Trucking Careers · Nationwide · November 13, 2026

Fall 2026 Truck Driver Survey: 51.2% Are Job Hunting and 60.2% Would Take a Local Job for Slightly Less Pay

By Big Rig Daily Staff

More than half of the truck drivers who answered a new survey say they are looking for another job. The fall 2026 survey comes from Conversion Interactive Agency and People. Data. Analytics., The Trucker reports. The release does not say how many truck drivers took part, so the results describe the people who answered, not every driver in the country.

The main numbers

• 51.2% of respondents are job hunting right now.
• 55% say another company tries to recruit them at least once a week.
• 44.3% have thought about leaving trucking for another skilled trade, or are already doing it.

The trades named include construction, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, electrical work and welding.

What they want

Among respondents who are job hunting, the top reasons were:

• Better home time: 69.1%.
• Predictable or higher pay: 65.1%.
• Better benefits: 48.6%.

The number that stands out: 60.2% said they would take a local job with slightly lower pay if it meant being home more often.

A chance to fix things

There is some good news for carriers. 73.1% said they were very or somewhat likely to tell someone about a problem first and give the company a chance to fix it before leaving.

Why it matters to truckers

For truck drivers weighing a move, the survey suggests plenty of companies are hiring and home time is a fair thing to ask about. For carriers, it suggests listening early may keep good people. Recruiting has grown expensive, as an earlier report on truck driver cost per hire rising 41% showed.

Quick facts

• Who ran it: Conversion Interactive Agency and People. Data. Analytics.
• Sample size: not given in the release.
• Job hunting: 51.2%.
• Recruited weekly or more: 55%.
• Would take a local job for slightly less pay: 60.2%.
• Would raise a problem before leaving: 73.1%.

FAQ

Does the survey speak for all truck drivers?

No. The release does not give the number of people surveyed, so the figures describe those who responded.

What do truck drivers want most?

Among those job hunting, better home time led at 69.1%, followed by predictable or higher pay at 65.1%.

Are truck drivers leaving the industry?

44.3% of respondents said they have thought about leaving trucking for another skilled trade, or are already doing it.

A question for readers

Truckers, would you take less money to sleep in your own bed every night?

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