Labor: Trucker turnover rises as U.S. emerges from slump

摘要

The annualized turnover rate for large and small truckload carriers increased by double-digit percentage points in the third quarter this year as the freight business recovered from a slump following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the American Trucking Associations. ATA anticipates driver turnover will continue to rise as the economy recovers from the crisis created by the pandemic. The turnover rate for truckload carriers with more than $30 million in annual revenue rose 10 percentage points, to 92% on an annualized basis, while the rate for smaller truckload carriers rose 14 percentage points, to 74%. Despite those increases, the 2020 average turnover rate is still running behind 2019, ATA said in an announcement. The annualized turnover rate at less-than-truckload carriers also rose during the third quarter, though to a lesser extent. These smaller carriers saw driver churn increase by two points to 14%. "After a calamitous second quarter, trucking – along with the rest of the economy – began recovering in the third quarter, leading to a tightening of the driver market," said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. "With a more robust freight market, we saw an increase in carriers seeking drivers, which led to increased turnover."