In the third quarter, smaller truckload carriers took on long-haul routes as larger truckload carriers exited that segment, according to a study by the American Trucking Assns. With long-haul routes less popular among drivers, smaller carriers in turn saw driver turnover increase at a faster rate than larger ones, ATA said.
Large truckload carrier linehaul driver turnover increased 11% to 121%, while smaller truckload carrier turnover ballooned 14% to 114%.
Year-to-date through October, the average length of haul for large truckload carriers fell 1.5% while small truckload carriers increased 12% compared to the same period last year.
“As more and more large carriers try to get out of the long-haul market, more small carriers are filling the gap,” stated ATA chief economist Bob Costello. “This is resulting in higher turnover rates for the segment of the industry that traditionally has a much lower turnover rate.”
On average, small truckload carriers have enjoyed a 17% lower turnover rate than larger ones since 1995. But in the third quarter that gap was reduced to 7%.
