GITNUXREPORT 2025

Hr In The Freight Industry Statistics

Freight industry HR faces high turnover, driver shortages, and digital transformation challenges.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The freight industry reports an average employee retention rate of 70%

Statistic 2

On average, freight companies spend 12% of their annual revenue on recruitment and HR activities

Statistic 3

58% of HR professionals in the freight sector cite driver shortages as a top hiring challenge

Statistic 4

35% of freight companies offer voice-and data communication training as part of their HR development programs

Statistic 5

62% of HR managers in freight logistics report difficulties in finding qualified candidates

Statistic 6

The average annual turnover rate for freight drivers is approximately 94%

Statistic 7

The average onboarding period for freight industry new hires is 25 days

Statistic 8

The turnover rate for warehouse HR staff in the freight industry is approximately 22%

Statistic 9

60% of trucking companies report that driver recruitment has become more competitive in the last three years

Statistic 10

The average tenure of an HR professional in the freight sector is 4.5 years

Statistic 11

85% of freight HR managers monitor industry compliance training regularly

Statistic 12

The average salary for a freight HR specialist is $62,000 annually

Statistic 13

34% of freight logistics firms have implemented mentorship programs for new employees

Statistic 14

20% of freight companies operate from remote or hybrid offices

Statistic 15

The overall freight industry HR growth rate is projected at 5% annually over the next five years

Statistic 16

28% of freight companies report that labor laws and compliance management are significant HR challenges

Statistic 17

73% of freight companies conduct driver safety training annually

Statistic 18

55% of freight companies have increased their use of social media for recruiting purposes

Statistic 19

The average length of the recruitment cycle for freight drivers is approximately 31 days

Statistic 20

37% of freight companies participate in industry-wide HR benchmarking initiatives

Statistic 21

50% of freight companies report COVID-19 has permanently changed their HR onboarding processes

Statistic 22

80% of freight companies believe that automation will significantly impact future HR practices

Statistic 23

70% of freight HR managers indicate that tackling driver fatigue is a priority in workforce health initiatives

Statistic 24

77% of freight HR professionals state that industry certifications are important for driver recruitment

Statistic 25

65% of freight companies report challenges with onboarding remote employees

Statistic 26

60% of freight companies report challenges in upskilling their existing workforce for technological advancements

Statistic 27

31% of freight firms participate in cross-industry HR collaboration networks

Statistic 28

24% of freight industry HR professionals cite legislative changes as a challenge in HR management

Statistic 29

60% of freight companies conduct regular compliance training sessions

Statistic 30

52% of freight HR departments track employee productivity metrics

Statistic 31

88% of freight HR professionals agree that ongoing professional development is essential for driver retention

Statistic 32

78% of freight logistics companies report that employee health and safety training is a core part of HR programs

Statistic 33

62% of freight HR managers say that ensuring compliance with changing regulations is a primary challenge

Statistic 34

The average time for resolving HR-related disputes in freight companies is 15 days

Statistic 35

The average number of HR staff per freight company is 4.2 employees

Statistic 36

The freight industry’s average cost-per-hire is estimated at $4,300

Statistic 37

The average cost of employee benefits for freight companies is estimated at $10,500 per employee annually

Statistic 38

70% of freight companies report that implementing digital HR systems has reduced administrative workload

Statistic 39

36% of freight companies have integrated sustainability goals into their HR policies

Statistic 40

47% of HR departments in the freight sector have adopted AI tools for recruitment processes

Statistic 41

28% of freight companies utilize virtual reality training for employee development

Statistic 42

64% of freight logistics companies have adopted digital onboarding solutions

Statistic 43

90% of HR managers in freight report that automation has improved their administrative efficiency

Statistic 44

44% of freight companies are exploring virtual collaboration tools for HR team communication

Statistic 45

55% of freight companies have implemented AI-based candidate screening tools

Statistic 46

27% of freight HR teams use gamified assessments during the recruitment process

Statistic 47

82% of freight companies utilize mobile apps to manage HR tasks

Statistic 48

35% of freight drivers have access to digital health monitoring tools

Statistic 49

54% of freight HR teams utilize analytics dashboards for workforce planning

Statistic 50

49% of freight industry HR departments use virtual reality for safety training

Statistic 51

The average age of a freight industry driver is 46.2 years

Statistic 52

The percentage of women employed in freight logistics is approximately 14%

Statistic 53

Approximately 65% of freight companies experience high turnover rates among their HR staff

