The American Transportation Research Institute's annual Operational Costs of Trucking analysis tracks per-mile and per-hour expenses carriers incur operating commercial vehicles across the United States. The 2024 report captures cost trends across fuel, driver compensation, equipment depreciation, insurance, and maintenance.
Driver wages and benefits represent the largest single cost category for truckload carriers, accounting for approximately 38 percent of total operating costs on a per-mile basis. The driver pay increases carriers implemented during and after the freight boom have become a structural cost element, as carriers face continued pressure to retain qualified drivers.
Fuel costs, the second-largest cost component, declined from their 2022 peak but remained elevated compared to pre-pandemic baselines through 2024. Diesel prices directly affect fuel line items and fuel surcharge calculations in carrier contracts, creating revenue offsets that partially buffer carriers from pump price volatility.
Truck and trailer depreciation costs have risen as manufacturers raised equipment prices and lease rates adjusted upward. The transition toward newer emissions-compliant equipment added cost per unit compared to earlier generations. Insurance premiums per power unit also climbed, driven by litigation trends affecting the transportation sector.
Source: American Transportation Research Institute -- https://truckingresearch.org/research/operational-costs-of-trucking/