i n d u s t r y

Study Says Retention, Not Recruitment, Is Problem

The long-lamented driver shortage is “more folklore than fact,” says a new study commissioned by the American Trucking Assns.
The study, conducted by the Gallup Organization for the ATA Foundation, concludes that roughly 400,000 driver vacancies each year come from drivers changing companies — called “churning” by researchers.
“Most of the problem isn’t really about a labor shortage, it’s about having to replace qualified drivers who have gone next door to another company,” noted ATA Executive Vice President Greg Lebedev.
The study concluded that industry growth and driver attrition will require about 80,000 new drivers a year over the next decade — far less than previously estimated. But it’s still a significant challenge.
The workforce segment that has traditionally provided most of the nation’s truck drivers — males aged 20 to 24 — will grow far more slowly than new truck driver job openings through 2005.
Trucking will have to compete with many other industries for those workers.
One prime competitor is construction, where pay and educational requirements are similar to trucking. Although the demand for truck drivers is expected to outpace that for construction workers, the industry may lag behind in driver pay.
According to the study, the average hourly construction wage in 1982 was $11.94 an hour vs. $10.60 for truck drivers. In 1994 the average construction wage was $14.69 vs. $12.83 for truckers.
Another rival industry is manufacturing. In 1983 the average hourly manufacturing wage was $8.52 an hour, significantly lower than trucking’s $10.60 average. By 1994 the gap had closed some to $11.43 for manufacturing workers vs. $12.83 for truckers.
Trucking will also have to turn to nontraditional sources for new drivers. As the study indicated, the population groups that show the greatest labor force growth are women and minorities. Moreover, these groups show an interest in trucking and a commitment to driving as an occupation.
Researchers also noted that the industry’s perception that the public views drivers negatively could be hurting its ability to recruit qualified people.
“While trucking executives and truck drivers believe the public has a very negative attitude toward drivers, most adults (80%) have a positive view of them,” researchers said.
Beyond new driver recruiting, an even bigger challenge for most trucking companies is driver retention.
Gallup interviewed 801 drivers who have been with their current employers more than five years to determine what made them satisfied — and stable. Their findings:
• Steadiness of work (i.e. consistent driving assignments).
• Genuine care, friendliness and fairness of managers.
• Pay.
• Support from the company while on the road.
• Balancing work hours and time with family.
The study is entitled Empty Seats and Musical Chairs: Critical Success Factors in Truck Driver Retention, and can be ordered by calling (800) 282-5463. Price is $25 per copy.
— Patricia McCullough
Senior Editor