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Dive briefs:
- Walmart is expanding its associate-to-driver training program, offering employees at more than 400 stores, distribution centers and other locations the chance to earn six-figure income by driving its fleet of trucks, Wednesday. announced to
- Through this program, the company covers the full cost of obtaining a CDL and pays employees during the 12-week training period to become a driver. Walmart offers a long-distance driver’s starting salary starting at $110,000.
- Walmart said 56 new truck drivers were trained in a pilot of the program last year, offered to supply chain actors in Dover, Delaware, and Sacramento, Calif. An additional 252 employees are expected to become drivers through the program this year.
Dive Insight:
The associate-to-driver program — an employee-sponsored initiative — is part of Walmart’s broader strategy to recruit 13,000 drivers in a tough labor market. The company is one of many companies that use “learn while learning” training, apprenticeships, and other creative strategies to staff their trucking operations.
The retail giant hopes to hire 400 to 800 drivers for its private fleet from its existing employee base, Fernando Cortes, Walmart’s senior vice president of transportation, told Transport Dive in November. .
If you’re interested in driving a truck, the six-figure salaried jobs offered through the program represent an attractive opportunity for retail hourly workers. On average, supply employees in his chain earn more than $20 an hour, while clerks earn about $16.40 an hour, he said in 2022, his CFO Brett said at his UBS Global Consumer & Retail conference. His Mr. Biggs said.
In a company blog post, Cortes described the in-house driver recruitment campaign as a win-win.
“This program is a win for associates who can take the next step in their career without leaving the company,” he wrote. “This is a win for Walmart because we can continue to invest in our talented team of employees.”
