Amidst a nationwide shortage of truck drivers, Walmart has taken a proactive approach to address the issue. Recognizing the potential within their own workforce, Walmart has offered an enticing opportunity for their 1.6 million employees – the chance to become a professional truck driver for the company.
In order to attract employees to this new venture, Walmart has introduced highly competitive salaries, with first-year truck drivers earning up to $110,000. Additionally, they have established a comprehensive 12-week training program tailored specifically for Walmart and Sam’s Club store and warehouse workers. By providing this extensive training, Walmart ensures that their employees are well-prepared to take on the challenges of driving big rigs.
Recently, the first batch of graduates from this training program emerged from Walmart’s Sanger distribution center in Denton County, Texas. Among these success stories is Ashley Milacek, a 35-year-old former retail employee, whose decision to pursue a career as a truck driver will result in her income nearly doubling.
Walmart’s initiative not only helps to alleviate the truck driver shortage but also empowers their own workforce by creating new and lucrative opportunities within the company.
“I was sitting at my computer when I saw the offer and I just had to jump on it,” said Milacek. “I’m the first in my family to go down the trucker path. I never thought about being in this seat, but I wanted to put myself up to the challenge.”
Over 70 Walmart employees are graduating this week from specialized training centers across the country. Among them is Milacek, who has been working at the Gainesville Walmart since 2014. After various roles within the company, she decided to become a “Walmart Private Fleet Driver.”
Milacek is one of nine Walmart employees who successfully completed the program on July 28 at the Sanger training center in Texas, which is the retailer’s sole truck driver training center in the state.
So far, the program has trained and graduated 190 new drivers for Walmart. This is significant considering Walmart employs a total of 13,500 truck drivers. Upon completion, graduates of the program receive their commercial driver licenses.
During the training, Walmart provides accommodations for the students in a hotel and arranges transportation to and from the training center. Additionally, the participants continue to receive their regular pay during the training period.
According to the American Trucking Associations, the number of women in the trucking industry has reached an all-time high of 8.1%. This marks the seventh consecutive year of growth in female representation among professional drivers.
Despite the industry’s progress, there is still a shortage of truck drivers, with nearly 78,000 positions unfilled. This shortage persists, even as the pandemic and supply chain challenges become things of the past. Some attribute the ongoing driver shortage to high turnover rates in the industry. Furthermore, the shortage is particularly acute in the longer-haul, for-hire truckload market and is exacerbated by drivers who fail drug tests. In fact, the association estimates that the shortage could exceed 160,000 drivers by 2031.
Recognizing the need to attract and retain reliable drivers, Walmart has developed regional delivery territories that offer consecutive days off and weekly home time. This initiative aims to provide drivers with work-life balance and stability.
Fritz Keel, director of fleet development at Walmart, spearheaded the curriculum design for this program. Instead of traditional graduation attire, graduates will proudly wear official Walmart driver uniforms, including a blue-and-white Walmart trucker hat, white shirts adorned with the Walmart private fleet patch, and personalized patches displaying their names, transportation region, and the American flag.
These positive changes in the trucking industry have not only alleviated concerns about safety but have also sparked enthusiasm among prospective drivers.
Milacek, shared the newfound information with her concerned family in Anadarko, OK, and they are now thrilled about her career prospects.
She also has been hearing from curious former co-workers. “I tell them it’s a great opportunity and a phenomenal program,” she said.
Source: Transport Topics