Statistic 54

The median salary for an HR manager in freight logistics is $78,000 per year

Statistic 55

41% of freight companies report difficulty in retaining younger drivers

Statistic 56

75% of freight HR professionals believe that implementing flexible work hours improves employee retention

Statistic 57

55% of freight companies have implemented health and wellness programs for their employees

Statistic 58

70% of HR managers in freight logistics indicate that digital skills are increasingly important for drivers

Statistic 59

69% of freight companies report using employee engagement tools

Statistic 60

48% of freight companies have seen an increase in HR-related automation over the past year

Statistic 61

23% of freight jobs require at least some level of post-secondary education

Statistic 62

30% of HR budgets in freight companies are allocated towards training and development programs

Statistic 63

84% of freight companies have reported some level of employee morale improvement after implementing HR initiatives

Statistic 64

52% of freight companies are planning to increase their investment in HR technology in the next year

Statistic 65

22% of freight drivers hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) with an average of 15 years of driving experience

Statistic 66

40% of HR managers in freight logistics believe that diversity and inclusion initiatives improve retention rates

Statistic 67

67% of freight companies conduct annual employee satisfaction surveys

Statistic 68

38% of freight HR staff indicate that remote work options have enhanced recruitment efforts

Statistic 69

49% of freight companies report challenges in training older drivers on new technological systems

Statistic 70

75% of freight companies find that offering career advancement opportunities reduces employee turnover

Statistic 71

54% of freight HR departments report difficulties in attracting mid-career professionals

Statistic 72

36% of freight companies recognize employee mental health as a key retention factor

Statistic 73

Freight industry turnover rates are higher in urban regions (around 17%) compared to rural regions (around 12%)

Statistic 74

61% of freight HR managers state that integrating sustainability goals into HR practices boosts employee engagement

Statistic 75

The average age of logistics operations managers in freight is 45.8 years

Statistic 76

52% of freight companies report that their HR functions are increasingly data-driven

Statistic 77

45% of HR professionals in freight report that employee training budgets have increased over the past year

Statistic 78

69% of freight HR teams measure employee engagement through pulse surveys

Statistic 79

The percentage of freight companies offering comprehensive health benefits is 78%

Statistic 80

42% of freight companies offer financial literacy workshops to employees

Statistic 81

65% of freight companies report that improving driver health programs reduces absenteeism

Statistic 82

33% of freight organizations utilize gamification techniques in training programs

Statistic 83

59% of freight HR managers find that employee recognition programs positively impact retention

Statistic 84

46% of freight companies have incorporated flexible scheduling options

Statistic 85

22% of freight HR professionals report a skills gap in advanced data analytics

Statistic 86

23% of freight employees are enrolled in formal leadership development programs

Statistic 87

The percentage of freight companies with gender diversity policies is 29%

Statistic 88

46% of freight organizations have seen an increase in HR-related cyber security threats

Statistic 89

69% of freight companies offer Driver training programs focused on safety and compliance

Statistic 90

82% of freight companies report that employee feedback mechanisms have improved workplace culture

Statistic 91

43% of freight HR managers prioritize mental health initiatives within their workforce

Statistic 92

58% of freight HR departments believe that clear career pathways enhance retention

Statistic 93

66% of freight companies are investing in employee wellness apps

Statistic 94

44% of freight firms offer pension or retirement planning services to their drivers

Statistic 95

38% of freight HR managers believe that talent acquisition is their most significant challenge

Statistic 96

29% of freight logistics companies have on-site childcare support programs

Statistic 97

The percentage of freight companies with formal whistleblower policies is 47%

Statistic 98

41% of freight companies provide incentives for driver safety records

Statistic 99

83% of freight employees are satisfied with their current benefits package

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Sources

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Key Highlights

Approximately 65% of freight companies experience high turnover rates among their HR staff
The freight industry reports an average employee retention rate of 70%
On average, freight companies spend 12% of their annual revenue on recruitment and HR activities
58% of HR professionals in the freight sector cite driver shortages as a top hiring challenge
The average age of a freight industry driver is 46.2 years
35% of freight companies offer voice-and data communication training as part of their HR development programs
62% of HR managers in freight logistics report difficulties in finding qualified candidates
The average annual turnover rate for freight drivers is approximately 94%
47% of HR departments in the freight sector have adopted AI tools for recruitment processes
The median salary for an HR manager in freight logistics is $78,000 per year
41% of freight companies report difficulty in retaining younger drivers
75% of freight HR professionals believe that implementing flexible work hours improves employee retention
The average onboarding period for freight industry new hires is 25 days

With over 65% of freight companies experiencing high HR staff turnover and a staggering 94% driver turnover rate, navigating human resources in the freight industry has become an intricate challenge demanding innovative solutions and strategic resilience.

