Walmart here I come!

Wal-Mart here I come

 

I'd like to start off thanking Matt, who so graciously answered my first questions via PM. Thanks, Matt

My name is Debra and my husband Brian is interested in applying to the DC in Raymond, NH. They are hiring there and I see that the listing was posted 11/07 so it makes me think that they may be having trouble finding qualified applicants that want to run New England. Not everyone can deal with these icy mountains, which may be why they're hiring.[FONT=\]

[/FONT]My Brian has a clean 3-year MVR with no preventable accidents ever in his 36 years driving. He has CDL-A with Haz and tanker endorsements. He has 3 million+ miles under his butt and has driven in every state in the northeast, and most of the others as well over the years. He averages well over 100k miles per year.

I'm concerned about how they will view his recent OTR experience (he doesn't seem to be worried in the least). Brian has driven OTR on and off throughout his entire career. In fact, he was strictly OTR the first six years he was licensed.

Brian went to work for DW in 1988 and quit after 25 years, which included weekly OTR runs. Though he ran a lot of “local” he also did quite a bit of OTR for them throughout his tenure, including 2012 and early 2013. He quit DW in February 2013.

He went OTR for Smith Transport out of Roaring Springs, PA but quit after two months because he wasn't earning enough. He ended up with too much equipment down time to make enough for us to live on. They don't pay for the entire time you're broken down, vendor issues, etc.

Brian then went to work for a local fuel outfit and he loves it there, but they've just sold the business and he is worried about what will happen. The new company (Prospect Fuel and Alternative Fuel) won't be handing out the bonuses and profit sharing left and right like he's been accustomed to, so he fears that his earnings are going to be drastically reduced.

Another concern that I have is his commute to and from work. We live 160 miles (2.5 hours) south of the New Hampshire DC. Would he be allowed to bring the big truck home and park it at our local Walmart? We live in Navy housing and tractor trailers aren't allowed to overnight here.

Chances of getting Sunday as one of his days off? That's the only day he gets to see his kids. It would be really nice for him, but certainly not a deal-breaker if it's not possible.

I feel really stupid about this, but I can't find the OTR driver application! Anyone have a link for that right offhand?

Also – what are the current restrictions on cell phones?

Thanks in advance for any and all of your excellent comments!

 

Hi Debra, let me see if I can answer some of your questions. It certainly sounds like your husband is more than qualified to apply for Walmart. At the end of this, I will post the minimum qualifications for Walmart. Those listings stay up for 28 days after which they start going through to find all the qualified candidates and start the interview process. As far as his commute, Walmart does not allow drivers to take trucks home on their off time. The only kinda exception to this is if you deliver a store near your home and you want to take your break at home. They will allow you to park the truck at the nearest store and you are allowed to take your break at home. Sunday's off are something different. If hired, he would most likely be an extra board driver, meaning he is a full time driver, just not assigned a regular run or truck. The possibility does exists for him to get on a program, but it's not guaranteed. So that means he would be working weekends for some time. This just depends on the staffing at the DC he is applying to. To find the OTR application, just go to www.drive4walmart.com. There you will find all the info you need. The current cell phone policy is you are allowed 10 minutes per hour to talk while driving. This cannot total more than 1 hour during your 11 hours of driving time. You can talk as much as you would like while not moving. But trust me, he would have more than enough opportunity to talk!! Here are the minimum requirements taken right of the Walmart website. I hope I've helped with some of your questions and good luck to you guys!! He will love working here and you will love it also!!

Interstate (Class A) Commercial Drivers License with Hazmat endorsement (including cleared background check) or will obtain HAZMAT endorsement (with cleared background check) within 60 days of a conditional job offer.
Over the road tractor trailer experience in each of the last three years.
No preventable accidents resulting in a fatality while operating a commercial motor vehicle in your lifetime.
No more than 1 non-preventable accident while operating a commercial motor vehicle in the last three years.
No more than 2 moving violations while operating a personal or commercial motor vehicle in the last three years.
No serious traffic violations while operating a commercial motor vehicle in the last three years.
No preventable accidents while operating a commercial motor vehicle in the last three years.
No convictions for a DUI, DWI, OUI, or reckless driving with alcohol/drugs involved within the last ten years.
No preventable DOT recordable accidents (e.g., fatality, disabled vehicle required towing, requiring medical care) while operating a commercial motor vehicle in the last ten years.
Read full description

 

Oh, thanks so very, very much, ninetofive !!!

Yes, you have answered many of my questions, for which I am extremely grateful.

Do you think he has enough OTR during the past three years for them? I think he's counting on his overall career stats, including plenty of OTR over the years.

 

I can't speak officially, but when I applied in May, the requirement was 250,000 miles of OTR experience in the last 3 years, so obviously, that requirement has changed. To be sure, you guys can call 1-800-WALMART and ask for driver recruiting. I'm sure they can give you an answer to that question.

 

Walmart will be satisfied with your husband's prior OTR experience. They just need to know your husband will be able to run OTR and spend his 10 hour breaks in the truck during the 4-5 nights a week he will be away from home. The minimum yearly mileage requirements for new applicants is no longer a part of the minimum qualifications. It was previously a minimum of 50,000 miles in the past year and 250,000 miles in the previous three years.

Where specifically in CT do you live? You have several DC's within 300 miles from you. Marcy, NY; Raymond, NH; Tobyhanna, PA; Pottsville, PA; Smyrna, DE. As a driver based out of Raymond, NH, you may cross over into the areas served by the other DC's I listed above during the course of the week, so the New England states would not be the other area your husband would necessarily operate in. I am a Yankee by birth myself and was living in Storrs, CT near UConn before I moved to Texas in 1996, so I am very familiar with the entire Northeast.

Unless you are on a program with rotating days off, it will likely take quite a few years to have one or both weekend days off. Each driver re-bids on their schedule each six months. Since it is based on seniority, it is harder to get those weekend days off. A program such as 6/3 (work six days, off three days) or a 5/2 5/3 are among some of the programs that would make it possible to get at least some weekend days off.

In addition to what noninetofive posted, Walmart is also very strict on cell phone use and can request your phone records if needed. Texting while driving, which includes stopped but still logged in on your elogs as driving, is prohibited. It is best to just play by the rules and you will be fine. Plenty of time is available during the day to talk or text when stopped.

 

Does anyone know how much you get while in orientation.. ?

 

Paid hourly for the days in class and regular driver pay (mileage & accessory pay) while on the road with a mentor.

 

Thanks.. how long is that in all ? Is it a week or more

 

How much an hour