Walmart is offering up to $110,000 to power its trucks

Walmart employees who once unloaded trucks now have the opportunity to drive them.

The country’s largest retailer has launched a training program that gives employees working in its distribution or fulfillment centers the opportunity to become certified Walmart truck drivers through a 12-week program taught by the company’s incumbent drivers. to become a driver.

Walmart, based in Bentonville, Ark., also said it is increasing wages for its 12,000 truck drivers. According to Walmart spokeswoman Anne Hatfield, the starting range for new drivers is now between $95,000 and $110,000. The retailer said $87,500 was the average new truck drivers could earn in their first year.

The moves announced on Thursday come as the pandemic has exacerbated trucker shortages as demand for cargo hauling hits historic highs. The American Trucking Associations, a large industry body, estimates that the country is short of about 80,000 drivers.

According to Walmart, about 20 workers in Dallas and Dover, Delaware have earned their commercial driver’s licenses. About 400 to 800 workers in the company’s supply chain network are expected to complete the truck driving program this year, Hatfield said.