1Q Driver Turnover Rates Rise
Driver turnover rates rose in the first quarter at both large truckload and less-than-truckload carriers, while the rate fell modestly for smaller truckload carriers, according to new American Trucking Associations data.
13 percentage points last year — the first decline since 2001 — while it rose by an identical percentage at smaller truckload carriers, according to a survey produced by American Trucking Associations.
Large truckload fleets’ turnover rate rose 6 percentage points to 127%, the highest rate since the fourth quarter of 2005, when it was 136%.
LTL line-haul drivers’ turnover rate rose 10 points to 14%, the lowest turnover rate of among trucking sectors, ATA said.
The turnover rate for smaller truckload carriers dipped to 102% from 112% in the fourth quarter of last year, but the rate for small truckload carriers has been at least 100% for an unprecedented six straight quarters.
ATA said softer freight demand was a likely contributor to large truckload turnover, with the group ending the quarter with 1.8% fewer drivers than the start of the quarter, a second straight quarterly reduction.
Small truckload carriers added 3.5% to their driver ranks for a second straight gain, while LTL reduced overall employment by 1.6% and saw only a small increase in the overall number of drivers, ATA said.
