MyTSV says trucking faces a three-front crisis

By AI, Created 5:46 AM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – A new MyTSV freight analysis says U.S. trucking is being squeezed by regulation, labor shortages and fuel costs at the same time. The report argues the pressure is worsening bankruptcies, driver turnover and supply-chain risk, and calls for a coordinated policy response.

Why it matters: - MyTSV says the U.S. freight system is under strain from three linked pressures that can ripple through prices, capacity and delivery reliability. - Trucking moves about 72% of domestic cargo by tonnage, so disruptions in the sector can affect supply chains nationwide. - The report says the combination of compliance costs, unpaid driver time and fuel volatility is accelerating consolidation and making small carriers less resilient.

What happened: - MyTSV published a new industry report, “The Triad of Friction,” on May 29, 2026. - The report frames trucking’s problems as a three-part emergency: regulation, labor and fuel economics. - The analysis says carrier bankruptcies are rising and the national driver shortage is deepening. - The American Trucking Associations estimates a current shortage of more than 80,000 drivers. - The ATA projects that deficit could top 160,000 by the end of the decade if current trends continue.

The details: - The report says motor carriers are monitored through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Safety Measurement System across seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories. - A carrier that exceeds alert thresholds can face intensified scrutiny and civil penalties of up to $16,000 per violation per day. - The analysis argues that CSA scores can penalize carriers operating in high-traffic corridors or inspection-heavy states more than similar carriers elsewhere. - A disputed roadside inspection can remain on a carrier’s SMS record for 24 months, even after violations are contested and dismissed. - The report says the Electronic Logging Device mandate, fully enforced since 2019, has created safety and operational problems when drivers run out of hours mid-route. - Drivers report being forced to stop in unsafe locations, including highway shoulders and dark rest areas, when the clock expires. - MyTSV says ELD hardware, software subscriptions and compliance management cost about $2,000 to $4,000 per truck annually. - The report identifies detention time at shippers and receivers as a major operating problem. - Industry data cited in the report shows drivers spend an average of 6.5 hours per delivery stop at facilities. - FMCSA data cited in the report says 63% of drivers are held at a facility for more than 3 hours at least once a week. - Drivers paid by the mile do not get paid for that dock time, pre-trip inspections, fueling, scaling, border waits or mandatory breaks. - The report says shippers and receivers face no federal regulatory consequence for detaining drivers. - Fuel accounts for 25% to 40% of a typical trucking operation’s total operating costs. - The report says diesel price volatility can push a carrier from profitable to underwater within a quarter. - For a 100-truck fleet running 120,000 miles per year at 6.5 miles per gallon, a $1.00 per gallon diesel increase adds about $1.85 million in annual fuel costs. - Fuel surcharge systems often lag regional pump prices or rely on broker indexes instead of actual market conditions. - The average truck driver is now older than 55. - Large truckload carriers routinely see annual turnover above 90%, meaning the average driver leaves within 13 months. - Drivers paid $0.55 to $0.65 per mile are only paid when the wheels are turning. - The report says unpaid activities can consume 3 to 4 hours of a driver’s working day. - MyTSV cites FMCSA data, ATA industry reports, OOIDA member testimony, EIA fuel statistics and carrier survey data as inputs for the report. - The release includes a link to the full analysis: The Triad of Friction report.

Between the lines: - The report argues the three problem areas reinforce one another, so fixing one in isolation may not stabilize the industry. - The analysis suggests compliance policy, labor economics and fuel costs should be treated as a single operating system rather than separate debates. - The pushback against ELDs and CSA scoring reflects a broader industry complaint that regulation often misses day-to-day operating realities.

What’s next: - MyTSV calls for a National Freight Industry Stabilization Council. - The proposed council would include FMCSA, DOT, carrier associations, driver unions, owner-operator groups, shipper coalitions and fuel industry representatives. - The goal would be to coordinate responses across regulation, labor and fuel instead of addressing each issue in isolation. - The report says that kind of coordinated approach is needed to build a regulatory ecosystem that reflects how freight is actually moved.

The bottom line: - MyTSV’s central claim is that trucking’s challenges are no longer separate headaches. - They are a connected system of costs and constraints that can weaken freight capacity across the U.S. if left unresolved.