As carriers plan for 2026, many are navigating a market shaped by economic uncertainty, cost pressure, and shifting operational realities. To understand what is influencing carrier decision-making, industry leaders often look to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry report, which reflects direct input from fleets across the country.
The 2025 report highlights the issues carriers say are having the greatest impact on their operations today, as well as those expected to influence planning in the year ahead. These concerns span financial pressure, workforce dynamics, infrastructure constraints, and emerging technology, all of which factor into how fleets manage capacity, cost, and service.
Economic conditions continue to rank at the top of the list, but carriers are also closely watching insurance availability, litigation exposure, driver compensation, truck parking, safety metrics, and the growing role of technology. Together, these issues are shaping how fleets think about hiring, growth, and flexibility as they head into 2026.
Across the industry, many carriers are reassessing how they structure their operations to remain responsive in an unpredictable environment. Workforce flexibility, cost control, and access to qualified drivers are becoming increasingly important as fleets work to balance service expectations with margin protection.
TransForce works with carriers nationwide to support these evolving needs by providing access to qualified CDL drivers through flexible workforce solutions. By helping fleets adjust to changes in demand and operating conditions, TransForce supports carrier efforts to maintain stability in a shifting market.
Understanding the issues carriers are watching most closely is an important step in preparing for what comes next. While challenges vary by operation, adaptability is becoming a common thread across the industry heading into 2026.
Economic conditions ranked as the top concern for the trucking industry in ATRI’s 2025 report, and that uncertainty continues to shape carrier planning as fleets look toward 2026. While some segments of the market have shown signs of stabilization, variability across lanes, customers, and regions remains a reality for many carriers.
For fleets, the challenge is not only managing current demand but preparing for shifts that can happen quickly and with little warning.
Many carriers are entering 2026 with cautious optimism. Shippers continue to expect reliable service, yet freight volumes and rates remain uneven. At the same time, operating costs tied to labor, insurance, equipment, and fuel continue to pressure margins.
This environment has made long-term hiring decisions more complex. Committing to permanent headcount can feel risky when demand is uncertain, but capacity gaps can impact service levels and customer relationships. As a result, carriers are increasingly focused on maintaining balance rather than pursuing aggressive expansion.
To navigate economic uncertainty, carriers are prioritizing strategies that allow them to remain flexible without sacrificing service. Common approaches include:
These strategies give carriers the ability to respond to changes without being locked into workforce decisions that may not align with future conditions.
Workforce flexibility has become a central consideration as carriers plan for 2026. Access to qualified drivers when volumes increase, paired with the ability to scale back when demand softens, helps fleets maintain consistency while managing cost exposure.
Rather than treating flexibility as a short-term solution, many carriers are building it into their operating models as a way to manage ongoing uncertainty.
TransForce supports carriers by providing access to a nationwide network of qualified CDL drivers through flexible workforce solutions. From short-term coverage to dedicated driver capacity, TransForce helps fleets respond to changing economic conditions without long-term hiring commitments.
By managing recruitment and driver administration, TransForce allows carriers to stay focused on operations while maintaining the ability to scale their workforce as demand changes.
As carriers prepare for the year ahead, economic uncertainty remains a defining factor in planning and decision-making. Fleets that prioritize adaptability and flexibility are better positioned to navigate shifts in demand while continuing to meet shipper expectations.
Heading into 2026, the ability to adjust quickly is not just a contingency plan. It is becoming a core part of how successful carriers operate.