In its updated An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that after decreasing by four percent from 2011 to 2012, the total average marginal cost per mile for a for-hire motor carrier increased by three percent – $1.63 to $1.68 – from 2012 to 2013.
The update, released late last year, showed that rising fuel, repair, insurance, permit, and tolls costs, along with increased driver wage and benefits required to help with retention of experienced, qualified drivers, just outweighed falling lease, purchase and tire costs.
After the Great Recession and a sharp decline in fuel prices resulted in decreased industry costs between 2008 and 2009, ATRI says costs steadily rose through 2010 and 2011, with a slight decline in 2012.
Total average marginal cost per mile:
- 2013: $1.68.
- 2012: $1.63.
- 2011: $1.71.
- 2010: $1.55.
- 2009: $1.45
- 2008: $1.65
ATRI, the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, has been collecting and analyzing financial and operational data of trucking fleets annually since 2008.
To request a copy of the complete 2014 update to An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, visit http://atri-online.org.
