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
Harvest Marches on as River Logistics And Inputs Steer Bids
John Appel with the Farmers Business Network (FBN) joins us for a closer look at the 2026 Crop Protection Market Outlook Report.
Farmers display a unique optimism — planting with the expectation that weather, basis, and prices will improve by harvest — asserting that the profession is an identity, not just a job.
Imported lean beef continues to play a critical role in U.S. hamburger and ground-beef production, with any added volume from Argentina serving as a supplement — not a market overhaul.
Margin Protection and the new MCO add county-level margin tools — with earlier price discovery, input cost triggers, and high subsidy rates — to complement on-farm risk plans for 2026.
For aging operators and their rural neighbors, staying socially engaged is a practical strategy to preserve decision-making capacity and farm vitality.