How come everyone isn't driving for Walmart?

You can believe whatever you want. Federal law says it is illegal for truck drivers to text while driving. Federal law. Company policy at Walmart is no texting while driving, and because it is Federal law, it is automatic termination. The driver knew that and did it anyway. Then he comes to a public forum crying about how he was wronged because he texted while driving. Sorry, but for that one I have little sympathy. Am I sad that he lost his job, yes. However, it was a choice that he made. BTW, Walmart isn't the one saying that, the driver said that after he finally fessed up to the one word text.

Walmart has to advertise for drivers now because they hired over 700 drivers this year. They have hired over 700 drivers because of the large amount of retirements they have had (remember the Walmart fleet is older), and they are taking back some of the groceries from the outside carriers (due to issues). While they will still be hiring at a few DC's, the numbers will be down a lot from what they have done so far this year.

This is the most drivers that they have had to hire. Word of mouth alone does not get to all of the qualified prospects for the numbers they needed. This is why they started advertising.

You can come up with whatever conspiracy theories that make you happy. Anyway, I am done. You gentlemen can go back to your snarky responses and inaccurate information. It certainly does make for entertaining reading.

 

How about, why can't trucking companies treat their drivers like Walmart treats theirs?

Seriously, if Walmart can provide good pay, benefits, equipment, home time, etc., than why can't these bottom feeder outfits up their game?

 

I've been a local driver for the last 12 years; my comment was directed at the fact that federal regs treat us as if we're all OTR.

 

Walmart is a private fleet, and private fleets generally pay better than common carriers.

But the main reason Walmart pays above average wages is unions. Walmart can always close down/move/deal with an individual store, but if a majority of the drivers signed cards, they would be in a world of hurt. Because then the DC's would fall like dominoes and eventually the stores. Walmart is simply too big and their supply-chain/logistics too complicated to outsource all their private fleet to common carriers so they have to maintain a private fleet and pay their drivers above-board wages to keep them from organizing.

I remember back in the early 90's, Walmart drivers had to drive and lump floor-to-ceiling 48' trailers at the stores just like those Dollar General accounts. The Teamsters started getting involved and there was talk of unions on the cb radio and Sam Walton put a stop to that real quick.

 

I can verify that. I was there during those days, at 6015 in laurens, sc.

They tried to organize us inside the DC as well. The ceo at the time, David Glass, made a speech on the WMCC tv to the entire DC and flatly stated "there will be no union at Wal Mart". Stopped operations in the whole DC to get everyone together as a group to be told exactly how things were going to be. The implication was very clear of what would happen if talk of it persisted.

Being the largest employer in a very rural county, we never heard another word about a union coming in. Ever

 

Nothing like a dictorial style employer huh???

 

That's was just the tip of a very ugly iceberg.

And that was when mr Sam was still alive and it was a good place to work lol

 

Quality of life on the road too. It's not there at the iron curtain, err, I mean Walmart.

 

Again, my comment was directed at FMCSR, not at Walmart. Their drivers are subject to the same HOS regulations as the rest of us.