Top Trucking Challenges in 2025: What Motor Carriers & Owner-Operators are Facing

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) recently released its annual Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry report for 2025, surveying over 4,200 industry stakeholders to identify the most pressing concerns facing trucking today. While the overall industry faces numerous challenges, owner-operators and motor carriers have distinct priorities that reflect the realities of their operations.

Economic pressures take center stage for motor carriers.

For motor carriers, the economic landscape tops their list of concerns. Three years into what ATRI describes as a “historic freight recession,” carriers are grappling with stagnant freight rates while per-mile costs continue climbing faster than inflation.

Top 5 motor carrier concerns.

1. Economy – The prolonged freight downturn remains the number one concern for the third consecutive year. With freight rates and tonnage remaining flat while operational costs surge, carriers face squeezed profit margins that are forcing difficult decisions about cost-cutting, layoffs, and leaving the industry altogether.

2. Lawsuit Abuse Reform – Rising to the second spot, lawsuit abuse has reached its highest ranking in the survey’s 21-year history. Recent years have seen verdicts against trucking companies exceeding $100 million, and the industry continues to battle against aggressive litigation tactics including third-party litigation funding and staged accidents.

3. Insurance Cost/Availability – Insurance premiums have increased 36 percent over the past eight years, directly linked to lawsuit abuse and rising claim severity. This ranking has increased by one spot from last year’s ATRI report.

4. Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) – The FMCSA’s safety measurement system ranks fourth among carriers, who continue to push for clarity on proposed changes, such as adjusting the severity weights of the BASICS and prioritizing more recent violations.

5. Driver Shortage – Despite falling out of the overall top 10 for the first time in the survey’s history due to the freight recession, the driver shortage remains the fifth-highest concern for motor carriers who recognize that finding and retaining qualified drivers will be critical when market conditions improve.

Owner-operators: A different set of priorities.

Owner-operators face a distinctly different set of challenges, with their top concerns reflecting their position as small business owners navigating an increasingly complex freight marketplace.

The top 5 owner-operator/independent contractor concerns:

1. Broker Issues
2. Truck Parking
3. Driver Compensation
4. English Language Proficiency for Drivers
5. Diesel Emissions Regulations

Broker issues: the top concern for owner-operators.

For the first time, broker issues have emerged as the number one concern for owner-operators and independent contractors in 2025. This represents a significant shift in the relationship dynamics within the freight industry and highlights growing frustrations among independent truckers.

Why broker issues matter now more than ever.

The elevation of broker concerns reflects the increasing number of pain points that owner-operators experience daily:

• Broker fraud schemes that often leave carriers unpaid for completed loads
• Double-brokering incidents where loads are re-brokered without authorization, creating payment and liability issues
• Transparency challenges around rates and margins
• Payment delays that strain cash flow for small operations
• Communication breakdowns that lead to detention, missed appointments, and lost revenue

ATRI’s recent research on cargo theft identified double-brokering as a primary tool used by thieves in strategic theft operations, underscoring the serious safety and security implications of these issues beyond just financial losses.

How Truckstop.com is strengthening broker-carrier relationships.

At Truckstop.com, we recognize that strong, transparent relationships between brokers and carriers are the foundation of an efficient freight marketplace. We’re committed to providing tools and resources that build trust and create value for both sides of the freight equation.

Enhanced verification and vetting.

Our platform includes robust carrier verification processes that help brokers confidently identify reliable carriers, while also giving carriers visibility into broker credentials and payment histories. This two-way transparency helps both parties make informed decisions about who they work with.

Transparent load matching.

The Truckstop.com Load Board provides clear, detailed information about available freight, helping owner-operators make better business decisions. Our platform facilitates direct communication between brokers and carriers, reducing misunderstandings and building stronger working relationships.

Payment protection tools.

Cash flow is critical for owner-operators. Through our network of trusted partners and factoring solutions, we help facilitate faster payments and provide resources that give carriers confidence they’ll be paid for their work.

Fraud prevention resources.

The Truckstop.com team is always actively working to combat fraud in the industry through enhanced security measures, carrier authentication protocols, and educational resources that help both brokers and carriers identify and avoid fraudulent schemes.

Long-term partnership building.

Beyond individual transactions, the Truckstop.com platform is designed to help brokers and carriers develop ongoing relationships. Features like CreditStop Broker profiles, Private Loads, and communication tools make it easier to work repeatedly with the partners you trust.

Tackling the top trucking issues together.

As the trucking industry navigates economic uncertainty, rising costs, and evolving challenges, the relationship between brokers and carriers has never been more important. Owner-operators need reliable freight sources and fair treatment, while brokers need dependable capacity and professional service.

The emergence of broker issues as the top concern for owner-operators is a call to action for the entire industry. At Truckstop.com, we’re committed to being part of the solution by providing a transparent, secure freight marketplace where brokers and carriers can connect, communicate, and build the necessary relationships for long-term success. If you’d like to join us, you can get a free demo of our platform now.

Whether you’re a motor carrier managing a fleet, an owner-operator running your own business, or a broker moving freight for shippers, understanding these challenges is the first step toward addressing them. By working together and leveraging technology that creates transparency and trust, we can build a stronger, more resilient freight industry for everyone.