GITNUXREPORT 2025

Hr In The Transportation Industry Statistics

Transportation faces driver shortages, high turnover, aging workforce, and growth 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 average annual salary for a commercial truck driver in the U.S. is $50,000

Statistic 2

55% of transportation workers report access to health insurance through their employer

Statistic 3

About 80% of trucking companies provide health and wellness programs to employees

Statistic 4

25% of transportation workers are paid hourly, while the remaining 75% are paid by mileage or salary

Statistic 5

The gender pay gap in transportation is approximately 10%, with women earning on average less than men

Statistic 6

The median annual wage for transportation managers in the U.S. is $103,000

Statistic 7

The industry’s adoption of flexible benefits packages increased by 20% over the past three years

Statistic 8

55% of transportation HR managers plan to enhance their benefits offerings in the next year, mainly focusing on health and wellness

Statistic 9

48% of transportation companies report difficulty in filling driver positions

Statistic 10

65% of transportation companies offer onboarding programs for new employees

Statistic 11

72% of transportation companies report high turnover rates among drivers

Statistic 12

The average length of employment for drivers in the industry is approximately 3.5 years

Statistic 13

80% of transportation companies offer training programs for drivers

Statistic 14

The transportation industry spends over $1 billion annually on OSHA compliance training

Statistic 15

90% of logistics companies plan to increase their HR budgets in the next fiscal year

Statistic 16

The median tenure of drivers at transportation firms decreased from 4.1 years in 2010 to 3.2 years in 2022

Statistic 17

The rate of driver turnover in trucking peaked at over 100% in 2020 and 2021

Statistic 18

Nearly 60% of transportation companies struggle to retain drivers

Statistic 19

The cost of onboarding a new driver is estimated at $8,000 per individual

Statistic 20

Approximately 85% of transportation companies consider employee engagement a priority

Statistic 21

Companies that implement advanced HR systems see a 20% improvement in employee retention

Statistic 22

55% of drivers surveyed indicate that flexible scheduling would increase their job satisfaction

Statistic 23

The industry experiences an annual turnover rate of approximately 90% among new drivers within the first year

Statistic 24

The transportation industry invests around $500 million annually in driver safety and training programs

Statistic 25

45% of transportation workers report job satisfaction levels below 3 on a 5-point scale

Statistic 26

Approximately 70% of transportation companies conduct regular performance reviews for drivers

Statistic 27

The average driver turnover rate decreased by 10% after the introduction of driver recognition programs

Statistic 28

50% of drivers in the industry have experienced job burnout, impacting retention and productivity

Statistic 29

80% of transportation companies prioritize mental health support for employees

Statistic 30

30% of companies report implementing driver mentoring programs to improve retention

Statistic 31

The transportation industry accounts for approximately 20% of all U.S. employment

Statistic 32

Approximately 1.4 million workers are employed specifically within the trucking sector in the U.S.

Statistic 33

The transportation sector is projected to add approximately 161,200 new jobs from 2020 to 2030

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The U.S. transportation industry contributes around $1.4 trillion to the economy annually

Statistic 35

18% of transportation companies have reported data breaches related to employee or customer information

Statistic 36

Approximately 25% of transportation companies are implementing automated HR systems

Statistic 37

15% of transportation companies report using AI-based recruiting tools

Statistic 38

60% of transportation companies report using predictive analytics for workforce planning

Statistic 39

Over 60% of transportation companies use social media for recruitment purposes

Statistic 40

The introduction of electronic logging devices (ELDs) has reduced hours-of-service violations by 15%

Statistic 41

40% of transportation companies report difficulties in adopting new HR technology due to cost and complexity

Statistic 42

75% of transportation HR departments plan to implement more automation in recruitment and onboarding processes in 2024

Statistic 43

The average age of truck drivers in the U.S. is 46 years old

Statistic 44

Women make up about 7% of truck drivers in the U.S.

Statistic 45

About 40% of transportation employees work more than 50 hours per week

Statistic 46

30% of transportation workers report experiencing workplace injuries annually

Statistic 47

70% of transportation HR managers believe that driver shortages impact customer service

Statistic 48

45% of transportation companies are actively recruiting from minority groups to diversify their workforce

Statistic 49

The average age of new entrants to trucking is increasing, with 30% of new drivers over 35 years old

Statistic 50

About 35% of transportation companies have adopted telecommuting options for administrative roles

Statistic 51

65% of HR managers in transportation report challenges in recruiting younger drivers aged 18-25

Statistic 52

Around 55% of transportation companies incorporate diversity and inclusion initiatives into their HR policies

Statistic 53

20% of transportation employees are eligible for retirement within the next five years, creating a significant succession planning challenge

Statistic 54

65% of transportation companies collaborate with training institutions to develop workforce pipelines

Statistic 55

40% of transportation sector HR professionals have completed certification programs such as SHRM-CP or PHR

Statistic 56

The average recruitment period for a driver position is approximately 35 days

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Key Highlights

The transportation industry accounts for approximately 20% of all U.S. employment
Approximately 1.4 million workers are employed specifically within the trucking sector in the U.S.
48% of transportation companies report difficulty in filling driver positions
The average age of truck drivers in the U.S. is 46 years old
Women make up about 7% of truck drivers in the U.S.
The transportation sector is projected to add approximately 161,200 new jobs from 2020 to 2030
65% of transportation companies offer onboarding programs for new employees
72% of transportation companies report high turnover rates among drivers
The average annual salary for a commercial truck driver in the U.S. is $50,000
55% of transportation workers report access to health insurance through their employer
The average length of employment for drivers in the industry is approximately 3.5 years
80% of transportation companies offer training programs for drivers
The transportation industry spends over $1 billion annually on OSHA compliance training

With nearly one-fifth of U.S. employment rooted in transportation, the industry faces a critical HR challenge: a high driver turnover rate, an aging workforce, and fierce competition for talented drivers—all set amidst a rapid shift toward automation and diversity initiatives.