Industry Workforce Management

The freight industry reports an average employee retention rate of 70%
On average, freight companies spend 12% of their annual revenue on recruitment and HR activities
58% of HR professionals in the freight sector cite driver shortages as a top hiring challenge
35% of freight companies offer voice-and data communication training as part of their HR development programs
62% of HR managers in freight logistics report difficulties in finding qualified candidates
The average annual turnover rate for freight drivers is approximately 94%
The average onboarding period for freight industry new hires is 25 days
The turnover rate for warehouse HR staff in the freight industry is approximately 22%
60% of trucking companies report that driver recruitment has become more competitive in the last three years
The average tenure of an HR professional in the freight sector is 4.5 years
85% of freight HR managers monitor industry compliance training regularly
The average salary for a freight HR specialist is $62,000 annually
34% of freight logistics firms have implemented mentorship programs for new employees
20% of freight companies operate from remote or hybrid offices
The overall freight industry HR growth rate is projected at 5% annually over the next five years
28% of freight companies report that labor laws and compliance management are significant HR challenges
73% of freight companies conduct driver safety training annually
55% of freight companies have increased their use of social media for recruiting purposes
The average length of the recruitment cycle for freight drivers is approximately 31 days
37% of freight companies participate in industry-wide HR benchmarking initiatives
50% of freight companies report COVID-19 has permanently changed their HR onboarding processes
80% of freight companies believe that automation will significantly impact future HR practices
70% of freight HR managers indicate that tackling driver fatigue is a priority in workforce health initiatives
77% of freight HR professionals state that industry certifications are important for driver recruitment
65% of freight companies report challenges with onboarding remote employees
60% of freight companies report challenges in upskilling their existing workforce for technological advancements
31% of freight firms participate in cross-industry HR collaboration networks
24% of freight industry HR professionals cite legislative changes as a challenge in HR management
60% of freight companies conduct regular compliance training sessions
52% of freight HR departments track employee productivity metrics
88% of freight HR professionals agree that ongoing professional development is essential for driver retention
78% of freight logistics companies report that employee health and safety training is a core part of HR programs
62% of freight HR managers say that ensuring compliance with changing regulations is a primary challenge
The average time for resolving HR-related disputes in freight companies is 15 days
The average number of HR staff per freight company is 4.2 employees

Industry Workforce Management Interpretation

Despite allocating an impressive 12% of revenue to recruitment and HR, the freight industry grapples with a driver retention rate of just 6%, highlighting that even in a sector prioritizing workforce development, the challenge remains: hiring is fierce, retention tougher, and adaptation to rapid technological and regulatory changes more urgent than ever.

Operational and Cost Metrics

The freight industry’s average cost-per-hire is estimated at $4,300
The average cost of employee benefits for freight companies is estimated at $10,500 per employee annually
70% of freight companies report that implementing digital HR systems has reduced administrative workload

Operational and Cost Metrics Interpretation

With an average cost of $4,300 per hire and $10,500 annually in benefits, freight companies are discovering that investing in digital HR systems—proven to cut administrative burdens for 70%—not only streamlines operations but also delivers a hefty ROI in employee management.

Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives

36% of freight companies have integrated sustainability goals into their HR policies

Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives Interpretation

With over a third of freight companies embedding sustainability into their HR policies, the industry is finally shifting gears from cargo to corporate conscience.

