Truck Driver Turnover Report
Actual monthly truck driver turnover based on anonymized payroll data from Superior Trucking Payroll Service clients.
September 2026 Update
Driver turnover declined to 8.15% in September 2026, down from 9.37% in August. That represents a 13.0% month-over-month decrease and puts September turnover well below the 15.06% recorded in September 2025. The rolling 12-month turnover rate declined to 126.31%. After the sharp increase to 14.21% in June, turnover has remained below 10% for three consecutive months. The September results continue to show considerably lower driver turnover than the elevated levels seen during several months in late 2025 and early 2026.
What the Driver Turnover Report Measures
The Driver Turnover Report measures the percentage of truck drivers who were paid during one month but were not paid during the following month. Those drivers are counted as turnover.
Unlike survey-based reports, this report is calculated using actual payroll activity. It is intended to provide trucking companies, industry analysts and members of the media with a timely measure of driver retention trends.
The rolling 12-month turnover rate is the total of the previous 12 monthly turnover percentages. This longer-term measure helps place individual monthly increases and decreases into context.
Driver Turnover Report Methodology
- The report is based on anonymized Superior Trucking Payroll Service payroll records.
- Drivers are identified using a combination of company ID and Social Security number.
- Only individuals classified as drivers and receiving more than zero gross pay are included.
- Owner-operators are excluded.
- Payroll check date determines the month in which a driver is counted.
- A company must process payroll in both months being compared.
- A client’s first payroll month is excluded.
- A client’s final month is excluded when the client leaves Superior Trucking Payroll Service.
- Turnover is reported in the month after the driver was last paid.
- The rolling 12-month rate is calculated by adding the previous 12 monthly turnover percentages.
Drivers paid last month but not paid this month ÷ Drivers paid last month
About the Driver Turnover Report
The Driver Turnover Report is a proprietary industry report created and published by Superior Trucking Payroll Service. It uses anonymized payroll data to measure actual movement among truck drivers employed by participating fleets.
Monthly turnover can be influenced by hiring conditions, freight demand, seasonal activity, fleet growth, company closures and other industry factors. The report identifies changes in payroll activity but does not, by itself, establish why those changes occurred.
Driver Turnover Report on FreightWaves
STPS President Mike Ritzema joined FreightWaves Today to discuss the STPS Driver Pay Index and what STPS payroll data was showing about truck driver turnover.
Watch the FreightWaves InterviewUse of this chart: You are welcome to use this graphic provided you credit Superior Trucking Payroll Service and include a link back to this page. The graphic, including our logo, may not be edited or altered. This data may not be used behind paywalls or registration walls and may not be used for commercial purposes.
Wondering what the data says about driver pay trends? See the Driver Pay Index here
Wondering If Payroll Is Contributing to Driver Turnover?
Many fleets assume turnover is caused by freight, recruiting, or dispatch. Sometimes they’re right. But we’ve also seen payroll practices quietly increase driver frustration without management realizing it.
If you’d like an honest review of your payroll process, we’d be glad to talk.
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.