Ready to take on the open road behind the wheel of a big rig? If not, you may want to consider it. As the COVID-19 pandemic has created a shortage in truck drivers and more delays in shipping across the United States, Walmart is bumping up the pay for their truck drivers.
Walmart announced in a blog post on Thursday that they will pay drivers a starting wage between $95,000 and $110,000.
"Our approximately 12,000 drivers are deeply dedicated to safety and professionalism, and today, we’re proud to announce pay raises to ensure Walmart remains one of the best companies in the world to drive for," Walmart said in the post.
Walmart said that the previous average starting wage for new truck drivers was $87,500, according to USA Today. Although, the national average salary for long haul truck drivers is much lower, at about $56,491, Walmart said.
Walmart is also improving their Private Fleet by launching a 12-week Private Fleet Development Program, where supply chain associates can earn their commercial driver’s license (CDL) and become Private Fleet Walmart drivers.
The program is launching in Dallas, Texas and Dover, Delaware.
It usually costs between about $4,000 and $5,000 to earn a CDL, according to USA Today.
According to the American Trucking Association, there's a shortage of nearly 80,000 truck drivers in the United States.
Walmart has hired more than 7,000 truck drivers since the COVID-19 pandemic began about two years ago. They set a record last year by hiring 4,500 new truck drivers in 2021, according to a Walmart spokeswoman, per Bloomberg.
"The investments in pay and training build on multiple recent driver bonuses and improved schedules that enable drivers to spend more time at home," Walmart's post said. "There's never been a better time to join our fleet. Once drivers are on board, this is a job many leave only for retirement."
If you're interested in driving for Walmart, visit drive4walmart.com.
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