Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Feb. 23, 2026:
- Do you know your operating costs? ATRI wants to hear from you.
- Long-time truckers’ medical advocate passes.
- Medium-duty Internationals recalled -- here’s why.
ATRI issues call for carriers’ operational costs
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is calling on for-hire motor carriers to participate in its annual Operational Costs of Trucking report.
The annual report is a barometer of freight market conditions and a benchmarking tool for motor carriers of all sectors, from owner-operators to 10,000-plus-truck fleets, ATRI noted.
The report tracks cost metrics like driver pay, equipment expenditures and insurance premiums, as well as key performance indicators such as non-revenue mileage, driver utilization, mileage between breakdowns, and revenue-per-truck per-week.
All participating motor carriers receive a customized report that compares their costs and operations to an anonymized peer group of the same sector and size.
New in 2026, customized reports for multi-year participants will also include year-over-year comparisons to more directly evaluate trends over time.
For-hire motor carriers are invited to participate by Friday, April 24. Data for the year 2025 can be submitted online or by PDF -- both forms are available on ATRI’s website along with a sample customized report and other information for participants. All confidential data is protected and published only in anonymized averages.
[Related: Trucking costs hit all-time high excluding fuel]
St. Christopher Fund co-founder Dr. John McElligott passes
Dr. John McElligott, co-founder of the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF), passed away earlier this month. McElligott dedicated his life to improving the health, wellness, and financial stability of America’s truck drivers.
Dr. John McElligott
“Dr. John worked tirelessly for more than 30 years to support truck drivers,” said his wife, Lisa McElligott. “His dedication and passion for the industry are immeasurable. His sacrifices for others went above and beyond”
A respected voice in the trucking community, McElligott was also a regular guest on Sirius XM’s Road Dog Trucking channel show with Tim Ridley, where he shared practical medical insight and wellness advice tailored specifically to professional drivers.
“I stepped into this role as a new director last year, deeply aware that I’d be standing on the foundation he built,” said Courtney Niemann, Executive Director of the SCF. “We will all honor his legacy by continuing to serve drivers with urgency, integrity, and heart. Because of his vision, more than 4,000 drivers have received assistance and well above $5 million has gone directly toward helping families stay afloat during medical hardship. His commitment to prevention through health and wellness programs will continue guiding our mission for years to come.”
Born September 17, 1945, in Big Spring, Texas, McElligott moved as a young child to Terminal, Texas. His early academic years were challenging, but he graduated from Midland High School in 1963.
He joined the United States Navy in 1964, serving as a Navy Corpsman attached to the Marines during the Vietnam War. After four years of active duty and additional reserve service, he returned to higher education in the Physician Assistant Program at Duke University with renewed focus. He excelled in medicine and graduated at the top of his class. He served as a Physician Assistant for more than 16 years before further advancing his career. Duke University is home to the John McElligott Veterans Memorial Garden.
Dr. McElligott’s medical journey was marked by excellence and perseverance. He served as Assistant Medical Director at UT Southwestern Medical Center's Medical School at Parkland Hospital, helped train countless medical professionals, and advocated nationally for the advancement of Physician Assistants.
He later earned a Master of Public Health in Occupational Health and Safety from the University of Tennessee, attended medical school, and completed his residency at Yale Griffin Hospital -- finishing at the top of his class at age 40. He became a Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician, one of the first in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was elected a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
For more than 30 years, he operated two occupational health clinics, focusing primarily on the health and wellness of truck drivers, a population he believed was underserved and often overlooked.
In 2023, McElligott received the East Tennessee Healthcare Hero Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary service. He was also named to the Mid America Trucking Show (MATS) Wall of Fame as a distinguished contributor to the industry.
[Related: A health case for hours of service change]
Software issue affecting brakes prompts International recall
International Motors is recalling approximately 204 medium-duty trucks for an engine control unit (ECU) issue, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents.
The recall affects model year 2026-’27 International MV trucks. In the affected units, the ECU software may fail to engage the brakes with adaptive cruise control (ACC) or hill hold assist. A vehicle that does not automatically brake as expected increases the risk of a crash, the recall noted.
Dealers will update the brake ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 13. Owners can contact International's customer service at 1-800-448-7825 with recall number 26501. NHTSA’s recall number is 26V-084.
