Commercial Truck Drivers' Perceptions About the Influences of Safety Regulations on Retention

The persistent shortage of commercial truck drivers remains a prominent concern in the industry. There is a potential for the shortage to exacerbate, possibly reaching an estimated 50,000 drivers, due to the need for more adequately qualified candidates. The purpose of this qualitative study was to improve the understanding of how commercial truck drivers who have worked in the industry for at least 1 year perceived the relevance of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DoT) safety regulation 49 CFR Part 395 on the number of allowed active driving hours potentially impacts their retention decisions. The research questions focused on the sentiments and viewpoints of participants, which were analyzed through the lens of policy feedback theory to explore truck drivers’ current perceptions and suggestions. The aim was to provide insights into retention decisions regarding the existing DoT’s safety regulation 49 CFR part 395. This study employed a general qualitative research design and utilized a researcher-developed online survey. The survey comprised five open-ended questions administered to 16 current commercial truck drivers and the garnered data were coded and categorized for thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke’s thematic approach. The analysis revealed three key themes: (a) commitment to the industry regardless of regulatory challenges, (b) DoT’s restrictions contribute to difficulty maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and (c) the need to balance safety, efficiency, and career advancement in the industry. The implication for positive social change is raising awareness of the challenges faced by current commercial truck drivers while offering improvement strategies that could enhance working conditions, improve retention, and foster a healthier, more sustainable logistics industry.