Fourth-Quarter Driver Turnover Makes Surprise Drop
After a year of quarterly increases, the turnover rate for truck drivers at large truckload fleets unexpectedly dipped one percentage point to an annualized rate of 88%, according to American Trucking AssociationsChief Economist Bob Costello

After a year of quarterly increases, the turnover rate for truck drivers at large truckload fleets unexpectedly dipped one percentage point to an annualized rate of 88%, according to American Trucking AssociationsChief Economist Bob Costello.
"This reprieve, while surprising, is likely temporary," says Costello. "As the economy continues to recover, freight volumes should continue to grow, which along with regulatory challenges related to hours-of-service and the government's CSA fleet oversight program, will continue to cause the driver market to tighten and the turnover rate to rise."
Turnover among large truckload fleets had risen to 89% in the third quarter of 2011 after bottoming out at 39% in the first quarter of 2010.
For all of 2011, the large truckload turnover rate averaged 83% - the highest average since 2007 when churn averaged 117%.
At small truckload firms, with less than $30 million in annual revenue, the turnover rate dipped to 55% from 57% in the previous quarter. The fourth quarter turnover rate for less-than-truckload fleets fell to just 7% from 10% in the third quarter.
More Fleet Management

Jamie Hagen Gets Real About Running a Small Fleet in an Uncertain Economy
Small fleet owner Jamie Hagen says new legal risks, volatile fuel prices, and a changing freight market are forcing small carriers to rethink how they operate -- and what they can afford.
Read More →Jamie Hagen Gets Real About Freight, Fuel Prices, Safety, and Small-Fleet Survival
Running a small trucking fleet right now isn’t easy, especially right now. And Jamie Hagen doesn’t sugarcoat it.
Read More →Jamie Hagen Gets Real About Freight, Fuel Prices, Safety, and Small-Fleet Survival
Running a small trucking fleet right now isn’t easy, especially right now. And Jamie Hagen doesn’t sugarcoat it.
Read More →
Data Lock‑In or Integration Lock‑Out?
Data fragmentation is costing dealerships, OEMs, fleets, and upfitters millions. Here’s why interoperability may be the fix the trucking industry needs.
Read More →What Trucking Fleets and Brokers Need to Know About This Supreme Court Case
In May, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that freight brokers can be held liable for damages if a truck they have contracted with is involved in an accident. Listen as this transportation attorney breaks down the ruling and its implications for the trucking industry.
Read More →
The Trucking Industry’s Threat Intelligence Gap
The trucking industry has no shortage of cybersecurity reports and cargo crime statistics. What it lacks is timely, operational intelligence that fleets can actually use.
Read More →
Truck Crash Rates Are Down. So Why Do Insurance Costs Keep Rising?
ATRI’s latest research points to litigation, social inflation, and soaring claims costs as key drivers behind record-high liability premiums for trucking fleets. But there are things motor carriers can do.
Read More →
ATA Truck Tonnage Holds Steady in April at Highest Levels Since 2022
ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was unchanged in April after a strong March gain, with freight volumes remaining at their highest levels since late 2022.
Read More →
Fleetworthy Launches Connected Platform for Fleet Readiness Across Safety and Compliance, Toll Management, and Weigh Station Bypass
Fleetworthy has unveiled three major product launches it says mark a new era in fleet readiness.
Read More →Behind the SCOTUS Broker Ruling Part 1
Transportation attorney Greg Feary breaks down the recent Supreme Court decision that brokers can be held liable for damages in truck accidents and what it means for the trucking industry going forward.
Read More →
