Nearly 70% of U.S. truck drivers say that work-related stress negatively impacts their driving in some way, with more than a third having considered leaving their job in the past year. 

According to a survey of 500 drivers from fleet management software provider Geotab, 28% "strongly agree" that stress and mental health contribute to increased dangers on the road, while 26% admitted to regularly breaking speed limits to meet deadlines. 

"Our research shows a direct and critical link between driver well-being and the overall performance of the transportation industry," said Geotab product leader Vik Sridhar. 

More than half of the drivers Geotab spoke to also believed that the risk of driving accidents has increased over the last five years, with 76% citing other drivers on mobile phones as the dangerous behavior they notice most frequently, followed by poor driving from others, at 71%, other vehicles moving too fast, at 51%, and increases in congestion, at 29%. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual turnover rate at large truckload carriers for 1995-2017 was 94%. Geotab also estimates that replacing and training a single driver can cost a company anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000, while the cost of trucking reached an all-time high of $2.27 per mile in 2023, stemming from increases in fuel costs and insurance premiums.

Businesses can mitigate this in a number of ways, by providing competitive compensation packages for drivers; ensuring drivers have access to crucial equipment like GPS, multi-tools and digital tire pressure gauges; and allowing for flexible work hours and scheduling options.