Walmart is combatting the national truck driver shortage by granting new drivers up to $110,000 during their first year on the job.
The company is looking to attract more drivers by nearly doubling the average salary for long-haul drivers, which is currently $56,491 yearly. The American Trucking Association has been advocating for months for higher pay to respond to the shortage. With an 80,000 trucker shortage, many companies have begun offering new-hire bonuses to attract qualified drivers. Previously, Walmart revealed that $87,500 had been the average first-year earnings for their new truck drivers. Walmart’s sharp compensation boosts go neck-and-neck with food distributor Sysco, who is also now paying top dollar for new drivers.
“To attract and retain drivers, fleets must increase pay, which is now happening at extraordinary levels,” the ATA said in a March 25th statement.
In addition to impressive starting salaries, Walmart has also launched a truck driver development program. The 12-week program will allow Walmart warehouse employees in several states to earn a commercial driver’s license or CDL as they are most widely known and become private fleet Walmart truckers. This year, about 400 to 800 workers in the company’s supply-chain network are expected to complete the truck-driving program.
In addition, many of Walmart’s already employed drivers will be eligible for raises.
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