driving for walmart

Does anyone possibly foresee the day that Walmart totally phases out their fleet altogether and exclusively uses outside contractors to haul their freight?

 

From the time Mr Sam first started he realized that his truck drivers were going to play a very important part in makng the company the success it is today. He knew that his drivers acted as ambassadors and were his eyes and ears in the field. With that said as the company has grown many things have changed but the drivers have continued to receive outstanding treatment and a top notch compensation package.

The truth is that Walmart is working hard to keep the hiring of outside contractors to a minimum. There are huge negatives having outside carriers pulling Walmart freight epecially when they use company trailers. Equipment damage and the sometimes less than professional image the public gets are two big ones. The areas that you see being handeled by contract help are areas that are less desireable to the private fleet. The multi stop perishible grocery DC's,Sams clubs and a handful of the dry grocery DC's are areas where I think there will always be a reliance on contract carriers. Some of these segments are just not profitable and Walmart transportation is there to generate revenue. Besides Walmart drivers like one stop drop and hook GM freight and because there is more than enough of it to keep them busy I think they will always have that mostly to themselves.

 

not going to happen our operation is unique to most others. Actually its going in the other direction we are trying to eliminate outside help as much as possible. Really the only thing we use outside help on is frozen/dairy which company drivers do not like to do. I have no problem with it the loads pay very well.

There is so much that goes on behind the scenes to make our operation run, its really to much for me to try and explain but those who work here can relate to what I am saying.

anything could happen but nothing that i can see anytime in the near future at all.

 

tough week eating all this food lol.... i never have a tough week work wise

 

right now there are 2 dc's on a pilot program that will be subject to random audits for 1 year. after that they will compare accident data and see if there where any pros to random audits.

the rest of us as you said will have to supply only the 1 day record if involved in a preventable accident.

 

Exactly. Our GTM was explaining the reason he wants more 6/2 shifts, to take advantage of time left from the 30 minute break. Plus it allows drivers to have better days off, which makes for happier drivers. He talked numbers one time (which I have promptly forgotton) on how much more it costs Walmart to have contract carriers. It is surprising, and will cause an argument with those who don't work here, as they can't fathom how a company that pays their drivers less can cost Walmart more. All of the efficiency gains from the myriad of little things they are doing at Buckeye, is all designed to greatly reduce contract haulers. Also, he figures the perfect amount of drivers for Buckeye is 160. That is 160 very productive drivers. There is a good number who are not. He was talking saving in the 10's of thousands per week, by utilizing less contract drivers.

I always get a kick out of those who buy into the rumor of Walmart phasing out the Private Fleet.

As for food...................... well, I made it home. Woohoo. LOL I didn't explode, or anything. Thursday (my Monday) will be Sub sandwich day. Yep, it sucks to be me.

 

With the amount of EXCELLENT MONEY, combined with EXCELLENT BENEFITS that the Walmart truck drivers are receiving, (possibly the best in the industry for NON-UNION truck drivers), the is NO REASON WHATSOEVER that they cannot haul dairy or frozen food products.

Dairy and frozen food products are HUGE selling items. I sell them every day working as a retail clerk for a major retail company. No matter how much dairy or frozen foods are ordered, the shelves and storage spaces are continuously running out of product. My company has had to get multiple orders during the week to keep up on demand.

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!

 

I have hauled a reefer twice. Frankly, it is pretty interesting how it works. We all had to take a class for it, at Buckeye.

2 times in 9 months. I'm not too worried about it.

I haul dry groceries quite frequently. Sometimes they are 2-3 stop live unloads in the Valley. However, you often get a really cool run like a 3 stopper................... north Phoenix, Cottonwood or Prescott, and Flagstaff. Then you pick up dog food in Flagstaff and either head back to Buckeye, or over to Apple Valley, CA.

It makes for a nice run.

 

I loved that Casa-Flag-Apple run.

 

We have some good ones too. Temple - I had gotten a 3 stop: Kingsville, Harlegen, McAllen. Also a two stop: Eagle Pass, and Laredo. Both of those loads are pull ahead dispatched. Out of New Caney I have gotten runs up to Shreveport a few times. Its nice to have some long runs mixed with the local out of our DC and others.