Why Hiring Truck Drivers Is Getting Harder

Higher recruiting costs, a shrinking driver pool, and renewed pay competition are raising the stakes for fleets heading into 2027.

Freight demand hasn’t taken off. But hiring a qualified truck driver is getting harder and more expensive as shrinking freight capacity has carriers trying to take advantage of higher rates after several years of freight recession.

Driver cost per hire rose 41% year over year and 29% from January through September, according to Conversion Interactive Agency. Its latest recruiting and retention report with People. Data. Analytics. (PDA) points to a growing challenge for fleets: spending more to replace drivers while competing offers give their existing drivers more reasons to consider leaving.

A separate fourth-quarter outlook from the National Transportation Institute helps explain the squeeze. The available driver pool is shrinking, and many experienced drivers with strong safety records already have jobs they aren’t eager to leave.

This story was originally published by TruckingInfo (HDT). Read the full story at TruckingInfo (HDT) →