Technology Adoption and Innovation

47% of HR departments in the freight sector have adopted AI tools for recruitment processes
28% of freight companies utilize virtual reality training for employee development
64% of freight logistics companies have adopted digital onboarding solutions
90% of HR managers in freight report that automation has improved their administrative efficiency
44% of freight companies are exploring virtual collaboration tools for HR team communication
55% of freight companies have implemented AI-based candidate screening tools
27% of freight HR teams use gamified assessments during the recruitment process
82% of freight companies utilize mobile apps to manage HR tasks
35% of freight drivers have access to digital health monitoring tools
54% of freight HR teams utilize analytics dashboards for workforce planning
49% of freight industry HR departments use virtual reality for safety training

Technology Adoption and Innovation Interpretation

The freight industry's HR revolution is unmistakable: from AI-driven recruitment and virtual safety training to mobile management and gamified assessments, it's clear that logistics companies are steering their human resources into a future where digital tools accelerate efficiency, enhance safety, and redefine employee development — all while navigating the freight world's constant hustle.

Workforce Demographics

The average age of a freight industry driver is 46.2 years
The percentage of women employed in freight logistics is approximately 14%

Workforce Demographics Interpretation

With the freight industry's drivers ageing at 46.2 years and women constituting just 14%, it's clear that attracting younger talent and diversifying the workforce are critical for keeping the industry moving forward.

Workforce Demographics and Satisfaction

Approximately 65% of freight companies experience high turnover rates among their HR staff
The median salary for an HR manager in freight logistics is $78,000 per year
41% of freight companies report difficulty in retaining younger drivers
75% of freight HR professionals believe that implementing flexible work hours improves employee retention
55% of freight companies have implemented health and wellness programs for their employees
70% of HR managers in freight logistics indicate that digital skills are increasingly important for drivers
69% of freight companies report using employee engagement tools
48% of freight companies have seen an increase in HR-related automation over the past year
23% of freight jobs require at least some level of post-secondary education
30% of HR budgets in freight companies are allocated towards training and development programs
84% of freight companies have reported some level of employee morale improvement after implementing HR initiatives
52% of freight companies are planning to increase their investment in HR technology in the next year
22% of freight drivers hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) with an average of 15 years of driving experience
40% of HR managers in freight logistics believe that diversity and inclusion initiatives improve retention rates
67% of freight companies conduct annual employee satisfaction surveys
38% of freight HR staff indicate that remote work options have enhanced recruitment efforts
49% of freight companies report challenges in training older drivers on new technological systems
75% of freight companies find that offering career advancement opportunities reduces employee turnover
54% of freight HR departments report difficulties in attracting mid-career professionals
36% of freight companies recognize employee mental health as a key retention factor
Freight industry turnover rates are higher in urban regions (around 17%) compared to rural regions (around 12%)
61% of freight HR managers state that integrating sustainability goals into HR practices boosts employee engagement
The average age of logistics operations managers in freight is 45.8 years
52% of freight companies report that their HR functions are increasingly data-driven
45% of HR professionals in freight report that employee training budgets have increased over the past year
69% of freight HR teams measure employee engagement through pulse surveys
The percentage of freight companies offering comprehensive health benefits is 78%
42% of freight companies offer financial literacy workshops to employees
65% of freight companies report that improving driver health programs reduces absenteeism
33% of freight organizations utilize gamification techniques in training programs
59% of freight HR managers find that employee recognition programs positively impact retention
46% of freight companies have incorporated flexible scheduling options
22% of freight HR professionals report a skills gap in advanced data analytics
23% of freight employees are enrolled in formal leadership development programs
The percentage of freight companies with gender diversity policies is 29%
46% of freight organizations have seen an increase in HR-related cyber security threats
69% of freight companies offer Driver training programs focused on safety and compliance
82% of freight companies report that employee feedback mechanisms have improved workplace culture
43% of freight HR managers prioritize mental health initiatives within their workforce
58% of freight HR departments believe that clear career pathways enhance retention
66% of freight companies are investing in employee wellness apps
44% of freight firms offer pension or retirement planning services to their drivers
38% of freight HR managers believe that talent acquisition is their most significant challenge
29% of freight logistics companies have on-site childcare support programs
The percentage of freight companies with formal whistleblower policies is 47%
41% of freight companies provide incentives for driver safety records
83% of freight employees are satisfied with their current benefits package

Workforce Demographics and Satisfaction Interpretation

Despite offering comprehensive benefits and investing heavily in HR innovations, the freight industry faces a paradox of high turnover and recruitment challenges, revealing that even in a sector eager to modernize, retaining and attracting skilled drivers and HR professionals remains a complex puzzle—one that demands not just better pay or perks, but a strategic overhaul of workplace culture and technological integration.