Fall-off rate is an industry term that in real English translates to the number of assignments that fail to complete for any reason. The commonly accepted industry average fall-off rate is 10 percent for all agencies combined. That number will surprise many experienced and prospective travelers, and should give everyone some pause to consider the implications. 10 percent means 1 out of every 10 contracts fails to complete, a staggering number.

Obviously, this is a topic that should provoke the interest of travelers, and not just agency insiders. Some long term travelers have never been canceled, but the odds are against that for most travelers who travel over many years. Some long term travelers note that they are canceled pretty much in step with the industry average. But your personal odds can be improved dramatically with some simple steps.