Walmart trucks?

http://cdllife.com/2012/top-truckin...e=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=sadie

 

Does anyone have any advice or tips on how to have success with the Walmart interview process?I have a interview upcoming and I want to do well.Thanks for any tips.

 

When is it, and PM me, I am leaving for work and I can help with it. I had mine last month and am starting on June 3rd. I can answer my PM's in the morning.

 

i am considering an application to Walmart..can you tell me if they drive auto-shift or manual trans..i came out of school and into an auto-shift 7 yrs ago, my shifting may need help...any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Manual. I have not seen any auto shifters. Walmart is all about efficiency and fuel economy. Auto shifters drag down fuel economy.

Find someone you know who will let you practice. You want to be fluid and not grind gears.

 

I've been a Wal-Mart driver for 17 years and I would feel the same as you after reading this, it's embarrassing. We are no better than most of you and not as good as some. And in saying no better I mean we are better or no better because of more or less experience, that's all. I'm sorry for this drivers arrogant attitude, it does us all no good and I would say it in front of him standing between my boss and his boss. Be well, and to all that read this please know that we are not all the same.

 

I've been at a Walmart DC for the last week running routes and the pay just for the company I am with is better than what I would be getting OTR. I'm making $.36 a mile as opposed to the $.25 a mile I would be making running all 48. Plus I get $15.00 per drop. It's almost enough to make me stay up here in Illinois for awhile an save up some money. But I'm from Texas so I'll probably be switching to Texas Regional soon.

However, on a side note after reading this entire thread, I do want to make a few comments.

1. I did find something that referred to what a Walmart driver is paid for(paid 10 hour breaks? Really?), and I have to admit that it's pretty impressive. And I really don't like Walmart that much. Is there anywhere else in the forum that might better outline the pay scale?

2. Spanky, every Walmart driver I have meet this week seems to be an upstanding guy. They are willing to chat wherever I happen to bump into them at, and have so far been forthcoming with information. I'm afraid, like you said, that the gentleman from DC 7033 may be an exception to that rule. To bad really. If he had been less egotistical(and in my opinion he wasn't all that bad up until the "Bopeep" comment and it's following explanation) while sharing his information I think it would have been received in far better fashion than it was.

3. To those of you who do drive for Walmart, I would like to ask a few questions. The company I have signed on with has a dedicated account with the DC in Sterling, Illinois to haul freight to local stores. It's quite a large account with what I would say is about 50 to 60 trucks to back it up at any one time. This type of freight generally seems to be what the Walmart private fleet is supposed to be used for. So why does Walmart need such a large contracted account if they should be using their own drivers instead? Secondly, from what you have seen of the existing options out there, would you say that driving for Walmart is one of the most, if not the most lucrative positions available to a professional driver? Are there more lucrative areas for me to pursue in the long run?

4. And finally, I just want to say that in my opinion, we're all out here doing the same thing. Moving freight. Who we work for, and in what capacity we do it, shouldn't matter. I'm sitting in a Walmart DC and I see every make and model of truck, company, O/O, and etc. come in and leave the gate. EVERYBODY hauls for Walmart, and that means we all need to work together to get the job done. I work for England, some work for Swift, and others work for worse, or better companies. But we are all truck drivers. Instead of considering yourself to be better than another, why not suck it up, and try and help those that you consider to be less experienced than yourself. For those of you who have accumulated miles in the 6 or 7 digits, instead if sitting in your truck on the CB laughing at the new guy that can't back up(and I know not all of you do that) why not get out and share your experience with him. Show him the shortcuts, what he's doing wrong, and un-teach him the things they taught him in school that are just plain idiotic. I know as a new guy myself, I'd appreciate it, as would so many others. There may be many new guys out there that are just here for a paycheck, but there are those of us out here like myself who want to be a professional driver, no matter what the pay is. But in the end we are all drivers, so let's act like it, and stop bickering like we're in competition with each other. Lord knows there is enough freight to go around.

Mike S.

 

Im sorry sir but I have to respectfully disagree. Your opinion is just that and it really goes against all the available evidence. The fact is that Walmart not only hires the best in the area of experience but Walmart drivers have backrounds and historys that show they are the best in all other areas of thier lives. A majority of these divers out here will never reach the level of competency that we have. It might be a ticket here or an "incident" there but very few will reach 20+ years and over 2 million miles of safe driving. How do you explain these new drivers beating out thousands of other perpective candidates just to get an interview? If it were such a level playing field everyone would be at Walmart. Experience is really only a very small part of what makes Walmart drivers the pick of the crop,you should know that. Then again you were interviewed by a "good ole boy" panel of drivers which in my opinion kept alot of good drivers on the outside.

Maybe it was not such a big deal when you hired on but for most of these guys its a huge honor as well as a huge career achievement to get "the call". I appreciate the warm and fuzzy feeling you have towards all drivers but there is nothing better than being the best of the best,hands down.

 

You have an awful lot to say for someone with 0-1 year in,thats good but your really short on whiskers. To avoid upsetting the others lets just say you have alot to learn. Your goal to be a professional driver sets you apart from alot of the new people coming into the industry and tells me you might have a decent shot. As you crawl your way to the top you will find your opinion will change and this sunshine and mini skirt view of all your fellow drivers will change. For me it was the seventeen years I spent as a Teamster,having it pounded into your head in the drivers room everynight that if you aint a Teamster you aint #### has a lasting effect.

Like you I had the goal of becoming a professional driver when I started out,actually I knew I wanted to be a Teamster grocery driver because thats where the bucks and benes were the best. Like you I had that focus and then carefully laid out a plan that would help me reach my goal. I have reached the top twice in this industry and it has made things very nice for me and my family.