A University of Arkansas study analyzed why truck drivers change companies or quit the industry entirely, finding that burnout progresses through three specific stages — exhaustion, cynicism, and then inefficacy — with inefficacy being the stage at which drivers actively seek to leave, according to the Walton College of Business. The research found that only when drivers feel they cannot do their jobs effectively do they seriously consider quitting.
Operator takeaway
Drivers quit when they feel ineffective, not just when they are tired — if your drivers are expressing frustration about equipment, dispatch, or management decisions, that is the warning sign that precedes turnover.