On the road with a Road Warrior
Powering Travel Trends Report: Results from our study of workers who spend 3+ months traveling every year
What does it take to keep your workforce thriving while on the road?
We dove deep into the world of work in some of America’s most travel-heavy industries: construction, disaster relief, transportation, engineering, and field service. We asked these Road Warriors—and the people booking their travel—what they love (and don’t love) about life on the road.
Key insights
Road Warriors are spending more time on the road, and they don’t mind this increase, but they want more control over their travel.
93%
Report increased travel in 2024
77%
Attribute travel growth to high industry demand
80%
Rate their travel experiences 8/10 or higher
52%
Spend 3+ hours a week managing travel
46%
Want more control over their travel dates
More time on the road, less time managing travel
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Meet the Road Warrior
Road Warriors spend 3+ months a year on the road. They may need to park a big rig, store heavy equipment, and do their laundry. Of those surveyed, 93% report increased travel in the past year, with 77% attributing it to high demand in their industries. Of these Road Warriors, the majority:
Have kids at home
Make $75K+ per year
Average 38+ years old
Have mid-level roles
They might leave home with little notice, or need to prolong their trips. They like traveling for work, and want more of it.
More travel, more career opportunities
Say travel accelerates their career growth
Would switch jobs if it meant more travel
Have left jobs because of insufficient travel
Overall, travel has a positive impact on well-being. While on the road:
Book a trip that meets your needs
Road Warriors want more control over their travel schedule
Have left a job because the travel schedule changed too often last minute
Would change jobs to gain more control of their schedule
They spend hours every week managing travel schedules that are constantly changing
Back in the office, travel coordinators are tired of handling all the changes, too
Say they expect plans to change within a week of scheduled travel more than half the time
Making last-minute travel changes is their top-ranked challenge, following by securing good deals and managing team schedules
Make last-minute changes a breeze
Most Road Warriors like where they stay
Have asked for better accommodations, and their feedback led to improvements
But their accommodations don’t always meet basic needs
Being able to park a large truck , find healthy food options, and be located near a job site are essential for a satisfying stay. Satisfaction leads to productivity. Some say these needs are not met.
Proximity to work
Say the properties are too far from work
Entertainment
Say there’s a lack of recreational options, with little to do after work
Parking
Say there’s a lack of adequate parking around the property
Food options
Say there are limited food options in the area
Guarantee a great stay
For travel coordinators, keeping costs in check is a challenge
90% report that their organization’s travel spend increased in 2024 compared to 2023
22%
find it hard to secure competitive rates
44%
say staying within budget is a top priority when choosing accommodations
Road Warriors feel the pain in their own pocket too
25% face financial strain due to personal credit card holds for incidentals
Save money without sweating it
Ready for modern travel management?
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Research methodology
Engine’s Powering Travel Trends Report: Road Warrior Edition uncovers key insights and trends shaping the business travel landscape. It offers a holistic view of the ever-evolving business travel environment, providing actionable insights to help companies navigate changing needs and make informed decisions. To achieve this objective, a quantitative survey was conducted by Phronesis Partners to a sample of 800 employees who travel for work and 1,200 employees who manage travel at US companies in construction, disaster relief, insurance, engineering and field services, and transportation.