Stay Metrics, South Bend, Ind., released a research report on the causes and solutions of early driver turnover.

Stay Metrics worked with more than 100 trucking companies and collected data from over 62,000 drivers. The white paper, “Is Early Turnover Damaging the Business? How and What Can We Do to Stop It?” shows more than 70% of driver turnover occurs within the first year of employment, with 35% of it happening in the first three months.

The authors of the report, led by Timothy Judge, chief science officer of Stay Metrics, reviewed an academic model of early turnover by drawing from research literature. The academic model is compared with empirical data obtained from Stay Metrics’ suite of driver survey products and driver turnover data provided by its clients. The research examines the impact of driver demographic characteristics, industry tenure, attitudes and work experiences, among other factors, that influence early turnover.

The model shows that employee dissatisfaction with jobs triggers an intent to quit within the first four months.

Other key findings include:
• Age differences among drivers are insignificant for early leavers. Millennial drivers, for example, are no more likely to leave during the first year of employment than Baby Boomers.
• Experienced drivers (1-plus years of industry tenure) have higher early-stage turnover. Once drivers stay with a carrier longer than 1 year, they are more likely to remain compared to those with less experience.
• Early-stage leavers have a more positive attitude toward their employers than drivers who leave after one year. The “honeymoon effect” of job change is consistent with academic research in other industries. New hires generally have positive impressions and attitudes toward their new jobs.
• Driver attitudes toward recruiters and dispatchers are a strong signal of early stage turnover.

Drivers with high recruiter satisfaction have a 22% lower turnover rate in the first three months compared to those with low satisfaction. Likewise, high dispatcher satisfaction is associated with 16% lower early turnover.

“We are pleased to continue offering the latest scientific research to help motor carriers fine-tune their strategies to retain more of their best drivers,” says Tim Hindes, chief executive officer. “The most recent report highlights the value of recruiting with driver retention in mind and using survey data at critical periods of the employment lifecycle to reduce driver turnover.”