Driver Turnover Accelerates

The driver turnover rate at large truckload carriers rose in the first quarter of 2018, said the American Trucking Association.

“The uptick in turnover is consistent with continued tightness in the market for drivers,” said Bob Costello, the association’s chief economist. “Anecdotally, carriers continue to struggle both recruiting and retaining quality drivers—leading to increasing wages.”

According to ATA’s Trucking Activity Report, the annualized turnover rate at fleets with more than $30 million in annual revenue jumped six points to 94 percent. The increase set turnover at these carriers 20 percentage points higher than in the first quarter of 2017.

The turnover rate at carriers under that $30-million mark rose two points to 10 percent. At still smaller carriers, the rate sunk to 73 percent but was seven points higher than the same period last year.

“Finding enough qualified drivers remains a tremendous challenge for the trucking industry and one that if not solved will threaten the entire supply chain,” Costello said.