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Dive Brief:<\/h3>\n\n- Walmart is expanding its Associate-to-Driver training program, offering employees at more than 400 stores, distribution centers and other locations a chance to earn six figures driving trucks for its private fleet, it announced Wednesday.<\/li>\n
- Through the program, the company fully covers the cost of obtaining a CDL and pays workers during the 12-week training to become a driver. Walmart offers long-haul drivers starting salaries as high as $110,000.<\/li>\n
- A pilot of the program \u2014\u00a0offered last year to supply chain associates in Dover, Delaware, and Sacramento, California \u2014 trained 56 new truck drivers, according to Walmart. Another 252 employees plan to become drivers through the program this year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dive Insight:<\/h3>\n
The Associate-to-Driver program \u2014 an initiative proposed by employees \u2014 is part of Walmart\u2019s broader strategy to recruit for its 13,000-driver fleet in a tough labor market. The company is among many who have used \u201cearn-to-learn\u201d training, apprenticeships and other creative strategies to staff their trucking operations.<\/p>\n
The retail giant hopes to recruit 400 to 800 drivers for its private fleet from within its existing employee base, Walmart Senior Vice President of Transportation Fernando Cortes told Transport Dive in November.<\/p>\n
If they\u2019re interested in driving a truck, the salaried, six-figure jobs offered through the program represent an attractive opportunity for the retailer\u2019s hourly workers.\u00a0On average, supply chain workers make more than $20 an hour, and store associates make about $16.40 per hour,\u00a0CFO Brett Biggs said during the 2022 UBS Global Consumer & Retail Conference.<\/p>\n
Cortes described the internal driver recruitment campaign as a win-win in a company blog post.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program is a win for associates, who can take the next step in their career journey without leaving the company,\u201d he wrote.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a win for Walmart, as we can continue to invest in our talented team of associates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walmart expands reach of driver training program<\/h4>\nA map shows Walmart’s growing Associate-to-Driver program, which is now offering truck driving training to store, supply chain and other employees at five more training centers.<\/h5>\n
Dive Insight:<\/h3>\n
The Associate-to-Driver program \u2014 an initiative proposed by employees \u2014 is part of Walmart\u2019s broader strategy to recruit for its 13,000-driver fleet in a tough labor market. The company is among many who have used \u201cearn-to-learn\u201d training, apprenticeships and other creative strategies to staff their trucking operations.<\/p>\n
The retail giant hopes to recruit 400 to 800 drivers for its private fleet from within its existing employee base, Walmart Senior Vice President of Transportation Fernando Cortes told Transport Dive in November.<\/p>\n
If they\u2019re interested in driving a truck, the salaried, six-figure jobs offered through the program represent an attractive opportunity for the retailer\u2019s hourly workers.\u00a0On average, supply chain workers make more than $20 an hour, and store associates make about $16.40 per hour,\u00a0CFO Brett Biggs said during the 2022 UBS Global Consumer & Retail Conference.<\/p>\n
Cortes described the internal driver recruitment campaign as a win-win in a company blog post.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe program is a win for associates, who can take the next step in their career journey without leaving the company,\u201d he wrote.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a win for Walmart, as we can continue to invest in our talented team of associates.\u201d<\/p>\n