At a time when the trucking industry across the U.S. is facing a massive shortage of qualified drivers, Walmart said today it is doubling down on recruiting for its private fleet while celebrating the “unsung heroes of the road during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week September 9-15.
In addition to Walmart’s traditional driver offerings — new drivers earn on average $86,000 annually, have access to benefits on day one, receive as many as 21 days of paid time off in their first year, enjoy predictable home time, don’t load or unload freight, and can earn quarterly safety bonuses and incentives — the chain is adding new ways to find and recruit the best talent. These are:
- Driver referral program. Now when a driver or hourly associate recruits a new hire, they will receive up to a $1,500 bonus.
- A new advertising and engagement program. This includes a TV commercial during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, billboards, digital advertising and social media presence of Walmart’s top supply chain executive, Greg Smith.
- Making it easier for drivers to apply. An onboarding pilot that will speed up the hiring process by as much as a month. Under the pilot, the company is moving many of the steps that formerly took place before an offer to the first week of orientation.
For more information, see this blog post from Tracy Rosser, SVP of Walmart’s private fleet. B-roll, stills and sample advertising can be made available upon request. More information about life as a Walmart driver can be found by visiting www.drive4walmart.com.
Each year, Walmart’s drivers travel over 700 million miles and safely deliver millions of cases of merchandise to Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the nation.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
