ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Driver turnover has always been a problem for trucking companies, but changing jobs may be just as costly to drivers, according to study findings released at the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) annual meeting in March.

The study found that the average driver who changes jobs eight times during a 30-year career will lose not only wages, but medical coverage, pension benefits, paid vacation, and miles due to lack of seniority. This same driver will be unemployed and uncompensated four months throughout their career because of job changes, will go 21 months without medical coverage, and will lose 84 months of non-eligibility for pension plan participation.

“If drivers know the financial damages they are causing to themselves by switching companies frequently, they might opt to stay at one company longer,” said Ron Dowdy, chairman of the TCA Driver Recruitment and Retention Panel.

A second study released at the meeting focused on drivers’ perceptions of the job. That study found that there are numerous factors contributing to a driver’s overall job satisfaction, including wages, fringe benefits, time at home, treatment by the company, quality of the routes driven, type of equipment, amount of responsibility and opportunities for advancement. Of the 736 drivers included in the study, 60 percent reported that a clearly defined career path that involved progressing to more challenging routes, and eventually to business responsibilities in addition to driving, would make them more satisfied with their job. Such a career path would also make them less likely to quit, put more effort into their job, be more loyal, tell others about their company, and feel more committed to a future with the company.

The same study also found that replacing a driver costs the average truckload carrier approximately $8,234. Although many of the managers who were surveyed admitted that the cost of driver turnover is high, most claimed they did not know drivers wanted opportunities to be creative and grow on the job. They also did not know that many drivers want the chance to get involved in non-driving work.

“Management needs to adjust its thinking somewhat,” said Brenda Lantz, one of the study’s authors. n