ARA Urges Immediate Industry Action as Fuel Costs Push Recovery Agencies to the Brink

DALLAS, TX (May 11, 2026) – The American Recovery Association (ARA) is urging lenders, forwarders, and industry partners to recognize the growing operational strain that record-high fuel prices are placing on repossession and recovery agencies across the country.

While crude oil prices have remained near the $100-per-barrel range, global instability, supply shortages, transportation disruptions, and the ongoing impact of international conflict have driven fuel prices at the pump to historic highs. In many areas throughout the country, diesel fuel prices have exceeded $7.00 per gallon — levels that are unsustainable for many recovery operations.

At the same time, account volume in many markets has already slowed significantly, creating an increasingly difficult environment for recovery agencies attempting to maintain service levels while managing dramatically increased operating expenses.

Recovery agencies nationwide are being forced to reevaluate how they handle accounts in order to remain operational. Many agencies have had to strategically limit coverage areas, reduce skip tracing and field activity, consolidate assignments, or prioritize only accounts with the highest probability of recovery. Others have been forced to temporarily suspend operations on certain accounts altogether due to rising fuel and operational costs.

The recovery industry operates almost entirely through mobile field operations. When fuel prices rise to these levels, the cost of running every truck, every mile, and every assignment increases substantially. Agencies are doing everything possible to continue servicing clients effectively, but the current environment is creating serious operational challenges.

ARA also noted that these concerns have already been brought directly to lenders and industry leaders through discussions at NARS 2026 in April and during a dedicated industry roundtable focused specifically on fuel costs and operational sustainability. While many participants acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, the most common response from lenders and forwarders has been that they are “reviewing the data.”

Unfortunately, the industry no longer has the luxury of waiting.

It has now been more than four months since fuel costs began reaching these historic levels, and recovery agencies across the country urgently need meaningful assistance and collaboration from the clients and partners they serve. Many agencies have continued to absorb increased expenses in an effort to maintain service expectations and long-standing relationships, but the current pace of rising operational costs is not sustainable over the long term.

If current conditions continue without relief or operational adjustments, lenders and industry partners may begin to see:

Longer recovery timelines
Reduced agent coverage in rural and extended service areas
Increased operational restrictions on lower-priority accounts
Fewer accounts being actively worked
A reduction in the number of active recovery agencies within the industry

ARA believes the time has come for meaningful industry-wide action. Recovery agencies, lenders, forwarders, and industry partners must come together to address the mounting operational challenges created by sustained fuel costs and economic pressures.

Quite simply, it is time to stop talking about the problem and start doing something about it.

Without timely solutions and realistic operational adjustments, the industry faces the very real risk of losing experienced operators and agencies that are critical to maintaining recovery coverage across the country. If current conditions continue unchecked, lenders and forwarders will inevitably see fewer accounts being actively worked, reduced coverage areas, longer recovery timelines, and a shrinking network of qualified recovery professionals.

The recovery industry has continued to adapt and absorb these unprecedented costs for months, but the current path is not sustainable indefinitely. Meaningful action and collaboration are necessary to preserve the stability, capacity, and long-term health of the recovery industry before lasting damage is done to the network of professional recovery agencies that lenders depend on every day.

“The recovery industry has always adapted, endured, and continued to serve its clients regardless of the challenges placed before it,” said Todd Case, ARA President. “But the current economic pressures are pushing many agencies to a breaking point. Without meaningful support and operational changes, we risk losing experienced recovery professionals and agencies essential to this industry’s effective functioning. If that happens, the long-term impact on recovery coverage, response times, and lender performance across the country will be substantial.”

Todd Case | President
American Recovery Association

ARA Urges Immediate Industry Action as Fuel Costs Push Recovery Agencies to the Brink – ARA Urges Immediate Industry Action as Fuel Costs Push Recovery Agencies to the Brink – ARA Urges Immediate Industry Action as Fuel Costs Push Recovery Agencies to the Brink

About the American Recovery Association (ARA):
The American Recovery Association is the world’s largest association dedicated to the advancement and professional development of the recovery and remarketing industry. ARA provides compliance support, education, and advocacy for hundreds of recovery professionals nationwide. ARA is the founder and host of the annual three-day North American Repossessors Summit (NARS) — the largest repossession conference in the industry. For more information, go to repo.org or call (972) 755-4755.