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With turnover at truckload fleets ranging from 69% to 90% and the cost to replace a single driver sitting anywhere from $8,234- $20,729, addressing driver turnover should be top of mind for most fleets. 

Many fleet professionals think high driver turnover is an inherent, time-consuming challenge of the trucking industry, but—though it may sound hard to believe—any fleet can reduce their driver turnover with a few key steps. There are four proven strategies for engaging drivers and increasing retention any fleet can implement today. 

Some motor carrier executives, freight brokerages and others in the industry are using hub-to-hub business models that address the problems of driver turnover, deadhead miles and long waits at loading docks by reshaping how cargo is shipped.

The third-quarter turnover rate at large truckload carriers fell 11 percentage points to 87%, marking its lowest point since the first quarter of 2017 when it was 74%, American Trucking Associations reported.

Driver turnover is on pace to hit the highest annual rate in five years, but experts point to several ways carriers can limit the churn, including better hiring interviews, bonuses, expanded benefits, use of mobile freight apps and empathy when drivers are confronting hardship.

The annualized rate of driver turnover at large truckload fleets in the second quarter jumped 4 percentage points year-over-year to 98%, according to American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Activity Report.

More than 70% of driver turnover occurs in the first year of employment, and 36% of drivers leave a firm within their first three months on the job, according to an analysis from Stay Metrics, the South Bend, Ind.-based driver turnover and retention consultant to carriers.

Driver turnover at both large and small truckload carriers surged in the second quarter and could go higher in the months ahead, according to data released by American Trucking Associations.