This week, the American Transportation Research Institute released a new report showing that the industry-average cost to operate a truck last year was $2.336 per mile, 3.4 percent higher than the previous year – the highest per-mile cost in the report’s history.
Inflation and Stagnation
Even more alarming is that, excluding fuel, costs rose by 4.2 percent to $1.854 per mile. And surprisingly, only two line items rose at sub-inflationary rates: fuel and driver pay. Truck and trailer procurement costs varied by fleet size amid high prices and low freight volumes.
The report, 2026 Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, shows that costs were up in all major line items last year, with the largest percentage gains in tolls (13.2%), repair and maintenance (8.6%), driver benefits (6.6%) and tires (6.4%). Small fleets spent less on trucks and trailers in 2025 than in 2024, while truckload fleets with more than 1,000 trucks spent 16.1 percent more. First-quarter 2026 data show a continuation of most 2025 cost trends.
“Freight rates are finally turning a corner in 2026, but the acceleration of industry-wide costs means that fleets must continue with aggressive cost discipline.” – Chad Marsilio
Faced with rising costs and stagnant rates, carriers executed their largest reduction in freight capacity since the start of the freight recession in 2022 – reducing truck counts by 2.4 percent and leaving another 10 percent of trucks unseated on average.
Truckers Tightening Their Belts
Other key metrics show the impact of this prolonged downturn on operations. Average truck age and annual mileage increased, deadhead mileage remained elevated, and non-driver staffing levels were cut by 7.8 percent.
ATRI says that despite these austerity efforts, carrier profitability remained poor. Operating margins in the truckload and refrigerated sectors improved slightly but were still below 1.0 percent, while tank carriers averaged 4.0 percent. Only LTLs and fleets with more than 1,000 trucks had healthy – but flat year-over-year – margins in 2025. Flatbed carriers, however, had an average operating loss of -0.5 percent.
Optimism Emerging
“Freight rates are finally turning a corner in 2026, but the acceleration of industry-wide costs means that fleets must continue with aggressive cost discipline,” said PGT Trucking COO Chad Marsilio, who sits on ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee. “ATRI’s Operational Costs and the customized benchmarking reports provide vital intelligence for balancing cost management and performance as we prepare our fleet for the much-needed trucking recovery.”
About ATRI
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has been engaged in critical transportation studies and operational tests since 1954. ATRI is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Atlanta and Minneapolis.
ATRI’s primary mission is to conduct transportation research, with an emphasis on the trucking industry’s essential role in a safe, efficient and viable transportation system. ATRI’s research focus areas include: Congestion and Mobility; Economic Analysis; Safety and Security; Technology and Operations; Environment; and Transportation Infrastructure.
Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking: 2026 Update is available from ATRI here.
