Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Business Administration
Advisor
Matthew Knight
Abstract
High truck driver turnover rates negatively impact company profits, business operations, and customer satisfaction. Oil and gas industry supply chain and logistics leaders who lack strategies to recruit and retain truck drivers experience declines in revenue, operational effectiveness, and customer retention. Grounded in total quality management theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify and explore strategies used in the oil and gas industry to retain and recruit qualified truck drivers effectively. The participants comprised six oil and gas industry leaders in the greater Houston, Texas area who successfully managed truck driver recruitment and retention strategies for five years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and reviews of company documents that included mission, vision, goals, and value statements. Data were analyzed using Yin’s five-step process and thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: onboarding programs, leadership practices, and competitive compensation. A key recommendation for trucking industry leaders is to foster a positive work–life balance by providing opportunities to get the driver home every day through systems, such as increased local operations, hub and spoke models, and relay systems, to increase employee engagement and help reduce the rate of voluntary turnover. The implications for positive social change include the reliable delivery of needed goods through driver retention, potentially improving the quality of life for residents in local communities.
Recommended Citation
Duckering, Erica, "Strategies to Overcome the Truck Driver Shortage in the United States" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 13318.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13318
