It's hard to find good people... and even harder to keep them. For risk and safety professionals managing fleets, whether regulated or non-regulated, the twin challenges of driver recruitment and retention have evolved from operational concerns into strategic imperatives that directly impact brand reputation, safety outcomes and bottom-line performance.
The data tells a compelling story about where we are and where we're headed.
Is There a Driver Shortage?
American Trucking Association (ATA) projects that by 2028, the industry could face a shortage of more than 160,000 qualified drivers. To put this in perspective, over 1.1 million drivers would need to be hired this decade just to meet growing demand and replace those leaving the workforce.
But here's where it gets interesting. Not everyone agrees this is simply a labor shortage problem. FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller argues that current struggles stem from "too much capacity chasing too little freight," pointing to market oversaturation driven by small, independent fleets. This perspective suggests we're dealing with a complex market imbalance rather than a straightforward supply-and-demand issue impacting driver recruiting and retention efforts.
However, the American Transportation Research Institute's (ATRI's) 2023 report ranked driver shortages as the fourth most critical issue facing the trucking industry, with driver retention closely following at number eight.
A Global Phenomenon
For multinational organizations and those working with global supply chains, these global driver recruiting and retention challenges may also present compounding issues that extend far beyond domestic operations. The International Road Transport Union (IRU) reported more than three million unfilled driver positions across 36 countries in 2023, with projections suggesting this number could double by 2028.
Driver Retention Pains
While recruitment challenges grab headlines and spark debate, driver retention issues may be even more damaging to organizational stability and safety outcomes. Recent turnover data reveals the scope of this challenge:
These numbers become more striking when viewed through a historical lens. In 2019, truckload carrier turnover reached a staggering 91%, meaning for every 100 drivers hired, 91 left within a year. While we've seen some improvement, the rates remain unsustainably high.
The Broader Workforce Context
Transportation isn't alone in facing retention challenges. A 2024 Gallup study found that more than half of U.S. employees (51%) are either watching for or actively seeking new jobs. This broader trend intersects with transportation-specific driver recruitment and retention challenges to create a perfect storm of workforce instability.
The timeline of departures is particularly telling. In 2019, across all industries:
- 37.9% of employees left within their first year
- Two-thirds exited within the first six months
- 19.3% left within just 30 days
For safety professionals, these early departures signal potential gaps in safety training, cultural integration and risk management protocols.
Safety and Financial Impact
Recent findings from SambaSafety's 2025 Driver Risk Report reveal additional layers to the driver recruiting and retention challenge. As many industries compete for commercial drivers in tight labor market conditions, companies face mounting pressure to attract and retain quality drivers while managing significant safety and financial risks.
The data shows that violations, including speeding, occur disproportionately among younger drivers. This creates a dual challenge: retaining experienced veterans while developing safer driving habits among less experienced drivers. Companies that prioritize technology-driven employee development and well-being are gaining competitive advantages over their peers.
Automotive crashes also remain the leading cause of work-related deaths across all industries, affecting both driving-related professions and employees who travel less frequently. Motor vehicle incidents accounted for 4.3 million preventable, medically consulted injuries in 2023, with over one-third of fatal workplace injuries being transportation-related.
Beyond the human toll, these incidents create substantial financial burdens. The average workers' compensation claim involving a motor vehicle collision exceeded $90,000 from 2021 to 2022. Perhaps most concerning for driver recruitment and retention efforts: about 40% of workers' compensation claims come from employees with under a year of tenure, highlighting the critical importance of early safety integration and proper training programs.
Most Turnover Is Preventable
Here's the encouraging news: research indicates that 77.3% of all turnover in 2019 was preventable. The top causes provide a roadmap for improvement:
- Career development opportunities (20%): Drivers want clear pathways for growth and advancement
- Work-life balance (12%): Scheduling flexibility and home time remain critical
- Manager behavior (12%): Leadership quality directly impacts retention
- Job characteristics (10%): Role design and daily experience matter significantly
For risk and safety professionals, understanding these driver recruiting and retention dynamics is the first step toward building more stable, safety-focused teams. The organizations that can effectively address both recruitment and retention challenges can help solve immediate workforce needs while strengthening their safety outcomes and brand reputation.
Ready to turn these insights into action? Download our comprehensive guide, "Mastering Driver Retention," to discover what's impacting turnover rates, as well as proven strategies for improving retention. (Skip to page 8 to dive right into the good stuff!)
