What Are the Challenges Facing the Trucking Industry in 2026?
Published:Nov 14, 2025
5 min. read
The trucking and freight industry has been hit hard by trade tariffs and even with the industry expected to show moderate growth in the next year, many trucking companies still have questions about the future of the industry. Many trucking companies planning for the future want to know — what are the challenges facing the trucking industry in 2026? We hope to answer that question and more at TenTrucks to help you better plan ahead for your future and reach your goals.
5 Challenges Trucking Companies Will Face in 2026
Commercial trucks move an estimated 11.2 – 11.4 billion tons of cargo every year in the United States — and despite the challenges that face trucking companies, the industry remains a linchpin of the American economy. With the industry expected to face a long list of challenges this year and beyond, it is important to have a deep understanding of those challenges in order to prepare for the future with the right tools and strategies that will help you reach and surpass your goals — and the competition — in spite of those challenges.
Here is a deeper look at a few key challenges that trucking companies will face in 2026:
1. Shortage of Qualified Drivers
Working as a commercial driver has its own challenges with long hours on the road and a difficult work-life balance. These factors and more have led to a shortage of qualified drivers in the past few years, a statistic that additional projections indicate could be even more significant in 2026 with the driver shortage expected to surpass 100,000 drivers in North America. With the right driver retention strategies and innovative solutions that can help make day-to-day work simpler, trucking companies can overcome this challenge.
2. Increased Equipment Costs
Repairs and downtime can be expensive for a trucking company and the increased costs for parts, equipment, and repairs may prove to be a major challenge for trucking and freight companies. With the increased cost of materials, due in part to trade tariffs, the cost of replacement parts and new equipment is expected to increase in the next year, with the price of a new Class 8 truck expected to surpass $200,000 in 2026. Trucking companies can mitigate the increased costs with preventative maintenance.
3. New Technology Solutions
The continued development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and transportation management software — while developed to simplify freight operations — pose their own challenges. Trucking companies that invest in new technology solutions need to be able to integrate them with their current systems, which can pose a challenge. The investment in new technology, like the TenTrucks TMS, may require additional training on the technology to help minimize any complications with integration.
4. Economic Instability
The health of the economy is a key factor in the health of the trucking industry. When the economy grows and thrives, the trucking and freight industry will grow and thrive along with it. The current trade tariffs have a massive impact on the economy and with unpredictable tariffs, the health of the economy can be difficult to predict. That economic instability is a real challenge for trucking and freight companies that can be mitigated with transportation management systems developed to make freight companies more efficient and profitable.
5. Updated Environmental Regulations
The drive towards more eco-friendly trucking and transportation have led to stricter environmental regulations around the globe and in the United States. The push for more sustainable trucking practices has led to carbon taxes, alternative fuel trucks, all-electric commercial trucks, and environmental regulations like the California Advanced Clean Fleets proposition present a challenge for trucking companies. More efficient truck routes and fleet operations can help trucking companies become more environmentally friendly.
More FAQs About Trucking Industry Challenges in 2026
Do you have additional questions about the challenges that the trucking industry will face in 2026? We have put together a list of additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that many trucking companies have about these key challenges with short answers that may help you better prepare for the future.
- Are operational costs still a major challenge in the trucking industry?
- Yes. Higher costs for fuel, insurance, and parts are an ongoing challenge for trucking and freight companies across the United States that minimize profitability.
- Are trucking companies buying new trucks?
- Keeping fleet vehicles on the road is a primary challenge for trucking companies and with higher equipment costs, fewer and fewer companies are purchasing new trucks. This has led to increased demand for pre-owned and refurbished Class 8 trucks.
- Will autonomous trucks replace drivers in 2026?
- No. Testing of autonomous and self-driving trucks will continue, but is still limited, and this technology is not expected to replace drivers in any major capacity in 2026.
- Will electric trucks replace diesel trucks in 2026?
- No. The use of electric trucks is not expected to outpace the use of diesel trucks in 2026. The higher costs and limited range of electric trucks do not make them a viable option at this point.
- How will e-commerce business impact trucking in 2026?
- The increase in e-commerce in recent years presents a key challenge for trucking companies, leading to an increased demand for last-mile and regional freight carriers.
READ MORE: Top 5 Growing Trends in the Future of Trucking
What are the challenges facing the trucking industry in 2026? This overview of key challenges to the trucking industry will help trucking and freight companies better prepare for the future and drive long-term success.
Contact TenTrucks today for more information on our TenTrucks TMS platform and dispatching services!