The American Transportation Research Institute has released its 2009 “Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry Report“, and guess what the top issue of concern is? Right on! The economy. What else?

Last year, the economy was ranked number two. This year, over 51% of survey respondents pretty much said “It’s the economy, stupid.”

Diesel prices in the U.S. have fallen for the fifth straight week. Can you say “Hooray!”? Back during the week of August 31, the average price of diesel was $2.64 per gallon; this week, it’s $2.58. Almost exactly a year ago, prices were just coming down from the highs of summer, dropping to $3.87 per gallon.

A recent survey reports that long-haul truckers are infected with high rates of hepatitis C (inflammation of the liver), but are mostly unaware they have the virus.

It would be great if you could keep going, and going, and never stop to eat, wouldn‘t it? You‘d certainly get to your destination with your load well on schedule. But, alas, eating is important. Yet sometimes, even if you wanted to pull over at the nearest exit to grab some grub, that’s not just possible. You might be out in the middle of no where with no convenience stores or “fast casual” restaurants around. So what can you do?

Have you ever been driving for what seems like an eternity, and you stop at a rest stop for a break, get out your truck, grab your back, and make an “Uhnnnhhh!” noise? That’s the sound of you not limbering up enough for your long hauls.