BRENTWOOD, TENN. — Conversion Interactive Agency and People. Data. Analytics (PDA) are releasing the results of its Fall 2026 Truck Driver Survey.
“More than half of surveyed drivers are still looking, and competing employers are reaching them regularly,” said Brian Johnston, president, Conversion.
The findings reveal continued recruiting competition, stronger demand for home time and predictable earnings and a meaningful opportunity for carriers to address driver concerns before they become departures.
Drivers Seeking Employment
According to the survey, 51.2% of respondents are currently looking for a truck driving job. While that represents a decline from 58.1% in Spring 2026, more than half remain active job seekers. Additionally, 55% report being recruited by other employers at least once a week.
“Carriers need to be specific about what makes their opportunity better, from expected earnings and benefits to when drivers will get home,” Johnston said. “Delivering on those promises is what connects successful recruiting with stronger retention.”
What Drivers are Looking For
Among drivers looking for a new job, improved home time remains the leading motivation at 69.1%, followed by predictable or higher pay at 65.1%. Better benefits ranked third at 48.6%, increasing 9.8 percentage points from spring.
The value drivers place on home time also extends beyond their reasons for job searching. When asked whether they would prefer a local driving job with slightly lower pay if it meant being home more often, 60.2% said yes.
The survey’s retention findings offer carriers a clear reason to act early. Nearly three in four respondents, 73.1%, said they are very or somewhat likely to tell someone at their company about a problem and give the carrier an opportunity to fix it before leaving. More than half, 52.7%, said they would typically allow more than two weeks for an issue to be resolved before starting another job search.
More than a Job
“A driver raising a concern is giving the carrier an opportunity to keep that relationship,” said Scott Dismuke, vice president of operations, PDA. “The response needs to go beyond acknowledging the complaint. Drivers need someone accountable for addressing it, clear updates and follow-through. These findings show there is often time to intervene, but carriers have to use that time well.”
The responses also show that competition for drivers extends beyond trucking. A combined 44.3% of respondents said they have considered leaving truck driving for another skilled trade or are already pursuing a job in one. That includes 9% already pursuing opportunities in fields such as construction, plumbing, HVAC, electrical work or welding.
Meanwhile, AI continues to influence how drivers find opportunities. Reported use of AI search tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Perplexity increased to 26.4%, compared with 24% in spring. Established platforms remain prominent, with Indeed/Glassdoor at 57.3% and trucking job boards at 40.2%.
“Drivers are evaluating opportunities across job boards, search engines, and AI tools,” Johnston said. “Carriers need clear, consistent information wherever that research happens. Making pay, home time, benefits and qualifications easy to find helps drivers make informed decisions and gives recruiters a stronger starting point.”
Key Findings for Carriers
- 51.2% of respondents are looking for a truck driving job, down 6.9 percentage points from spring.
- 69.1% of job seekers want improved home time, 65.1% want predictable or higher pay, and 48.6% want better benefits.
- 73.1% are likely to give their carrier an opportunity to address a problem before leaving.
- 44.3% have considered another skilled trade or are already pursuing one.
- 26.4% report using AI search tools to find truck driving jobs.
Access the full Fall 2026 Truck Driver Survey report here.
For more information about Conversion Interactive Agency, Visit www.conversionia.com.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe.
