The New Walmart and what you can expect.

The same could be said for some other big retailers. Amazon has really upset shopping as it was known.

Unfortunately, I can't imagine those in the big house in Bentonville are going to see the error of their ways anytime soon.

 

I've been a Walmart driver for 26+ years and I never thought any this would happen. The newest policy is the mandatory "chain and go rule". I'm not adverse to throwing iron when the law says I have to if I want to proceed, but sometimes it's better to err on the side of good judgement and wait a little.

Walmart's old policy was use your own judgement, but as of this month, you will go if everyone else is going. If anyone's gone over Donner or Vail, you know how crazy those 4 wheelers are racing to get to the ski resorts or Reno. If I decide to chain & go, I'll go when the traffic's a little lighter. Walmart thinks that store load is worth more than safety now.

I've really enjoyed working here but all these new changes are not for the better. I've heard over 2,000 drivers have recently pulled the plug, and I just might decide retiring is my best option also.

 

Sadly I think you are correct.

 

Nice write up OP. I've been thinking about leaving the 48/OTR game and Walmart was a consideration but admit the "changes" that many are talking about are disconcerting. Not to mention it seems the private fleet gig is on it's last legs?

To me, though, a lot of what I'm reading is that maybe Walmart treated it's company drivers TOO good in the past, and they're just coming more into line with "typical driving jobs" elsewhere? Maybe I'm reading it wrong. As far as 48/OTR gigs, they don't get much better than where I'm at now, and I like it here. But getting older, mom is getting older and may need more attention, and I may need to think about keeping closer to home in a more consistent manner.

How far from a DC can your home location be as a Walmart driver? Closest to me would be Palestine, TX at about 90 miles. But my other big concern though is I don't want to risk taking a job that might only last a year or two. Are they trying to eliminate the private fleet through attrition or how would that work if they decided to bring in an outside carrier to replace a private fleet?

 

Live within 250 miles of DC.

In my region the "Dedicated" carriers are doing an excellent job on proving how valuable the private fleet is.

Bentonville has cost themselves roughly 1500 quality drivers, and now whether they want to admit it or not. All these changes and such might not have been a good idea?

 

The ironic part of all this, is if you take out Amazon an add Walmart, you'd have a repeat of the early 2000s an Walmart "upset shopping as we know it".

They've been screwing over their store employee's for a long time, why are you folks surprised when they decide to do the same to you? I'm not asking to be a jerk, cause a fight, invoke insults and rants, or to troll you. I honestly want to know. It's not like Walmart is known for treating their employee's the best. I get it, the transport side they did but at the end of the day Bentonville rules all. One ring to rule them al...err sorry, flashback to Lord of the Rings.

I wish you folks luck though. I get no joy out of seeing folks lose pay, or forced out of a job.

Far as Walmart and their top execs...you reap what you sow. Many companies have been humbled once they assume their untouchable. For the record, I don't hate Walmart. I just don't like their execs, nor the way they treat ALL their employees.

Sirscrapntruckalot - Flame proof powers activate!

 

Point taken, but what large retailer spoils their employees?

WM is a big target and easy to play the hate card. If you really want to hear horror stories of mistreatment of employees research Mr Geoff Bowzo's and see what he thinks of his employees and how they are treated at Amazone

 

I don't know that it's so much an outside dedicated carrier Vs private fleet comparison, s much as a well paid, highly respected fleet that has high demands, Vs a fleet with poor pay, and little to no standards which attracts less-than-dependable drivers that are constantly being replaced.

That is to say if Roehl employed the same pay scale and hiring standards as Walmart did to run it's Walmart account, they might be doing a great job. But then the contract rate would be higher but still probably cheaper than running your own large fleet. But Walmart still benefits by going dedicated contractor offloading payroll liability and fleet upkeep costs. Running a large fleet has lots of costs, problems, and inherit risks. But whatever they do and how they do it, they MUST have dependable and on-time service to the stores, first and foremost.

And I can see having happy drivers who know the stores, and the high expectations and who want to retire there would be much more dependable long-term then drivers who don't give a crap about their job other then as a means to earn a wage.

 

I've worked for them. I know first hand. Amazon that is. An yea, it's not all a bed of roses. I assure you there.

Their full time FC(warehouse) employee's get run ragged.They have to meet mandatory numbers which varies based on departments. An they use a lot of temp employee's through out the year in their FCs. FC I worked at wasn't to bad, nor was my experience but I talked to a lot of regular employees while there. I'd rather be a temp worker then a full time one for Amazon. Haha.

An again I'm not just hating on Walmart. Nor trying to say Amazon is better. Just curious is all. Obviously we hear a lot more about Walmart vs Amazon, lest I seem to.

Maybe a miracle will happen an Bentonville will pull their heads out of their #####, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

Sirscrapntruckalot - I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. - Douglas Adams.

 

Not to hijack their this.
Costco treats their employees really well. Also great to make deliveries to. Often in and in a hour.
“Wall Street grumbles that Costco cares more about its customers and employees than its shareholders; it pays workers an average of $17 an hour and covers 90% of health-insurance costs for both full-timers and part-timers. Yet revenues have grown by 70% in the past five years, and its stock has doubled.”
Employee Relations Best Practices: Costco's Approach to HR | i-Sight