Driver turnover among larger fleets rose modestly in the second quarter, but declined slightly at smaller fleets that traditionally have greater success in retaining drivers, American Trucking Associations reported last week.

In the United States, we have a tendency to take quite a bit for granted. We often gripe about mundane things like our kids’ sports schedules or running through the “Honey-do” list at home.

American Trucking Associations will sponsor for the third year a video contest for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Sept. 11-17.

As the number of women truck drivers increases, truck-stop operators say they are adding services that are meant to allay concerns about safety, cleanliness, health and respect that often trouble their female customers.

Driver turnover at larger truckload fleets reached the highest level in nearly three years during the first quarter as higher pay, aggressive recruiting and increased freight demand prompted drivers to find new positions, according to American Trucking Associations.

As drivers and hauling capacity become scarcer, pressure is building for pay increases for truckload fleet drivers that could top 10% by this time next year, according to several experts.

Building a culture of safety and respect will raise the bar for all of your employees, both labor and management. You’ll be surprised when employees you’ve already written off come to you for help rising above their own failures because they want to better themselves.

For the trucking industry, the summer driving season means sharing the road with more passenger-vehicle drivers — some of whom are paying more attention to road maps, electronic devices or kids in the back seat than to the road in front of them, safety experts say.

Driver turnover rose sharply in last year’s fourth quarter as carriers boosted payrolls, indicating stronger economic recovery, American Trucking Associations said Thursday.

Fleets’ driver retention and recruitment moves are accelerating as pay increases proliferate and drivers begin to chase better-paying jobs, industry officials said.