expenses fluctuate from year to year, carriers must continuously invest in:

• Preventive maintenance
• Tires
• Brakes
• Engine components
• Refrigeration equipment
• Electrical systems
• Trailer repairs
• Safety inspections

ATRI's earlier data showed repair and maintenance costs at approximately $0.198 per mile in 2024, while preliminary 2025 data indicated those expenses were already increasing.  For a fleet traveling millions of miles annually, seemingly small changes in cost per mile can become substantial expenses.

What Rising Costs Mean for Shippers

For manufacturers, distributors and other companies that depend on transportation, rising carrier costs create several challenges.

1. Freight budgets may need to be adjusted

Transportation departments should avoid assuming that previous-year freight rates will remain sustainable indefinitely.

Carrier operating costs have changed considerably, and transportation budgets should account for those changes.

2. Carrier selection becomes more important

When freight costs increase, there can be a temptation to select transportation providers based solely on the lowest rate.  That strategy can backfire.

A carrier with inadequate equipment, poor maintenance practices or unreliable service can create additional costs through:

• Missed appointments
• Product damage
• Delays
• Claims
• Detention
• Emergency transportation
• Production interruptions
• Customer dissatisfaction

A slightly higher transportation rate can sometimes represent a significantly better overall value.

3. Route planning matters

Tolls, congestion, fuel consumption and driver time all affect the true cost of a shipment.  Efficient routing can help carriers and shippers control unnecessary expenses while maintaining service levels.

4. Communication becomes critical

When transportation costs are under pressure, unexpected delays become even more expensive.  Strong communication between shipper, carrier, driver and consignee can help identify potential problems before they turn into costly disruptions.

Why Asset-Based Carriers Can Be Valuable in a High-Cost Environment

One way shippers can reduce uncertainty is by working with an asset-based transportation provider.  An asset-based carrier operates its own equipment and employs or directly manages its driving workforce rather than relying entirely on outside capacity.  That can provide greater control over:

• Equipment availability
• Driver standards
• Maintenance
• Safety procedures
• Shipment visibility
• Scheduling
• Service consistency

For freight that requires special handling, tight delivery schedules or additional security, this control can become particularly valuable.

The Bigger Picture: Transportation Is an Investment

ATRI's latest findings reinforce an important reality: the cost of transportation is the cost of maintaining a safe, reliable freight network.

The industry-average cost of operating a truck in 2025 reached $2.336 per mile—the highest level ATRI has recorded.  At the same time, carriers are expected to deliver freight safely, on time and increasingly with specialized equipment and technology.

For shippers, the objective shouldn't simply be to find the lowest freight rate.  The better question is:

What transportation partner can provide the reliability, safety, equipment and service necessary to protect our supply chain?

That distinction becomes especially important when transporting food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, high-value products and other freight where a transportation failure can cost substantially more than the original freight bill.

Road Scholar Transport: Reliable Capacity in a Changing Freight Market

At Road Scholar Transport, we understand that transportation is more than moving a load from Point A to Point B.

As an asset-based carrier, Road Scholar Transport maintains control over its equipment and transportation operations, helping customers receive dependable service in an increasingly complex freight environment.

Our network of terminals across the Northeast and beyond allows us to support customers with a range of transportation requirements, including truckload, LTL, temperature-controlled, hazmat and high-security transportation.

As trucking operating costs continue to rise, choosing a transportation provider based on reliability, safety, equipment quality and service—not simply the lowest quoted rate—can help shippers protect their supply chains and their bottom lines.

The Bottom Line

ATRI's latest data makes one thing clear: trucking isn't getting cheaper.

With operating costs reaching record levels, carriers must carefully manage every mile—and shippers must recognize the real value behind reliable transportation.  The right carrier can help a shipper do more than move freight.  It can help protect production schedules, customer commitments, inventory and the overall supply chain.

When transportation is critical to your business, the lowest rate isn't always the lowest cost.