Trucking Freight Recovery Is Supply-Side, Not Demand-Driven, ATA Economist Tells NATSO Connect 2026
SHERIDAN, WYOMING - April 14, 2026 - The trucking industry's prolonged freight recession is showing signs of resolution, but the mechanism of recovery carries specific implications for truck stop and travel center operators managing capacity utilization and fuel demand planning. American Trucking Associations Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Bob Costello, speaking at NATSO Connect 2026 in late February, described the shift as a supply-side correction - driven by reduced carrier capacity rather than a rebound in freight volumes. The characterization matters directly for operators calibrating investment, services, and staffing against sector demand. Simultaneously, NATSO has stepped up federal regulatory engagement, including formal submissions on clean fuel tax credit rules and coordinated EPA-related filings with sector allies.