Louisiana truckers rank lawsuit abuse and insurance costs over the high price of fuel as their top concerns for 2026. Louisiana Motor Transport Association executive director Renee Amar says while state lawmakers have passed reforms to help improve the property and the private auto insurance reform, commercial auto insurance rates have not been addressed.
“There’s not been any really big, bold reform taken to help the commercial industry; and just so people understand, this is not just 18-wheelers; this is anybody who has to buy a commercial policy,” Amar explained.
Amar says while truckers across the country are more concerned about fuel prices, Louisiana trucking companies are still fighting a different battle. She says this should send a clear message to lawmakers Louisiana’s legal climate continues to put local trucking companies at a disadvantage.
“It’s a litigation environment and a culture that we have created; and part of that is some of these billboards that we have, where they love to stand on trucks and say, ‘Sue, sue, sue,’” Amar noted.
The third biggest concern for the trucking industry are the high gas prices. Diesel prices have been well above $5 a gallon since the summer. She says the impact to the small truckers is severe.
“So you’re going to see independent owner-operators, they’re just going to go to the wayside. And those real small fleets, those guys, we’re not going to see those over the next six months. They’re going to have closed down shop,” Amar said.
Number four on the list of top concerns is driver shortage, number five is compliance, safety accountability, number six is driver compensation, seventh is driver distraction.
