In The News

Trucking jobs on increase; turnover remains at record low

ARLINGTON, Va. — For the first time in almost 3 years, small truckload fleets have increased payrolls.

The American Trucking Associations’ 2009 fourth quarter industry report says that total employment grew 1.5 percent, with a 2.2 percent gain in the numbers of line-haul drivers and mechanics. The number of dispatch and sales jobs fell slightly.

Still, payrolls at small truckload carriers are off nearly 20 percent since the fourth quarter 2007, ATA noted.

Large truckload carriers have continued to reduce payrolls, cutting employment by 0.8 percent in the quarter, including a 0.5 percent driver reduction while the sales force actually saw a 1.1 percent gain, according to ATA.

The trade group added that drivers are expected to be more in demand in coming quarters as training schools are reporting that “carrier interest is growing rapidly.”

Less-than-truckload carriers reduced headcount by 1.4 percent in the quarter.

Annualized driver turnover for the large TL carriers was “essentially unchanged,” ticking upward to 44 percent from the all-time low of 43 percent in the previous quarter.

Small truckload carriers saw driver turnover fall to a record low of 35 percent in the fourth quarter, down from 43 percent.

LTL carriers saw driver turnover fall from 10 percent in the 2009 third quarter to 8 percent at the end of the year.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at [email protected] .

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