Over the Road Truck Driver Retention

Date of Award

Spring 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Committee Chair

Leo Sedlmeyer

Committee Member

Walter Witham

Committee Member

Sandy Zehr

Abstract

This dissertation explores the relationship between employee satisfaction and intent to leave the company among over-the-road truck drivers. The researcher developed this study to address the driver retention problem that has existed among truck companies for years. This student conducted a quantitative study using multiple regression to analyze the data. The researcher completed this study by asking drivers to complete a survey that included questions from two well-known questionnaires and one open-ended question. Participants in the study were over-the-road truck drivers from a medium-large trucking company in the midwestern United States. Participation in the study was voluntary, and the researcher contacted the company through a professional relationship. The study includes multiple statistical analysis techniques to ensure accuracy of the study. The researcher was able to determine that one element of employee satisfaction had a significant relationship with driver retention, and the other elements of employee satisfaction were not found to significantly impact intent to leave the company. These findings were consistent with the responses to the open-ended question. The results of this study are an indication that trucking companies can take actions that will improve driver retention. This research also revealed actions that are currently in place that are positively affecting driver retention. This study adds to the existing literature regarding employee satisfaction and employee retention.

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