Walmart Says It Needs 900 More Truckers This Year, Hikes Pay

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Maria Halkias, The Dallas Morning News  /  January 23, 2019

Walmart is raising trucker salaries in its push to hire 900 more drivers this year across the United States, including Texas, where it has a big concentration of large distribution centers where empty trucks get filled.

Companies are competing for the best drivers as a shortage of truckers in the United States continues. Walmart is promising more predictable scheduling to be conscious of work-life balance and said it has shortened the time from application and starting work. Last year, it also started a $1,500 referral bonus.

In the latest hiring push, Walmart’s driver wages will rise by $14 million from a combination of a per-mile increase, activity and drop-off pay.

That’s an average annual salary of $87,500 and 21 days of vacation in the first year. There also is potential for safety bonuses. Applicants must have at least 30 months of full-time commercial driver experience with no serious traffic violations in the past three years.

“This wage increase reflects the importance our private fleet and our commitment to recruiting and retaining the best drivers in the industry,” said Greg Smith, executive vice president of Walmart’s U.S. supply chain.

Walmart has had its own trucking fleet since the 1970s, when Sam Walton was putting together what was considered the most sophisticated of retail supply chains.

The company’s 8,000 drivers travel more than 700 million miles and deliver to 4,700 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.

The trucking industry reached a 20-year peak for tonnage hauled in 2018. American Trucking Associations estimates the industry, which has 3½ million drivers, is short more than 50,000 drivers.

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Walmart Increases Pay for Private Fleet Drivers

Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT)  /  January 23, 2019

Walmart has announced pay increases for truck drivers in its private fleet that includes an increase to per mile pay and activity pay.

Beginning in February, drivers will receive a 1-cent per mile and a 50-cent increase in activity pay for arrive and arrive/drop occurrences. With the increase, Walmart’s drivers would be paid up to $1 for every time they arrive at a destination and drop a trailer.

In the Northeast region, Walmart is also offering a 5% premium on mileage and eight different activities. Walmart says its drivers can earn an average of $87,500 in their first year of employment with an all-in rate of nearly 89 cents per mile. Furthermore, in the Northeast region, Walmart is offering a 5 percent premium on mileage and eight different activities.

The new pay initiative is part of the company’s push to improve recruiting and retention in its professional fleet and Walmart says it is seeing an increase in referrals from its current drivers. The company  has also revamped its hiring and onboarding program to shorten the application and onboarding time by over 50%.

“Truck drivers are a critical part of our team here at Walmart and have been since Sam Walton started the private truck fleet in the 1970s,” said Greg Smith, executive vice president of Walmart U.S. Supply Chain. “Our professional drivers are part of what makes Walmart so special. This wage increase reflects the importance of our private fleet and our commitment to recruiting and retaining the best drivers in the industry.”

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