Posted: September 02, 2026
Commercial trucking remains one of the most important components of the American economy. From groceries and building materials to automobiles and medical supplies, trucking companies keep products moving and businesses operating.
But running a successful trucking company has rarely been simple—and in 2026, carriers are facing a particularly complicated combination of economic, workforce, regulatory, and safety challenges.
For fleet owners and transportation companies, controlling costs is only part of the equation. Companies must also find qualified drivers, maintain strong safety programs, navigate changing regulations, and protect themselves from increasing liability.
Here are five of the biggest challenges facing commercial trucking companies today.
1. Finding and Retaining Qualified Drivers
Recruiting qualified commercial drivers continues to be a major concern for trucking companies.
The challenge isn't simply finding someone with a CDL. Carriers need drivers who meet their hiring standards, have acceptable driving histories, satisfy regulatory requirements, and demonstrate safe driving behavior.
Retention can be equally challenging. Experienced drivers have choices, and compensation is only one factor influencing where they work. Home time, equipment quality, routes, company culture, benefits, scheduling, and communication can all influence whether a driver stays with a carrier.
For employers, this makes the hiring process increasingly important.
A thorough driver screening program can help companies identify qualified candidates before they are placed behind the wheel. Depending on the position and applicable requirements, screening may include motor vehicle records, CDL verification, employment history, drug and alcohol testing records, and other background information.
Hiring the right driver the first time can help reduce turnover while supporting a stronger safety culture throughout the organization.
2. Rising Operating Costs
The cost of operating a commercial vehicle continues to put pressure on trucking companies.
According to recent industry reporting on American Transportation Research Institute data, the average cost of operating a Class 8 truck reached approximately $2.34 per mile in 2025, an all-time high. Repair and maintenance costs alone increased 8.6%.
Fuel remains another major variable. Diesel prices experienced significant volatility during 2026, demonstrating how quickly geopolitical events and energy markets can affect a carrier's operating expenses.
Carriers must also account for expenses such as:
- Driver compensation and benefits
- Insurance premiums
- Tires, parts, and maintenance
- Equipment financing
- Tolls and permits
- Technology
- Compliance and administrative costs
For smaller fleets in particular, relatively small increases across several expense categories can quickly erode already narrow margins.
The result is an increased need for trucking companies to understand their true cost per mile and identify operational inefficiencies before they become major financial problems.
3. Insurance Costs and Increasing Liability
Insurance has become one of the industry's most significant financial concerns.
Commercial auto premiums have risen while trucking companies simultaneously face greater exposure to costly litigation. Large jury awards—often referred to within the industry as "nuclear verdicts"—can have consequences extending well beyond the companies directly involved in a lawsuit.
Higher claims and litigation risks can ultimately contribute to higher insurance costs throughout the industry. Recent industry analysis continues to identify insurance cost and availability among trucking's most important concerns.
This environment makes documented safety practices increasingly valuable.
Companies should be able to demonstrate that they have established procedures for evaluating drivers, monitoring driving records, maintaining vehicles, investigating incidents, and addressing unsafe behavior.
Driver screening therefore shouldn't end when an employee is hired.
Periodic Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) monitoring and other ongoing safety measures can help companies identify new violations or changes in driver eligibility before they develop into larger problems.
4. Regulatory Compliance
Commercial trucking operates within one of America's most heavily regulated industries, and compliance requirements continue to evolve.
Motor carriers must manage requirements involving driver qualification, Hours of Service, electronic logging devices, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspections, licensing, safety performance, and numerous other federal and state regulations.
New and changing enforcement priorities add another layer of complexity. Industry surveys entering 2026 identified issues including Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA), English-language proficiency requirements, diesel emissions regulations, and driver training standards among carriers' significant concerns.
The challenge becomes greater for companies operating across multiple states because additional state requirements may apply.
Compliance failures can lead to more than fines. They can potentially affect safety ratings, insurance costs, customer relationships, and a carrier's ability to operate.
Successful trucking companies increasingly treat compliance as an ongoing business process rather than an annual checklist.
5. Freight Market Volatility and Pressure on Profit Margins
Perhaps the broadest challenge facing trucking companies is uncertainty.
The freight market has experienced several years of significant changes in capacity, demand, operating costs, and rates. In 2026, the market has begun showing signs of a supply-driven recovery as carriers have exited the industry and available capacity has tightened. However, that does not necessarily mean freight demand is experiencing a comparable boom.
That distinction matters.
A carrier may see improving rates while simultaneously paying more for drivers, fuel, insurance, equipment, and maintenance.
The American Trucking Associations also notes that more than 99% of trucking companies operate 100 trucks or fewer, making trucking an industry dominated by smaller businesses that frequently operate under intense competition and relatively thin margins.
For these companies, profitability increasingly depends on knowing which freight to accept, controlling operating costs, minimizing downtime, retaining dependable drivers, and maintaining strong relationships with customers and brokers.
Building a Stronger Fleet Starts With the Right Drivers
Many of the challenges facing commercial trucking companies are outside a carrier's direct control. A fleet cannot control diesel prices, freight demand, insurance markets, or new regulations.
It can, however, control many of the decisions it makes about its drivers and safety program.
A comprehensive driver screening process can help trucking companies make more informed hiring decisions, verify driver qualifications, identify potentially concerning driving histories, and demonstrate a commitment to workplace and roadway safety.
As operating costs and liability risks continue to increase, knowing who is behind the wheel has never been more important.
Starpoint Screening helps transportation companies make informed hiring decisions with driver screening and background screening solutions designed for today's employers.
From Motor Vehicle Records and employment background checks to comprehensive screening programs, we can help you build a safer, more dependable workforce.
Contact Starpoint Screening today to learn more about creating a driver screening program for your organization.