Over the past eight years, the operational costs associated with trucking have increased in response to driver shortages, fluctuating fuel costs, and volatile permit and licensing costs. The cost of purchasing or leasing has risen from $0.213 per mile to $0.230 per mile while the cost of repairs and maintenance has risen from $0.0103 per mile to $0.156 per mile. In both cases, these incremental increases take a toll on auto hauler fleets that are already experiencing a soft market. In response, companies are holding onto equipment longer, according to the 2016 operational costs survey conducted by the American Transportation …