But have these increases had any real impact? Will it going forward? Walmart offers drivers pay in the low $70,000s and a better lifestyle than that had by most over the road truckers, but it continues to advertise aggressively for new drivers on radio programs. Truckload carrier Heartland Express is said to have already pushed driver pay into the low $60,000s and even a bit higher - and seems to face the same driver challenges as others lower on the pay scale.
The latest data from the American Trucking Associations found the US driver turnover in Q3 was a still high 97% - up a percentage point from the 96% pace seen in Q2.