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
Read the full press release published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A look at the legislative year ahead as lawmakers return to Washington with a slate of trade concerns to tackle in 2026—from new Chinese tariffs on beef imports to the USMCA review this summer.
Farmer Bridge Assistance payments provide immediate balance-sheet support heading into 2026, but remain a short-term bridge rather than a substitute for long-term market recovery.
The New Year is here, but in Oregon, some ranchers and livestock producers are still trying to recover from record wildfires back in 2024.