walmart is the best driving job i've ever had

Ya, The closest to me is the Spring Valley, IL DC. That would be 4 hours drive.

Is that a good DC to work out of?

I dont think they have a DC in West Michigan

The closest to me looks like Coldwater Mi. about 100 miles. Do they ever hire?

 

They do hire. www.drive4walmart.com is the site to check out, check every week as they post new opennings at all DC's that need drivers. Posting last for up too 28 days. You can hire on at any location and then transfer to a location closer to home after one year of service.

 

IF where you want to go has openings. I drive 120 miles one way to work. The good thing about living in the city the DC is in is if you happen to get there during your work week you can run by the house. Course if you take your 10 hour break at home, no matter where you live, you don't get paid for it......and if you do and don't tell them and they catch you, you will be fired. Intentionally false logging is immediate dismissal, do not pass go, do not collect $200, zippity-do-dah you are history! (You can run home and eat or whatever and come back and sleep in the truck and still get paid.)

 

I hope you don't think that's a long drive or complain about it...LOL. My drive is 4 hrs 15 minutes, 270 miles...one way. Worth every mile and every minute though!

 

Yes a big IF. But given how things are, some places move faster than others. My Dc moves quick. Others such as buckeye or Plainview move slower. You could run by the house if you have store near you but 120 miles from a Dc is a bit much if you don't have wheels. I'm sure your wife could come get you but you can't take the truck home.

 

Any idea what Spring Valley, IL DC.

 

Been doing it for over 15 years..........I guess I don't mind it.....

 

Well I did the road test in Sealy, TX. Apparently there is a limit on the backing part of the test. Once I was at the DC I was told it is 6 pull ups. When I did my test I counted each pull up and am very sure I was at 5. I saw I could finish the backing and manuever the trailer into the spot, but believed I had one pull up left, so I got perfectly straight for a perfect straight back in. When I got out, the examiner said, sorry, you did 7 pull ups. I did not argue, but I asked if he was sure. I thought I only had 5 when I did that final pull up. He said, No, you were at 6 and that last one was your 7th. I knew arguing was pointless so I said ok, what can I do now. He said re-apply in a year. I was very disappointed and I still think he was incorrect. He gave me the lecture of don't give up and I know I need help with my backing. I was a bit surprised that he talked like I was so weak in my backing if I only missed the qualification by one pull up ( assuming his count was correct). I knew if I had just manuevered it in I would have made the test. How bad was I really and was I really so far off from Walmart standards? I have the feeling this examiner wanted perfect, no challenge backers. I think he thinks the 6 pull up rule is to lenient and might lean a bit on the more judgmental side because of this.

Also, before I started the test, the staff had made an error. When they reviewed by medical card I was told it was expired. Something that shocked me as I was pretty sure it was valid since it's the only one I have and it was only renewed 6 months before. They showed me an expiration date of January 30, 2013. I looked and looked through my wallet for an updated one. I could not find it. I asked if I could go see a dot doctor and get a new one. They were looking for other options. The Safety manager called and was told they can't do the test if I don't have the medical card. I was sitting there in the room looking through every piece of paper in my wallet, went to my car to check my suitcase and looked through my pockets even though I knew I had not put it anywhere else. I was about to give up when I looked very closely at the card. I then saw the dates of validity were not expired and it was good through 2014. I saw the part they looked at which was the medical examiners certificate expiration. I showed this to the safety manager and he said that is odd. He said he had never seen anything like this. This was a standard federal DOT issued medical card, and yet he is saying he never saw this medical examiners expiration on one. He said I guess it is ok now. Lets go take the test.

How rattled do you think that left me. I travelled 1800 miles for this job, to be told I forgot a current medical card? Told the card the CHP has accepted without issue is expired over 6 months ago? That makes no sense. My mind was scrambling for any sort of answer. Then it's oh sorry, we didn't understand. Now go perform perfectly. Very unfair I think, but I know, not something anyone is going to care much about. It just seems the tone might have been set a bit on the negative to start with, through no fault of mine.

Well, so much for that hope. I tried and did all I could. I can wait a year and try again, meanwhile I'm looking at other opportunities as well. I'm sure there are others, especially in the Houston area, when I was hoping to find work. I'm hoping maybe a day cab tanker job. I used to drive tankers before and that job had me home every couple days and off weekends. Since I'm either going to be a single dad now, unless my wife decides to try again, being home more is a much better option anyway.

Good luck to us all!​

 

Very sorry to hear that. I know it doesn't change anything and they're just empty words from a stranger, but I know how I would have felt. Best of luck to you, I know a year is a long time but I hope you would give it another try. You'll feel better about it then. Right now I'm sure you'd love to tell them to get bent, understandable.

P.S. if you think there might even be a small chance you would reapply, I'd look for a dock-bumping job, where you will gain the backing experience you need. You won't get that with a tanker job. Just something to consider.

 

Do you have to wear a uniform to drive for Wal-Mart?