Do local trucking jobs have better retention?

Way to go! Sadly, the only way to get into trucking today, is the mega/otr schpiel. It has a horrific turnover rate. BUT, if you stay the course, like you did, it looks mighty impressive to a local running outfit later on. There's a reason local jobs are hard to get, nobody ever quits. Like you say, if someone is looking to quit, here's a success story. Good work.

 

LTL jobs average under 10% annual turnover. Few jobs beat that.

OTR LT jobs consistently have 100% turnover. Before the 2008 recession companies like Swift even reported 120-130% turnover. People left the company quicker then they could heard them in the door!

So yes there is a vast difference. Indicators: Driver turnover rate swelled in second quarter

 

@ad356 Have you seen the new ad from werner. They must be desperate to fill out those spots.

 

Basically you are right. However there is one small exception IF someone qualifies. Here in Virginia you can get a grant to attend a driver school with the government paying for it. There are 2 people I know that went through this program came out of school with a class A CDL got OJT and are working local. Some of these local company's are so hard up for drivers they will train you.

 

Better companies have better retention. The higher the pay and the lower the bs factor, the more likely people are to stay.

Local jobs are easier to keep people interested though, when things get slow no one likes time off, but time off at home leaves drivers much less pissed off than time off at a truck stop 1700 miles from home with no idea when you'll be heading out.

 

What do you guys do on the the off season of agriculture or construction? Surely you guys go find other temp work?