Recently a court ruled that Walmart had violated federal law by not paying their drivers at least minimum wage for all the time they worked. The class action suit was targeting the time that drivers are responsible for their vehicle and cargo, but not driving.
Walmart, like the majority of carriers, pays their drivers on a per-mile and discretionary basis. Walmart drivers get paid for inspections, paperwork, and even layovers, but the class action suit claimed that the $42 per layover comes out to less than California’s minimum wage.
The judge presiding over the case, Susan Illston, ruled that since “Wal-Mart exercised a high level of control over its drivers,” even during rest periods, Walmart must pay them for that time.
In response, Walmart claimed that their drivers are among the best paid in the industry, saying that they earn, on average, between $80,000 to over $100,000 a year. They also pointed out that since 90% of their drivers have been with the company for 10 years or more, Walmart is “a great place to work.”
So maybe the issue isn’t how much they’re paid total, but rather that they’re not being paid for time they don’t spend driving.
Which is an issue that drivers have been unhappy about for a very, very long time.
Next Story: Mother/Daughter Team Steals $140k From Carrier… For Charity?
Source: overdrive, truckinginfo, overdrive, allgov, etrucker, lawersandsettlements, california
Image Source: walmart
Hey where is my money for all the time they held me up on there freight
Walmart pays detention.
Grammer Police! Watch out driver!!
Pays who?
They pay detention after 45 min. Walmart drivers are basically local drivers anymore,delivering groceries and live loads everyday that used to be done by outside carriers.
Too bad they don’t make walmart pay the outside carriers that put up with their bs. No driver should have to pay a receiver to unload the stuff the receiver ordered. It’s been a racket for waaay too long.
I totally agree with that. Not only paying for unloading but for sorting, too. I refuse to haul any load when I have to pay the lumper more to unload than I get paid to deliver.
Completely agree!!
One of the biggest trucking SCAMS is when you are forced to pay someone to take THEIR freight!
Can you imagine if you told the ups man he had to pay you before you accepted your package!
This is stupid, stop the government, especially a judge from making law from the bench, if I was Walmart I would fire all the drivers and hire all outside carriers. I talked to several Walmart guys, they were happy making good money, this is trucking, not a 9-5 job. If you want timed pay go work at McDonald’s
Maybe your time means nothing to you, but who the heck are you to decide wether someone’s time is worth nothing to to them? Try sitting waiting for a load for 2 days which happens more then you know in this industry, maybe if these carriers are forced to pay for time worked they won’t feel so obliged to leave guys sitting at a damn truck stop unpaid.
Only company that I know of that pays the drivers something for sleeping and pays 100% for their CPAP machine and supplies. And what other company does that? Not sure that I know of ONE…….. So Stop whining. At least puppies quit after 6 months…..!
Walmart gave them a whole foot and they still took a mile.
So please tell me why that 100 drivers from other companies apply for 5 positions with WM if it is such a bad place to work? Unlike other companies, it is the place that treats the driver with respect, respects home and family and if there is an issue at home, gets them there, without question. Everyone complains about WM and their way but are first to jump in line when there is a job opening. Something strange about this picture…………..
LOL. They’re getting paid $80-$100,000 per year when they’re putting in $150,000 worth of time. Sounds like a trucking wage to me. Crooks.
wish i could get one of those!
If you like to spend the majority of your workweek delivering groceries,running trips of 100 miles or less, driving on 2 lane roads and being watched like a 2 year old you should apply. They are hiring. Driving for Walmart is not anything close to what it was 5 years ago.
Now we as drivers need to demand this industry wide. For way too long we have accepted getting paid for only half of what we do everyday.
Agreed. Why do they feel we are not worth the money?
We’ve told then we’re not worth it by not demanding it. I’d like to get paid for pre-trip, post-trip, fueling, DoT harassment (inspections), and all breakdown time. In 31 years with this industry, I haven’t found a company that considers drivers worthy of the same pay plan (hourly for everything) as janitors, mechanics, dispatchers and secretaries get.
It always amazes me how many drivers feel that their time is of no value.
On average I work 15 hours a week for free. This doesn’t include any of the time doing resets or waiting to gain hours on the recap.
I pull a flatbed and do get paid to tarp loads but not load securement, untarping, securing equipment, paperwork, fueling, or inspections.
Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy my chosen profession, however I do feel that as drivers we are abused way to often when it comes to our time.
The law says I must log all time performing work related duties as “on duty not driving”. Unfortunately doing so takes money out of my pocket since I only get paid when the wheels turn, and not even “all” those miles.
Am I whining? Yes. Wrong is wrong. How long do you think these regulators would put up with working 70 hours a week but only getting paid for 40? And certainly no overtime!
I’m done.
This story has reminded me of a similar class action lawsuit that was brought against CR England… has anyone heard an update on that case?
If you complain about your job and hate it that much, quit and find another one. Better yet, buy your own truck, get your authority and pay yourself for all your time. Easy as pie. Solved!! Next problem.
All carriers should be subjected to identical terms!
Why only Wal-Mart? Heck, they’re actually one of the better outfits, (at least for truckers). I’ve been robbed of so much “extra” pay, by so many carriers, it ain’t even funny.