If it feels like carriers have become pickier about tickets, accidents and experience, you are not imagining it.
What changed
In ATRI's 2025 survey of the industry's top concerns, lawsuit abuse reform climbed to number 2, its highest ever, and insurance cost and availability ranked number 3. Insurance premiums have risen year after year, and very large court verdicts against trucking companies have become more common.
What that means for hiring
Insurance companies look at every driver a carrier adds. When premiums climb, carriers tighten their rules:
- Minimum experience goes up, especially for new accounts.
- Fewer tickets and accidents allowed in the last 3 to 5 years.
- Longer look-back for DUI and serious violations.
- More dash cameras and in-cab monitoring.
That is why two carriers can give completely different answers to the same driver. One may accept a driver with two tickets; another may stop at one.
How to use this
- Know your record exactly: MVR, PSP and DAC. See our guide to the three reports.
- Apply where you qualify. Every rejection is wasted time, and a pile of background checks helps no one.
- Protect your record now. One avoidable ticket can cost you more in lost job options than it ever cost in fines.
We keep the hiring rules of the carriers we work with on file and match your record before you apply. That is the fastest way through a stricter market.
Source: FleetOwner on ATRI 2025 top issues
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