Executive Summary
Our new Driver Turnover Report shows truck driver turnover increased sharply in June 2026 after declining steadily during the first five months of the year.
At first glance, higher turnover sounds like bad news.
But it may actually be a positive sign for the trucking industry.
When freight begins improving and fleets start hiring again, drivers have more employment opportunities. That naturally creates more movement between companies. While no fleet wants to lose good drivers, higher industry-wide turnover can be one of the first indicators that the market is becoming healthier.
The important question isn’t whether turnover increased.
It’s whether your trucking company is doing enough to keep your best drivers when they have more choices.
This article uses anonymous payroll data from Superior Trucking Payroll Service and is part of our ongoing effort to provide objective trucking industry insights.
Who Is This For?
This article is for:
- Trucking company owners
- Fleet managers
- Operations managers
- HR professionals
- Safety directors
- Anyone responsible for truck driver payroll
- Companies evaluating trucking payroll services
- Fleets focused on improving driver retention
A New Way to Measure Driver Movement
At Superior Trucking Payroll Service, we’ve introduced a monthly Driver Turnover Report using anonymous payroll data from trucking companies across the country.
The report answers one simple question:
What percentage of drivers who were paid one month were no longer being paid the following month?
To improve the accuracy of the data, companies that stopped processing payroll are excluded from the report. That allows us to measure driver movement instead of business closures or payroll provider changes.
No single report can explain everything happening in the trucking industry, but we believe this report provides another useful indicator for fleet owners to watch alongside freight volumes, driver pay, and hiring activity.
Driver Turnover Through June 2026
| Month | Turnover |
|---|---|
| January | 11.45% |
| February | 10.57% |
| March | 10.12% |
| April | 9.64% |
| May | 9.22% |
| June | 14.21% |
The first five months showed a steady decline in turnover.
Then June broke the trend.
After reaching a low of 9.22% in May, turnover jumped to 14.21% in June.
That’s a significant increase and one we’ll continue watching closely.
Wait… Isn’t Higher Turnover Bad?
Not necessarily.
Think about what happens during a slow freight market.
Companies hire fewer drivers.
Recruiters become quieter.
Drivers are less likely to leave a stable job.
Turnover naturally declines.
Now consider the opposite.
Freight improves.
More fleets begin hiring.
Recruiters become more active.
Drivers suddenly have more options.
Turnover naturally increases.
That’s why higher turnover isn’t automatically bad news. It may actually be an early indicator that the trucking labor market is becoming more competitive again.
Our Driver Pay Index May Be Telling the Same Story
This report becomes even more interesting when viewed alongside our monthly Driver Pay Index.
Throughout 2026, driver pay has continued climbing, reaching new record highs.
Now we’re beginning to see more driver movement as well.
Those two trends often go hand in hand.
- Higher driver pay
- More hiring
- Greater competition
- Increased turnover
We’ll continue publishing both reports each month to see whether those trends continue.
Why Drivers Leave
Our Driver Turnover Report tells us how many drivers left.
It doesn’t tell us why.
Every fleet is different, but these are some of the most common reasons drivers change employers.
Better Pay
Pay remains an important factor.
Drivers who believe they’re below market compensation are naturally more likely to listen when another company calls.
Better Equipment
Drivers spend more time in their truck than almost anywhere else.
Newer equipment, fewer breakdowns, cleaner trucks, and reliable maintenance all contribute to retention.
Better Home Time
Many drivers value predictable home time as much as another few cents per mile.
Keeping promises about schedules builds long-term loyalty.
Better Dispatcher Relationships
Drivers often don’t leave companies.
They leave relationships.
Dispatchers who communicate well, solve problems quickly, and treat drivers with respect become one of a fleet’s biggest competitive advantages.
Payroll Problems
This is where we spend most of our time helping trucking companies.
Payroll usually isn’t the only reason a driver leaves.
But it can easily become the final straw.
Examples include:
- Payroll mistakes
- Missing detention pay
- Missing extra stop pay
- Late payroll
- Confusing pay stubs
- Slow payroll corrections
Drivers expect one thing above everything else:
Pay me correctly every single time.
Lack of Recognition
Everyone wants to know their work matters.
Simple recognition from dispatchers, managers, or ownership often goes much further than people realize.
Company Culture
Drivers notice whether promises are kept.
Did recruiting accurately describe the job?
Does management communicate honestly?
Does the office return phone calls?
Culture isn’t a slogan on the wall.
Drivers experience it every day.
Better Career Opportunities
Sometimes another company simply offers a better fit.
That might include:
- Dedicated freight
- Different lanes
- Newer equipment
- Trainer opportunities
- Owner-operator programs
- Better advancement opportunities
Not every departure is negative.
Sometimes it’s simply the right move for that driver.
The Common Thread Is Trust
Whether the issue is payroll…
equipment…
dispatch…
communication…
or home time…
Most retention challenges eventually come back to one thing.
Trust.
Drivers stay where they believe they’ll be treated fairly.
That includes:
- Accurate payroll
- Honest communication
- Reliable equipment
- Predictable home time
- Management that keeps its promises
Trust isn’t built through one big event.
It’s built one paycheck, one conversation, and one promise kept at a time.
What Trucking Companies Should Be Asking Right Now
If turnover continues increasing during the second half of 2026, now is a good time to ask:
- Is our driver pay competitive?
- Are payroll mistakes rare?
- Do our pay stubs clearly explain every payment?
- Are dispatchers building positive relationships?
- Is our equipment reliable?
- Are we delivering the home time we promise?
- Would our drivers recommend us to another driver?
Answering those questions honestly may be one of the best investments a fleet can make.
Final Thoughts
One month doesn’t establish a trend.
But June’s increase certainly has our attention.
If turnover continues increasing while driver pay continues climbing, it could be another indication that the trucking market is strengthening.
For trucking companies, that means retaining great drivers may soon become more difficult than it has been over the past year.
The fleets that invest in trust, communication, transparency, and dependable payroll for trucking will have a significant advantage.
We’ll continue publishing both our Driver Turnover Report and Driver Pay Index each month so trucking companies can better understand where the market is heading.
It measures the percentage of drivers who were paid one month but were no longer paid the following month while excluding companies that stopped processing payroll.
The report doesn’t identify the cause, but increased hiring, improving freight demand, seasonal factors, and greater competition for drivers are all possible explanations.
No. Industry-wide turnover often increases when drivers have more employment opportunities. Rising turnover can actually signal a healthier freight market.
Quality trucking payroll services reduce payroll errors, improve transparency, provide better pay stubs, and help build trust between drivers and management.
Payroll for trucking includes mileage pay, percentage pay, detention, layover, per diem, reimbursements, multi-state taxes, garnishments, and other trucking-specific payroll requirements.
There isn’t one solution. Competitive pay, reliable equipment, strong dispatch relationships, predictable home time, accurate truck driver payroll, and honest communication all contribute to keeping good drivers.
Written by
Mike Ritzema
Mike Ritzema founded Superior Trucking Payroll Service after years as a trucking CFO — so he knows the industry from the inside out. He writes about payroll, per diem, and driver pay with one goal: making life easier for trucking families. When he’s not solving payroll problems, you’ll find him crossing another MLB stadium off his bucket list.