One reason there is so much turnover is that people expect one thing and get another when they change jobs. When it comes down to it, there isn't much difference between most companies. A driver's attitude will have more to do with his success than changing jobs every few months or year or so. Some times you just need to suck it up and work through your problems. People are different. Drivers can't always have things their way. There are legitimate reasons to change jobs. A penny more per mile isn't enough of a reason. I have spoken to some drivers who have told me some of the reasons they have changed jobs, and some are very childish. Some have never learned to talk through differences. I have found that most issues can be worked through by effective communications. I hear some complain about the low driver wages. If drivers stayed around for longer wages would rise. You don't pay top wages to someone who just starts with you. A company needs to see what a driver is made of and how he handles his job. It takes time and money to recruit and train drivers. If drivers would stay around longer, wages would rise because it would take more money to train someone new than it would to keep those who are already with a company.

 

For me, four jobs in 24 years of driving. Been at my present job for the last 16 years. Most of my driving career has been spent working for wholesale distibutors who deliver their own product, not freight transportation companies.

 

I don't want to give the impression that I think all the turnover problems are just the fault of drivers. There are problems with the way some companies treat their drivers. However, the drivers have more control over what happens than they may think. It is important to keep an open line of communication between the driver and operations. I think there are some companies who fail in this instance, but it is often the driver who leaves in a huff without exhausting all of his options to work something out.

 

Ever heard the saying : "the grass is always greener on the other side"? Well that is what I basically hear from drivers every single day... this place pays better, this place has better equipment.. so on so forth. The fact is people do not care because it is the way people have become. I think it is lack of pride, and the mighty dollar running everyones life... just my 2 cents worth.