ATRI Report Highlights Rising Trucking Litigation: What It Means for the Industry

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released new findings showing a sharp increase in trucking-related litigation across the United States. The report confirms what many fleets have felt for years: legal exposure is growing, verdicts are getting larger, and the financial burden on carriers continues to rise.

This trend is now one of the most urgent issues shaping operations, insurance costs, and risk management strategies in the trucking industry.

What the ATRI Report Reveals

ATRI’s research highlights several major developments:

1. “Nuclear Verdicts” Are Becoming More Common

Courts are awarding juries damages in excess of $10 million at an increasing rate. These extreme verdicts often arise from accidents where plaintiffs successfully argue that carriers failed to maintain adequate safety, training, or oversight.

2. Legal Costs Are Rising Even Without Major Verdicts

Even cases that never reach trial settlements, mediation, or defense preparation are costing carriers significantly more. Small and mid-sized fleets often feel the greatest pressure.

3. Increased Focus on Safety Documentation and Compliance

Plaintiff attorneys are relying heavily on:

• Logbook records

• Safety training documentation

• Maintenance history

• Dash-cam and telematics data

Gaps in any of these areas can become central to litigation.

4. Litigation Trends Differ by State

ATRI notes that certain states remain “high-risk” due to plaintiff-friendly legal environments. Carriers operating in these states face greater exposure even when accidents are minor.

Why Litigation Is Increasing

ATRI points to several contributing factors:

• Greater public scrutiny of trucking safety

• Technological transparency (ELDs, cameras, GPS)

• Aggressive plaintiff strategies

• Weakened tort-reform laws in key states

• Larger settlement expectations from juries

Together, these shifts create an environment where even a single incident can escalate into a costly legal battle.

Impact on Fleets and Insurance

The rise in litigation has had cascading effects:

• Insurance premiums continue to surge

Many carriers report annual increases regardless of safety performance.

• Smaller fleets face viability challenges

With thinner margins, even moderate claims can threaten a small carrier's survival.

• Liability concerns shape equipment and hiring decisions

Fleets are increasingly investing in newer trucks, better safety systems, and stricter driver screening.

ATRI’s Recommendations for Carriers

To reduce legal exposure, ATRI suggests the industry adopt stronger risk-management strategies, including:

1. Enhanced Safety Technology

Cameras, collision-avoidance systems, lane-assist, and real-time telematics help prevent accidents and provide strong legal defense.

2. Stronger Documentation Practices

Courts expect complete and accurate records for maintenance, inspections, training, and hours-of-service.

3. Better Driver Training & Monitoring

Structured onboarding, professional development, and ongoing performance reviews reduce risk.

4. Proactive Insurance & Legal Planning

Carriers are encouraged to work closely with insurers, develop rapid-response protocols, and regularly review coverage needs.

Court Blocks CDL Ban as Data Shows Immigrant Truckers Are Among the Safest on U.S. Roads

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has paused a new Department of Transportation rule that would have stripped commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) from most non-citizen truckers. The court said the agency did not follow proper rule-making procedures and failed to provide evidence that the restrictions would improve road safety.

The blocked rule would have allowed only immigrants with H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visas to hold CDLs. Out of roughly 200,000 non-citizen commercial drivers nationwide, only about 10,000 would have remained eligible effectively forcing more than 180,000 experienced drivers off the road.

Data Contradicts the Government’s Safety Claims

Federal transportation numbers reviewed by the court show:

• Immigrant and non-citizen drivers hold about 5% of all CDLs.

• They are involved in only 0.2% of fatal commercial-vehicle crashes.

This made it difficult for regulators to justify the rule, especially during a national driver shortage.

Key Political Figures

• Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary, announced the rule, arguing it was necessary for safety.

• Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, was pulled into the debate after his state revoked 17,000 immigrant CDLs earlier this year following an audit tied to a fatal crash.

• OOIDA, a major trucking association, supported the restriction, though opponents argued that available safety data did not match the group’s claims.

  
  

What Happens Now

The stay is temporary, but it keeps current CDL rules in place while the court reviews whether the government legally and logically supported its new policy. The final decision could shape the future of immigrant workers in the trucking industry and the stability of the U.S. supply chain.

Tariff-Driven Uncertainty Is Freezing Truck Orders Across the U.S. — Here’s What’s Really Happening

Right now, the U.S. trucking industry is stuck in a strange spot. Ever since the 25% tariff on imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks took effect on November 1st, truck orders have slowed to a crawl. Not because carriers don’t need equipment, but because no one knows what new trucks will actually cost.

OEM Pricing Is a Mystery

Manufacturers still haven’t released firm pricing after the tariff change. That uncertainty alone is enough to freeze fleet owners, owner-operators, and buyers across the semi truck market. Why commit to a new truck if the price could jump or drop next month?

Used Trucks Are Becoming the Safe Bet

With new truck quotes on hold, the used truck market is heating up. Dealers report more calls, quicker sales, and rising demand for clean, low-mileage units. If OEMs announce major price increases in the coming weeks, used truck prices could climb fast.

Small Fleets Feel the Pressure

Large carriers can wait. Smaller fleets can’t. Their expansion plans depend heavily on predictable equipment costs, and today’s uncertainty is pushing many toward used trucks or delaying purchases altogether.

The Ripple Effect

This tariff confusion is affecting more than new truck orders. It’s impacting:

• trailer sales

• parts pricing

• repair shop delays

• equipment financing

When the cost of a tractor is unclear, the entire trucking supply chain slows down.

What Comes Next?

If OEMs release stable, post-tariff pricing soon, orders could rebound. If not, the slowdown will continue, and the used market will become even more competitive heading into 2026.

For now, one thing is clear:The tariff didn’t disrupt the trucking industry as much as the uncertainty behind it.