Trucking Careers · Nationwide · October 30, 2026

Cost to Hire a Truck Driver Is Up 41% in a Year, a New Recruiting Report Says

By Big Rig Daily Staff

The cost for a trucking company to hire one truck driver is up 41% from a year ago, according to a new quarterly recruiting report. The Trucker reported on Oct. 29 that Conversion Interactive Agency and People. Data. Analytics. (PDA) released their Q3 2026 Driver Recruiting & Retention Data Download Report, which also found that many carriers have raised pay.

What the report found

Driver cost per hire increased 41% year over year and 29% from January through September 2026, the report says. It blames a shrinking pool of qualified drivers and increased competition, which put pressure on recruiting budgets.

"Recruiting drivers is requiring more investment, better technology, and a more strategic approach. Carriers can't afford to hire the same way they did a year ago," said Brian Johnston, president of Conversion. He said the focus has to shift to creating more efficiencies throughout the driver pipeline, with an emphasis on retention after hiring.

Pay is moving

Competition is also affecting pay. In the companies' 2026 Carrier Survey, 46% of carriers increased driver pay within the past 90 days, and additional fleets are planning or considering increases, The Trucker reported.

Why truck drivers consider leaving

On retention, the report lists compensation as the leading concern at 26.6%, followed by equipment at 24.9% and operations at 19.4%. Inconsistent miles, equipment downtime and communication remain persistent challenges, while competitive pay and better employment offers are becoming bigger reasons drivers consider leaving, according to the report.

"Drivers aren't just evaluating the problems they're experiencing with their current carrier," said Scott Dismuke, vice president of operations at PDA. "They're comparing those experiences against other opportunities. When ongoing frustrations affect their earnings or quality of life, a better offer can quickly become the reason they leave."

A note on the source

The report also promotes the companies' own AI powered recruiting product. Big Rig Daily is reporting the hiring cost, pay survey and retention figures only, and has not independently verified them.

Quick facts

• Report: Q3 2026 Driver Recruiting & Retention Data Download Report, from Conversion Interactive Agency and PDA.
• Cost per hire: up 41% year over year and 29% from January through September 2026.
• Pay: 46% of carriers raised driver pay in the past 90 days, per the 2026 Carrier Survey.
• Top retention concerns: compensation 26.6%, equipment 24.9%, operations 19.4%.

Big Rig Daily has also covered how Werner says driver recruiting costs are front loaded and Roehl's retention incentive for experienced CDL A truck drivers. Truckers weighing a move can read the guide to finding a good first trucking job. It also covered why new truck drivers quit in the first week, according to Dallas recruiters.

A question for readers

What would a carrier have to offer to get you to switch right now?

Save this story for later

Save this to Pinterest