Fleetowner 3007 Driver2

Driver turnover hits highest point in 4 years

Sept. 13, 2012

Driver turnover for large fleets surpassed the 100% mark for the first time in more than four years, according to the American Trucking Assns. (ATA).

ATA’s quarterly Trucking Activity Report noted that linehaul fleets reporting more than $30 million in revenue saw a 16% rise in driver turnover in the second quarter, reaching 106%. The last time it was over 100% was the first quarter of 2008 and the current level is the highest It’s been since the fourth quarter of 2007.

“We continue to see steady, albeit sluggish, growth in freight volumes, which increases demand for drivers,” said Bob Costello, ATA chief economist. “That, coupled with continued pressure on fleets to improve their safety records as a result of regulatory oversight changes, is increasing competition among carriers for drivers with clean histories.”

The turnover rate at smaller truckload fleets also rose, climbing 15% in the second quarter to 86%. That is the highest point since the third quarter of 2007.

“We have been contending that the driver shortage is by and large qualitative, rather than quantitative,” Costello said. “Despite some estimates, I believe that in terms of raw numbers, the trucking industry is currently short somewhere in the range of 20,000 to 30,000 drivers. However, if we continue to see growth in freight volumes, we can expect that number to rise in the near future, exacerbating the qualitative shortage and creating a quantitative one.”

The turnover rate for less-than-truckload fleets averaged just 9% in the second quarter, up from 8% in the previous quarter.

Sponsored Recommendations

Heavy-Duty Maintenance Checklist

A maintenance checklist can help ensure you hit everything necessary during an inspection. Check out our free downloadable checklist to help streamline your repairs.

Five Ways a Little Data Can Save Your Company Millions

While most trucking and logistics companies rely on cellular to keep their work fleet connected, satellite has the ability to connect anywhere and through small data transmission...

Fleet Case Study: 15% YOY Growth for ITDS

Learn how this small trucking company scaled significantly and maintained outstanding customer service without adding additional people. Sylectus TMS can automate operations and...

Unlocking Fleet Safety & Efficiency: The Managed Service Advantage

Want to boost your fleet's safety and efficiency? Tune in now to discover the power of Managed Services in optimizing your safety program, streamlining operations, and making ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!