These lists are developed through a formula that sums the values of the percentage of responses to the fist three rankings. In rank order, the top ten issues identified by industry respondents are detailed below.

1. Hours-of-Service

This year hours-of-service (HOS) rose from 4th in the 2005 and 2006 rankings to edge out last year’s top issue of driver shortage. Unquestionably, the July 24, 2007 decision of the U.S.Court of Appeals on the 11-hour driving provision and 34-hour restart caused significant concern within the industry. Respondents indicated that the decision significantly restricts variability in drivers’ work schedules, consequently reducing carriers’ ability to meet dynamic pick-up and delivery schedules demanded by shippers. Furthermore, many within the industry still have concern over the loss of flexibility in the sleeper berth provisions as a result of the October 2005 HOS rules change. Given the numerous challenges, lawsuits and appeals relating to this issue, the long-term status o HOS requirements remain uncertain.

            Proposed Strategies:

1. Advocate for increased flexibility of split-sleeper berth provision.
2. Continue advocating for 11- and 34-hour provisions in current hours-of-service.
3. Continue Research on safety and productivity impacts of new HOS rules.

2. Driver Shortage

After placing 2nd in 2005 and 1st in 2006, it is clear that the driver shortage issue will remain a pressing problem for the trucking industry for years to come. The recent slowing of the economy in certain sectors has provided temporary relief for some carriers- a number of whom were forced to turn down freight orders over the last few years due to a lack of available drivers. However, over the long term, the industry still faces a significant deficit in the number of drivers needed versus the number of available drivers in the workforce. The industry is confronted with the fact that large numbers of current drivers will soon reach retirement age while simultaneously having to compete with other industries in a shrinking U.S. workforce. Furthermore, with the HOS rules in flux and the potential for fewer daily driving hours as a result, more drivers may be needed to haul the same amount of freight.

            Proposed Strategies:

1. Research the relationship between driver compensation and driver  shortage/retention
2. Expand image campaigns to attract an expanded pool of applicants.
3. Redesign new entrant driver training programs to increase driver satisfaction/retention.

3. Congestion

Congestion continued its rise in critically by climbing to 4th place in the 2007 ranking, as compared to 5th place in 2006 and 8th place in 2005. Average truck speeds and system reliability within many urban areas continues to decline as monitored by the FHWA/ATRI “Freight Performance Measures” initiative and the Texas Transportation Institute’s Urban Congestion Monitoring program.

            Proposed Strategies:

1. Identify tools and strategies for expanding roadway capacity with an emphasis on infrastructure maintenance and expansion for the highest congested corridors of the highway system.
2. Examine the potential for truck-only lanes/corridors/networks.
3. Encourage size and weight provisions that allow carriers to maximize productivity and reduce roadway demand.

4. Government Regulation

           
Government regulation jumped from a 7th place ranking in 2005 and 6th in 2006 to 5th in the 2007 ranking of most critical issues affecting the trucking industry. Respondents did not identify specific regulatory issues that sparked concern.

            Proposed Strategies:

1. Continue to educate agency regulators and elected officials on the critical role of the trucking industry and the requisite impacts that regulations have on the economy.
2. Expand research to scientifically and economically justify regulatory and legislative decisions.
3. Encourage greater industry participation in government and regulatory process.

5. Tolls/Highway Funding

Highway funding concerns and road tolling ranked 6th in 2007, up from 9th place in 2006. The underlying causes for this increase appear to stem primarily from the recent and expanded promotion by the U.S. DOT to increase the use of non-traditional highway funding schemas such as roadway privatization (public-private partnerships), and state-level frustration over the inability to increase fuel tax revenue. The resulting concern is an increase in the prevalence of tolled roadways in the U.S. and the potential for balkanization of the U.S transportation system. Since trucks traditionally pay significantly higher tolls than passenger.

            Proposed Strategies:

1. Promote legislation that eliminates highway fund diversions to non-highway uses.
2. Oppose expanded tolling of existing and proposed transportation infrastructure.
3. Support increased fuel tax to fund needed improvements and increased capacity.

6. Tort Reform/Legal Issues

Ranking 6th in 2005 and 8th in 2006, tort reform and associated legal issues appear stable at 7th place in 2007. The potential for massive financial payouts awarded by court settlements is a continuing concern of trucking companies. The disconnection between, and inequity of, negligence and financial liability is the underlying basis of this issue. The trucking industry seeks to avoid the unproductive outcome of excessive lawsuits of excessive lawsuits similar to those that have befallen other industries.

            Proposed Strategies:

1. Advocate for federal legislation to regulate lawsuits and limit claim damages, especially in class action cases.
2. Seek tort reform at state level using grassroots approach.
3. Support public education campaigns focused on negative consequences of civil litigation.

7. Driver Training/Driver Education

Driver training is listed for the first time in the Top Industry Issues Survey in 2007, ranking 8th. Carriers increasingly recognize that a key factor in maximizing safety performance and driver retention hinges on a robust training background with exposure to continued, targeted training techniques. In advance of the FMCSA ruling on entry level driver training expected in late 2007 or early 2008, several research initiatives are underway to provide carriers with improved guidance on targeting training programs to maximize safety costumes. Due to the low operating margins common in the trucking industry, carriers often operate with limited training budgets, but recognize the safety and economic benefits that training can provide.

            Proposed Strategies:

1. Standardize driver training and testing requirements.
2. Research and develop effective carrier-based truck driver training practices.
3. Increase driver training and testing requirements. 19 percent ranked this strategy 1st.

8. Environmental Issues

Environmental issues return to the 9th highest ranked issue in 2007, after falling from 9th to 10th between the 2005 and 2006 surveys. Anti-idling regulations and other emissions reduction initiatives continue to impact the lives of drivers and carriers on a daily basis. Additionally, as production of alternative fuels such as biodiesel has increased exponentially since the first top industry issues such fuels where economic and operational advantages are indicated. On a national scale, increasing public agreement over the need for environmental sustainability, along with the potential for strengthened environmental regulations accompanying administration changes in 2008 are factors that may significantly influence the trucking industry.

Proposed Strategies:

1. Seek financial incentives and tax breaks to offset costs of environmentally- friendly technologies and practices.
2. Explore technology and operation solutions for improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.
3. Advocate for environmental program standards across states to reduce compliance costs.

9. On-Board Truck Technology

2007 is the first year that On-Board Truck Technology has ranked among the top ten most pressing issues within the trucking industry. On-board technology ranges from technologies such as Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBR) which some carriers worry can be used as an invasive law enforcement tool, to Electronic Forward Collision Warning (EFCWS) and Rollover Stability Systems (RSS) which hold the potential for significantly reducing certain types of truck accidents, to electronic speed governors, the use of which is the subject of debate within the industry.

            Proposed Strategies:

1. Advocate for tax incentives to help offset the cost of new technologies.
2. Develop recommended practices for implementation and use of Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBR)
3. Expand economic and safety analyses of on-board technologies.