Compensation and benefits

The average annual salary for a commercial truck driver in the U.S. is $50,000
55% of transportation workers report access to health insurance through their employer
About 80% of trucking companies provide health and wellness programs to employees
25% of transportation workers are paid hourly, while the remaining 75% are paid by mileage or salary
The gender pay gap in transportation is approximately 10%, with women earning on average less than men
The median annual wage for transportation managers in the U.S. is $103,000
The industry’s adoption of flexible benefits packages increased by 20% over the past three years
55% of transportation HR managers plan to enhance their benefits offerings in the next year, mainly focusing on health and wellness

Compensation and benefits Interpretation

While the trucking industry is steering toward better health benefits and flexible perks, a persistent gender pay gap and varying pay structures reveal that there's still miles to go on the road to true workforce equity and security.

Employee experience and retention

48% of transportation companies report difficulty in filling driver positions
65% of transportation companies offer onboarding programs for new employees
72% of transportation companies report high turnover rates among drivers
The average length of employment for drivers in the industry is approximately 3.5 years
80% of transportation companies offer training programs for drivers
The transportation industry spends over $1 billion annually on OSHA compliance training
90% of logistics companies plan to increase their HR budgets in the next fiscal year
The median tenure of drivers at transportation firms decreased from 4.1 years in 2010 to 3.2 years in 2022
The rate of driver turnover in trucking peaked at over 100% in 2020 and 2021
Nearly 60% of transportation companies struggle to retain drivers
The cost of onboarding a new driver is estimated at $8,000 per individual
Approximately 85% of transportation companies consider employee engagement a priority
Companies that implement advanced HR systems see a 20% improvement in employee retention
55% of drivers surveyed indicate that flexible scheduling would increase their job satisfaction
The industry experiences an annual turnover rate of approximately 90% among new drivers within the first year
The transportation industry invests around $500 million annually in driver safety and training programs
45% of transportation workers report job satisfaction levels below 3 on a 5-point scale
Approximately 70% of transportation companies conduct regular performance reviews for drivers
The average driver turnover rate decreased by 10% after the introduction of driver recognition programs
50% of drivers in the industry have experienced job burnout, impacting retention and productivity
80% of transportation companies prioritize mental health support for employees
30% of companies report implementing driver mentoring programs to improve retention

Employee experience and retention Interpretation

While transportation companies are investing over a billion dollars annually in training and safety, a persistent driver turnover rate nearing 90% annually and a median tenure shrinking to 3.2 years highlight that the industry's efforts are still not enough to navigate the road to worker retention and satisfaction.

Industry growth, challenges, and strategic initiatives

The transportation industry accounts for approximately 20% of all U.S. employment
Approximately 1.4 million workers are employed specifically within the trucking sector in the U.S.
The transportation sector is projected to add approximately 161,200 new jobs from 2020 to 2030
The U.S. transportation industry contributes around $1.4 trillion to the economy annually
18% of transportation companies have reported data breaches related to employee or customer information

Industry growth, challenges, and strategic initiatives Interpretation

With one in five Americans employed in transportation, fueling a $1.4 trillion economy and promising hundreds of thousands of new jobs by 2030, it's clear that safeguarding this vital industry’s data is as crucial as keeping the wheels turning on America’s roads.

Technology adoption and operational advancements

Approximately 25% of transportation companies are implementing automated HR systems
15% of transportation companies report using AI-based recruiting tools
60% of transportation companies report using predictive analytics for workforce planning
Over 60% of transportation companies use social media for recruitment purposes
The introduction of electronic logging devices (ELDs) has reduced hours-of-service violations by 15%
40% of transportation companies report difficulties in adopting new HR technology due to cost and complexity
75% of transportation HR departments plan to implement more automation in recruitment and onboarding processes in 2024

Technology adoption and operational advancements Interpretation

As the transportation industry accelerates toward automation—with 75% planning further AI-driven recruitment and a significant shift to predictive analytics—it's clear that navigating the road to tech adoption remains a costly and complex journey, yet essential for steering toward a more efficient and compliant future.

Workforce demographics and diversity

The average age of truck drivers in the U.S. is 46 years old
Women make up about 7% of truck drivers in the U.S.
About 40% of transportation employees work more than 50 hours per week
30% of transportation workers report experiencing workplace injuries annually
70% of transportation HR managers believe that driver shortages impact customer service
45% of transportation companies are actively recruiting from minority groups to diversify their workforce
The average age of new entrants to trucking is increasing, with 30% of new drivers over 35 years old
About 35% of transportation companies have adopted telecommuting options for administrative roles
65% of HR managers in transportation report challenges in recruiting younger drivers aged 18-25
Around 55% of transportation companies incorporate diversity and inclusion initiatives into their HR policies
20% of transportation employees are eligible for retirement within the next five years, creating a significant succession planning challenge
65% of transportation companies collaborate with training institutions to develop workforce pipelines
40% of transportation sector HR professionals have completed certification programs such as SHRM-CP or PHR
The average recruitment period for a driver position is approximately 35 days

Workforce demographics and diversity Interpretation

Despite decades of industry reliance on seasoned drivers and ongoing diversity efforts, the transportation sector faces a driver demographic that’s aging, overburdened, and struggling with workforce renewal, highlighting the urgent need for innovative recruitment and retention strategies before the freight slows to a halt.