Driver turnover has dropped to the lowest level in 6 years according to the American Trucking Association.
Defined by the ATA as any carrier with more than $30 million in revenue, large US truckload fleets now have a turnover rate of 71%. That’s a 10% drop in just one quarter, and the lowest driver turnover rate for large fleets in six years.
Turnover at smaller fleets dropped 16% to settle at a 64% turnover rate, the lowest in five years.
According to ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello, the drop in turnover rate is due largely to the “overall choppiness of the freight market.” When freight levels are high, drivers are in higher demand, and competition for experienced drivers spikes the turnover rate. In times of low freight volume, turnover falls… but usually not for long.
Costello expects that as “freight volumes recover, we should see turnover rise.” Along with the rise in turnover though, Costello also says he expects a rise in concern over the driver shortage.
The ATA is still warning that there is a shortage of drivers which will only get worse in the coming years. In the past, the carrier’s association has blamed burdensome regulations, problems training new drivers, and retiring truckers leaving the industry for the driver shortage.
Meanwhile, turnover for less-than-truckload fleets dropped to 8%.
Source: gobytrucknews, truckinginfo, logisticsmgmt, trucks, trucknews
Or maybe some have decided it just isnt worth the stress and have looked elsewhere for work ?
i whole heartly agree.
OTR isn’t worth it anymore. Long periods away from home, and the pay is below average at best. There’s a reason why people gone LTL and never looked back.
Pay them! and they will come…….
I was a driver for a”‘ V”” or “T” carrier until, I sat at at a pickup 7 hours and then my dispatcher told me to leave. No detention pay . then they sent me to a large food Dist. warehouse where I sat from 6: 30 until 3:30 AM . they left product on my truck and they said not to polite it was my Problem to get ride of? So I backed up to one of their dumpster and unloaded 60 boxes of Pop tarts They blocked me from leaving there property and called the Police. I was charge for illegally dumping and charged $ 450.00. This company does not care about drivers . After all day I was payed $ 16,00 for 160 miles and no detention pay, I Quit the next Day. Yeah you to can be a truck driver:!!!!
Pay them fairly ,treat them like human and you’ll see drivers…
There is no “driver shortage”. There are just companies with too many trucks.
Shortage of drivers willing to work 90 hours a week for 30 hours of pay
You are correct. Too much available equipment for tonnage available according to economists.