Road transport is not an easy job. In the United States, the profession is sorely lacking in candidates, especially since the pandemic has undermined the motivation of the troops. So much so that the lack of drivers creates bottlenecks that penalize the activity. To address this, employers are looking to lure experienced professionals into their nets. And to achieve this, you have to dangle them with exceptional financial conditions.
In 2020, the median salary of American truck drivers was around $47,130, according to official data. At Walmart, where truck drivers’ salaries already had a reputation for being generous, they now offer a starting job of between 95,000 and 110,000 USD. Not for beginners, let’s not exaggerate, but for experienced drivers in the prime of life, experienced in maneuvering 18-wheel trucks.
Walmart is forced to set the bar very high at a time when other players are building a network of carriers, like Amazon. Like the group of Jeff Bezos, the largest distributor in the world has created an internal channel to redirect its employees to carrier positions. Walmart’s 12-week in-house trucking training program helps employees earn their commercial driver’s license. The company covers the training costs, which is 4000 to 5000 USD. Walmart even pays signing bonuses of up to $10,000. All these initiatives enabled it to hire some 4,500 drivers last year.
Drawing Amandine Victor