Safety = Profit: New Trucking Data Flips The Script

Why it matters

Fresh data from the American Transportation Research Institute reveals safety isn't a cost center – it's a profit potential in today's tough times for trucking

The big picture

ATRI's annual Operational Costs of Trucking provides key data and benchmarks for companies. Much of the story is known – tough year for trucking revenue. Truckload carriers are averaging a loss of $0.090/mile

But the data reveals an opportunity to bolster the bottom line by increasing safety and decreasing risk.

By the numbers:

• Insurance premiums hit a record $0.102 per mile in 2024
• Combined with deductibles, total risk costs reached $0.133 per mile
• Out-of-pocket safety expenses averaged $0.031 per mile