The “Trucking Generation” is still on the verge of retirement.

In 1994, 60% of the truck drivers were between the ages of 25 and 44. In 2018, 55% of drivers are over the age of 45. This group of truck drivers, known as the “trucking generation,” is aging and on the verge of retirement.

Breakdown of Truck Drivers By Age

Driver turnover is actually down (to 78% from a peak of 98% at the beginning of 2018)!

The driver turnover rate peaked at 98% in the first half of 2018 before decreasing to the current rate of 78%. Companies are paying their drivers more which is working to keep drivers in place. At the same time, the freight market is softening which, according to Bob Costello, chief economist for ATA, leads to lower driver turnover.

Getting a big increase in your insurance rates is incredibly frustrating - especially if you've been performing well. And although there are ways to mitigate this effect by choosing a performance-driven financing option or investing more into your safety culture, we set out to figure out exactly what is causing this increase in truck insurance rates.

This is what we found:

TRUCKS ARE GETTING IN MORE ACCIDENTS

In spite of the newest technologies and our best efforts, trucks are getting in 59% more accidents per mile than they were in 2010. Injuries from truck accidents are up 48% per mile driven, and fatalities are up 12%. 

July through October is the deadliest period of the year on the road. Summer months result in more cars on the road - and this increase in traffic is dangerous (especially for trucking companies). 

I never thought I would work at HNI. And not because I didn’t have the dexterity, but because I’d never even heard of them. So how did I go from lowly intern to mighty CEO in a summer? Well - I didn't, but the knowledge and experience I gained has set me on the fast track to world domination, or at least a great job upon graduation. So my fellow interns - listen up, because I'm about to share the good, the bad, and the ugly of my summer internship.