Truckload and LTL Driver Turnover Rises in First Quarter of 2013

In the first quarter of 2013, the turnover rate at both large and small truckload carriers rose due to the improving economy and continued competition for well-trained professional drivers.

“Our data shows that competition for drivers across the industry remains high,” said American Trucking Associations Chief Economist Bob Costello. “It is our fear that this competition for drivers may be exacerbated by losses in productivity caused by recent regulatory changes such as the new hours-of-service rules.”

According to ATA’s Trucking Activity Report, quarterly turnover at large truckload fleets – fleets with at least $30 million annual revenue – rose in the first quarter to an annualized rate of 97% from 90% in the fourth quarter of 2012. The rate was the highest it has been since the third quarter of 2012 when it was 104% and just below the average rate in 2012 of 98%.

At smaller truckload fleets, the rate rose to 82% in the first quarter from 76% in the previous quarter. The rate matches the 2012 annual average, but is below the most recent high of 94% in the third quarter of last year.

In the less-than-truckload sector, turnover jumped to 15% in the first quarter from 10% in the previous quarter. The increase pushes LTL turnover, historically much less volatile than the truckload market, to its highest level since the fourth quarter of 2005.

Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month
April 2013
Robert ‘Bob’ Cravens

Robert (Bob) Cravens, a Wal-Mart driver, has been named April Trucker Buddy of the Month after his nomination by Pat De Long, a third grade teacher at Liberty Elementary School in Rocky Ford, Colo. De Long says she and Cravens have been working together in the Trucker Buddy program for over 17 years.

"I want to thank you for honoring the people who give the extra time and effort to make a difference in the lives of our students as a Trucker Buddy,” she said in her nomination. “I am writing this letter to let you know the many reasons why Robert Cravens deserves the honor of Trucker Buddy of the Month. First of all, he has probably been a Trucker Buddy longer than most other drivers. He has corresponded with my students for the past 16 years. Now, that is dedication and an accomplishment in itself!

“Bob gives my students a reason to write a letter or a postcard. They sometimes correspond by sending an e-mail. This helps them become more proficient writers. They enjoy receiving the letters and postcards from Bob, too. He is the only person they receive mail from, whether at school or home. In his letters, Bob tells my students which states he is driving in and what he is hauling in his truck. My students are becoming familiar with the Midwestern States as they locate Bob’s whereabouts on our class map.”

De Long also praised Cravens as an amazing role model for her students noting that he volunteers in his community and encourages the students to do the same. He has sent pictures of himself cooking chili and frying catfish to raise money for various charities, like the Children’s Miracle Network. “This is important for my students to see because I hope it will change their way of thinking from ‘What’s in it for me?’ to ‘What can I do to help others?’”

Cravens shares his personal life with the students, too. When his dog passed away, the children wrote letters of sympathy to him. When he got a new dog from a shelter, De Long says the students were excited to see the pictures and glad their Trucker Buddy had a new companion. “It was good for my students to learn how people can rescue animals from shelters,” she said

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TruckDriver.com
Carrier of the Month
Bay & Bay 

Bay & Bay was established in 1941 by two hard-working brothers, who named their start-up after its original source of power: two bay horses. In 1983, Bay & Bay Transfer began having its equipment maintained and repaired by Anderson Diesel Truck Service, Inc. The founders, Dave and Lois Anderson, ran their company with a few simple values, take care of the customers and employees. In 1988, Dave and Lois Anderson purchased Bay & Bay Transfer Company, Inc.

Seven decades after their humble beginnings, Bay & Bay remains a family owned and operated company and looks forward to an optimistic and exciting future.

The Bay & Bay mission is to attract and retain customers by providing safe, consistent and quality transportation solutions. They create a work environment where their people are inspired to do great things for their customers. They are committed to customer satisfaction and re-investing in what matters most: their people, equipment, technology, communities and environmentally responsible initiatives.

Bay & Bay takes great pride in sharing their success with the real road heroes: their hard-working owner operators and company drivers. The company is deeply committed to improving the lives of  their drivers and their families with great pay and benefits, an affordable leasing program and essential home time.

In a time when many companies see their employees as little more than a number that can be erased and tossed out like yesterday’s newspaper, Bay & Bay has a better idea: They want to keep their employees. Bay & Bay drivers aren’t just a number, they are part of a family owned team. And that’s how they treat them.

That’s how Bay and Bay has grown to one of the 15 largest trucking companies in Minnesota. And, they want to continue to grow. To do that, they need the best people they can find, from mechanics in the shop to the road warriors out there on the highway racking up mile after mile.

Here are some of the reasons Bay & Bay can attract and keep the very best people:

• Competitive pay with driver bonuses
• Excellent health, life and vision insurance
• A 401K program
• Steady work volume
• Holidays and vacation
• Career growth opportunities
• Substantial driver referral bonuses

You aren’t just a number at Bay & Bay - you are part of a family-owned team.

The only surprise in the results of the TruckDriver.com Listener’s Survey other than Rock & Roll listeners coming out ahead of Country music listeners, was the two percent who don’t listen to music at all. We can’t imagine a day without a tune or two to get us through!
 
What type of music do you listen to most often?

Blues - 6%
Classical - 3%
Country - 26%
Folk - 1%
Jazz - 1%
R & B/Soul - 14%
Rock & Roll - 30%
Not listed here - 17%
I don't listen to music - 2%

Next up, the TruckDriver.com Viewer Survey. Keep watching for results!

And, keep on truckin’!

Please drive safely.

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