Trucking Careers · Texas · October 30, 2026

Why New Truck Drivers Quit in the First Week, and What Recruiters Say Carriers Can Do About It

By Big Rig Daily Staff

Some new truck drivers do not last through orientation, and recruiters on a panel in Dallas said many of them leave because they do not feel valued. The Trucker reported on Oct. 29 on a session held Oct. 26 at the Women In Trucking Accelerate! Conference & Expo. The panel looked at why carriers lose new hires and what they can do to keep them.

When new truck drivers leave

The panelists said driver turnover often happens early. Some drivers do not make it past orientation, according to The Trucker, and others stay somewhere between 30 and 90 days before moving on.

Becca Matthews of Tenstreet said some drivers leave within the first week if they do not feel valued. She recommended carriers check in with new drivers at the end of the first week and again around 30 to 45 days.

Pay promises and what truckers get

Amanda McGregor of Asurint said advertised earnings should reflect realistic expectations. Elif Kinli of Double Nickel said what a carrier pitches and what it provides "needs to be one to one." Kinli also suggested assigning a single recruiter to each applicant.

"What you do"

Justin Clarke of F|Staff said carriers should look beyond appreciation barbecues and holiday cards when it comes to keeping drivers. "Recruiting is about what you say. Retention is about what you do," he said.

Other ideas on the table

The Trucker's report also mentioned referral programs, buddy programs and advocacy programs among the tools carriers use to support drivers. The report, as relayed here, did not give results for any of them or say which worked best.

What the panel does not prove

These are views from people who work in driver recruiting, screening and staffing, and the panel did not present a single survey or study in the coverage Big Rig Daily reviewed. Big Rig Daily is reporting what the panelists said.

Quick facts

• Where and when: Women In Trucking Accelerate! Conference & Expo, Dallas, Oct. 26, 2026.
• Early exits: some drivers leave in the first week or before the end of orientation, and others stay 30 to 90 days.
• Suggested check-ins: end of week one and around 30 to 45 days.
• Suggested fixes: realistic pay claims, one recruiter per applicant, and support such as buddy and referral programs.

Big Rig Daily has also covered a new recruiting report that found hiring costs up 41%. New to the industry? See how to find a good first trucking job.

A question for readers

If you have left a job in your first few weeks, what would have made you stay?

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