Trucking fleet managers for years have relied on pay raises to fight chronic turnover, but a new report suggests that the gadgets in the cab may now be just as important as the numbers on the paycheck.
According to the Driver Experience Report 2026 released by Platform Science, 52% of drivers say technology directly influences their decision to stay with or leave a fleet. Based on an anonymous survey of more than 1,100 active commercial drivers, the report reveals a workforce that is increasingly polarized by the digital tools they are required to use. While 47% of respondents say technology makes their job easier, a slight majority of 53% feel it actually makes their work harder.
Michael Bray, Chief Commercial Officer at Platform Science, said the report makes clear that retention is becoming increasingly operational – shaped by drivers' daily experiences.
"Drivers told us ... whether their tools actually work day-to-day (has) a meaningful impact on whether they stay with a fleet," Bray said. "Technology in particular has become a retention lever."
In CCJ's most recent What Drivers Want report, a survey of company drivers and leased owner-operators conducted in partnership with Netradyne, drivers' view on safety technology varies depending on what it does and, in the case of cameras, which way it faces.
The tech breaking point
The financial stakes for fleets are high.
The report estimates that losing a single driver costs a motor carrier upwards of $12,799 in recruitment, training and lost productivity. Despite efforts to increase wages and benefits, turnover remains elevated, and experts warn it could worsen if the freight market enters an inflationary trend.
Fleets have a hard time retaining drivers because they don't pay enough. That's what 80% of driver respondents said in CCJ's What Drivers Want survey. But poorly implemented technology has become a primary source of driver frustration, heavily impacting turnover, according to Platform Science's Driver Experience Report.
"(Technology) only works when it simplifies the job and reduces friction," Bray said. "Too many logins, disconnected apps, inconsistent workflows, unreliable equipment, or unclear policies around how tools are used causes friction."
He said the opportunity isn’t adding more technology but reducing complexity, improving reliability, and ensuring tools are intuitive and clearly communicated.
One driver in CCJ's survey said technology in the cab is a distraction from driving and doesn't work half the time.
"I dislike all this safety junk," another driver respondent noted in CCJ's survey. "They're noisy and a distraction. Some are a real safety hazard, such as brake application when you don't expect it."
The Platform Science survey identified several other tech fails that erode driver trust, including:
- Disconnected apps: Juggling multiple logins for tools that do not communicate with each other.
- Confusing workflow: Processes that make simple tasks take longer than necessary.
- Surveillance concerns: A lack of transparency regarding in-cab camera policies, which can make drivers feel monitored rather than supported.
"When drivers worry about what someone might see them do or have an alarm go off every time they do something, (it) makes them on edge all the time," one driver commented in the CCJ survey.
CCJ's What Drivers Want report revealed that 65% of drivers find driver-facing video intrusive and refuse to drive with it, while 27% don't like it but live with it, and 3% and 6% were on board or don't care, respectively.
Survey respondents said a driver-facing camera was the top tech tool cited as having the greatest negative impact (70%) on truck driver safety, while more than two-thirds (66%) said forward-facing cameras have the greatest positive impact. Speed limiters also received 70% of the vote for negative impact on safety, compared to 8% positive impact. The majority of respondents (60%) feel that technology is present to make it easier for fleets to monitor and control drivers.
One driver in the Platform Science report summarized the sentiment bluntly: "All the bull crap technology that (hinders) driving more than helps".
Roadmap for managers
The report suggests that fleets can turn technology into a competitive advantage by focusing on integration and simplicity. Drivers expressed a preference for single sign-on solutions, pre-populated fields, and reliable Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).
To improve retention, the report recommends that fleet managers:
- Involve drivers early: Include driver representatives when evaluating new technology or procedures.
- Prioritize reliability: Ensure that basic equipment and compliance tools work consistently before adding new features.
- Strengthen communication: Use both in-person town halls and digital feedback tools to acknowledge and act on driver concerns.
In CCJ's survey, only 15% of drivers said they feel empowered to influence their fleet’s tech purchases with the majority saying fleets don’t ask their driver’s opinions.
Bray said implementation and transparency matter just as much as functionality. The report reinforces the importance of involving drivers earlier when evaluating and deploying new technology, he said.
"Fleets that prioritize transparency, involve drivers in decision-making, and choose technology that reduces friction are better positioned to build trust," the report concluded.
