Trucking Troubles: Why is there a perpetual driver turnover rate in the trucking industry?

New data is shedding light on labor hurdles in the trucking industry.

While we have heard reports of a driver shortage, it appears to be more of a retention issue, with annual turnover rates of 90% for major truckload carriers.

Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, spoke with RFD-TV’s Tammi Arender about some of the details pertaining to this perpetual driver churn, why it has not been corrected, and President Trump’s decision to require English proficiency to be a truck driver.

Related Stories
Border closures tied to the threat of New World Screwworm continue to stall Mexican fed cattle imports, tightening U.S. feeder cattle supplies over time — triggering feedlot closures that hinder herd rebuilding efforts, threaten the beef supply chain, and shrink production while consumer prices stay elevated.
Brooks York of AgriSompo discusses projected prices and how farmers are adapting their crop insurance strategies as the price discovery period comes to a close.
Ranger Road Fire has burned 283,000 acres across Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle and is nearing containment, as ranchers begin assessing cattle and infrastructure losses as they look toward recovery.
Agriculture avoided major disruptions, but trade uncertainty remains elevated.
The debate now matters as much as the policy — market rules and regulatory clarity depend on whether Congress can finish the bill this year.