Safe parking and speed limiters are some of trucking industry’s top concerns, survey finds

San Diego — Several safety-related issues earned a spot on the American Transportation Research Institute’s recently released list of top trucking industry concerns.

ATRI, the research arm of the American Trucking Associations, conducts the survey annually. More than 4,200 CMV drivers, motor carriers and other industry stakeholders across North America responded this year.

A lack of safe places for truckers to park ranked third on the list, while detention/delay at customer facilities was sixth. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program was eighth.

Making its first appearance in the top 10, concerns about speed limiters ranked ninth. In May, FMCSA issued an advance notice of supplemental proposed rulemaking that would require the installation of speed-limiting devices on trucks, buses and multipurpose passenger vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds. In a report released in September, the Department of Transportation indicated its intent to issue a speed-limiter proposal, with a projected publication date of June 30.

Fuel prices and a shortage of drivers are the top two concerns on this year’s list. In an effort to ease the driver shortage, FMCSA is accepting applications for an apprenticeship pilot program that allows commercial truck drivers younger than 21 to operate across state lines. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has said the program will be monitored closely “to see how it unfolds and then ultimately gather the data that’ll tell us what, if any, safety impact there is.”