Walmart attempts to combat the trucker shortage with a massive pay hike
For a multitude of reasons, supply chain shortages since COVID started have been miserable. They’re miserable for us, and they’re miserable for truck drivers–especially the ones whose livelihoods are at risk for refusal to comply with tyrannical laws. In any case, Walmart has decided to incentivize truckers to stay with them and to recruit new truck drivers through a massive pay hike.
From The Epoch Times:
“Our approximately 12,000 drivers are deeply dedicated to safety and professionalism, and today, we’re proud to announce pay raises to ensure Walmart remains one of the best companies in the world to drive for,”
“These latest investments mean Walmart drivers can now make up to $110,000 in their first year with the company. And that’s just a start—drivers who have been with Walmart longer can earn even more, based on factors like tenure and location,” Walmart added.
$110,000 a year is a lot of money, but it’s not just a lump sum, it’s a competitive advantage.
According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a long-haul driver is $57,288 a year, meaning Walmart’s starting wage is nearly double the standard amount.
Walmart is cornering the market on truck drivers at the same time as they’re incentivizing new workers to work exclusively for them, over competitors. So while other companies may continue to face a shortage of drivers, Walmart intends for that to not be a problem their shoppers face.
The American Trucker Association made the following statement at the White House on April 4th
“Investing in our workforce never stops. It’s a constant. Our industry needs an additional 80,000 commercial truck drivers if we’re to meet consumer demand.”
While a pay rise from Walmart alone will not produce 80,000 new drivers, it will signal to other companies that they must raise their pay as well.
Of course, with Biden’s horrible economy, skyrocketing fuel prices, and massive inflation, who knows how far that $110,000 will actually get you? In another year or two of this it may become poverty wages!