Research critical to OOIDA mission
In representing small-business truckers and professional drivers, OOIDA advocates for its members in various ways.
Research is a key component of that advocacy, particularly for the bulk of OOIDA members – owner-operators.
According to the OOIDA Foundation, the research and education arm of the Association, most researchers don’t have access to enough owner-operators to properly collect and analyze information from this critical segment of the trucking industry.
Since 1998, the Foundation has engaged OOIDA members to communicate the opinions of owner-operators with federal, state and local agencies.
This data guided the Foundation’s approach and helped create one of the most extensive profiles of an often-overlooked group in trucking.
The 2025 version of the OOIDA survey can be completed anonymously online.
“We want to make sure that we are focusing on the issues that you desire,” the Foundation said. “It’s important to us that we support both your business and lifestyle. We need to know what you think on critical topics so we can direct our energies appropriately.”
2024 OOIDA member survey
Last year, OOIDA’s survey reached a random sample of more than 19,000 owner-operator members.
Of the respondents, 46% said they were leased to motor carriers, compared with 44% operating under their own authority.
The average respondent drove more than 102,000 miles last year, 20% of which were deadhead miles attributed to adverse market conditions.
Survey respondents spend $18,900 annually on maintenance, including $3,400 on emission-related repairs and $3,300 on damage from poor road conditions. Independent operators spend more on tires than leased owner-operators. Maintenance costs increased to 23 cents per mile.
Freight rates, freight availability and motor carrier reputation were key factors in carrier selection, according to responses from leased owner-operators.
High turnover resulted from low pay, a lack of respect, and insufficient freight. 40% of leased owner-operators worked for five or more carriers.
The freight market is still stuck in low gear, and signs of a quick rebound are nowhere to be found.
🔗 https://t.co/dZ1IF6VY5H pic.twitter.com/5jMscsX1Wq— Land Line Magazine (@Land_Line_Mag) December 2, 2025
Research focused on one-truck operations, which account for nearly half of all motor carriers, found that securing freight and complying with complex regulations pose issues.
Despite direct contracts yielding higher earnings, brokers and load boards were the primary sources of freight.
Difficulty challenging erroneous safety violations through the DataQ system was reported. Insurance, permits and regulatory fees were also of concern.
Fuel costs, declining freight rates and parking shortages were the most significant challenges. LL