Driver turnover plummets in US
ARLINGTON, Va. – Driver turnover at large US truckload fleets slipped 10% in the fourth quarter, reaching 71%, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA).
That’s the lowest point turnover has hit in six years. Smaller fleets saw driver turnover plummet 16% to 64%, its lowest level in five years.
“Continued declines in turnover rate reflects the overall choppiness of the freight market,” said ATA chief economist Bob Costello. “As inventory levels throughout the supply chain are drawn down to more normal levels, and freight volumes recover, we should see turnover rise along with concerns about the driver shortage.”
The turnover rate at large carriers has now decreased for four straight quarters. Driver turnover at less-than-load (LTL) fleets dipped 1% to 8%, the lowest level reported since the first quarter of 2016.
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Hi,Canada has the same “shortage” of Professional drivers as U.S.A. Their will be no change until wage scale is equal to other trades. The corporate [shippers} have taken advantage of “3rd. world” wages in trucking for the last 30 plus years. Unskilled labour in trucking has kept the wages low,but Commercial accidents are a daily occurance in Canada and U.S.A.
There is no driver shortage. If there was drivers would not be sitting around waiting to be reloaded and driver pay would be going up.
Also, turnover rate would decrease.
In my opinion the current drop in turnover is a direct result of regulations that make it more difficult for drivers to switch companies due to expense, waiting for approvals and random drug test results.
Therefore drivers will sit with the company they are with and become increasingly annoyed with their situation and make for an unhappy and unsafe driver.
Do we know any stats for Canada?