ORLANDO, Fla. — Hours-of-Service regulations and an ongoing shortage of professional drivers are two of the top 10 concerns for fleet managers in the US.

That was the finding of a detailed study conducted by the American Transport Research Institute (ATRI) and released here today as part of the American Trucking Associations annual management convention. The survey was based on responses from more than 5,000 American trucking executives.

Other top 10 issues included: fuel issues; congestion; government regulations; tolls and highway funding; tort reform and legal issues; truck driver training; environmental issues; and on-board truck technology. In 2006, a similar study found the top trucking industry concerns were the driver shortage and fuel issues. ATA plans to use the surveys findings to help steer its policy initiatives, the association announced.

I have long advocated for the industry to better prepare itself to deal with change, said ATA chairman Ray Kuntz upon learning of the results. And one way to do so is to better anticipate the challenges ahead. The ATRI survey results are invaluable in telling us what is important to motor carriers and which strategies ATA should pursue on their behalf.

Bill Graves, CEO of the ATA, added On every legislative and regulatory topic, issues come and go so quickly today. If were not at the table with sound, science-based information and a common sense plan of action, then were going to get left behind and saddled with solutions that have no bearing on moving Americas freight safely and efficiently.

The full report, Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry 2007, is available online at www.atri-online.org. In addition to identifying key industry concerns, the survey outlines strategies that could be employed to help address each of the concerns identified. For hours-of-service, for instance, the paper proposes the industry: advocate for increased flexibility of the split sleeper berth provision; continue advocating for the 11- and 34-hour provisions in the current US HoS; and continue researching the safety and productivity impacts of the new HoS rules. HoS concerns ranked fourth in tthe 2005 and 2006 versions of the study.