Best Trucking Companies

Doncha think doubling your pay is a concept you could with with?

... could WORK with?

Mary points out:

As coveted as those jobs are, it's a wonder that WalMart spends so much money running radio ads that they're hiring.

They run the ads regionally and also seasonally. We are fast approaching the busiest time of the year for "Wally" thus demand increases and they hire more drivers. Plus they also prepare in advance for replacement of retiring drivers. At 7030 Swift will pull OTR drivers and temporarily assign them to the account as a surge driver. By Thanksgiving we will have 120 drivers available to run deliveries. For a variety of reasons this is also the most challenging time period for any Walmart driver. If you notice during the months of November, a dramatic increase of dropped 40' and 20' containers occur and literally litter their property. They are locked, alarmed and used for storage of product to be sold during the Christmas season or for layaways. I have actually seen them set-up POS registers right next to the container on Black Friday and sell directly from the "can". I find this amusing. Anyway, depending on the size of the store and where these are placed, it can make for a really "fun time" trying to dock or in some cases navigate through the field of boxes. The sheer number of containers also reduces the amount of available real estate to park for the 10 hour break. We call the holiday time before Thanksgiving and after Christmas; "Container Season". We also have something called blitz week...this is when we move trailers of special merchandise to stores either in or outside of our assigned territory. This is always a treat for a grocery driver because it's entirely drop and hook , with greater miles paid at the higher Dedicated CPM rate. Almost like a Christmas bonus of sorts. One of my DMs actually refers to it as such; "hey G, here is your bonus." They usually reserve these for the proven, tenured drivers many times due to the Hi-Val nature of the load. Something else to be said for sticking with a company beyond the first year.

Mary the PI asks:

So, pardon my nosiness, but is that "the one" job that you'd leave Swift for???

Mary, Mary, Mary,...how inquisitive of you and wow, what a great memory. Fair question though,...thanks for reminding me. I did put that out there (although it was an obscure reference), so you are not being nosey. Might make for interesting conversation. I will preface my answer; I really like Swift and enjoy driving for them. Never a regret or any insurmountable, show-stopping problems. Best job I have ever had,...especially significant since I have been working for 38 years. My relationship with driver management and the planners is about as good as it gets. Any opportunity such as working for Walmart's Private Fleet is because Swift enabled the success and opened the door for it. Swift is much maligned, but highly and obviously misunderstood by those who like to take shots at them without any substantial basis. The real dope can only come once a driver has been with them for a while.

That said, Yes.

Great answer! Spoken like a true diplomat!

I feel your pain, re. the approaching peak season. New hires at my company have to sign an acknowledgement that they may be required to work every day from Thanksgiving thru Christmas - and they mean it. I worked 40 days straight last year.

Tbh, The driving force (pun intended) behind me becoming a truck driver is to get the experience necessary to become a truck driver for WalMart. They take care of and pay their drivers well. I actually quit working for WalMart so I can drive to hopefully one day get rehired at WalMart. How messed up does that sound?

I am a team driver for covenant transport and I'm looking for a great solo company to work for with better pay

I am a team driver for covenant transport and I'm looking for a great solo company to work for with better pay

Ahem, I know of a great company, did I mention my truck number? LoL

In all seriousness, just look around. Just answer the same questions as you answered to start your career.

What kind of freight do you want to Haul? Do you want OTR , Regional , or Local? What companies hire in the area you live in?

Most of the larger companies pay relatively the same in each respective type of trailer use. (Flatbed, reefer , dry van , etc...)

Since you want to run solo, just exclude all team companies.

Does Covenant have solo positions? Perhaps a lateral change may be better than a complete restart.

As far as pay don't get caught up in the advertised cpm. How do you get paid? Practical miles? HHG miles (zip code to zip code)? Are you paid the same on all dispatched? Does pay change dependent upon Loaded, Deadhead , or bobtail? Are there bonus pays? What does it take to qualify for said bonuses?

Patrick chimes in:

Tbh, The driving force (pun intended) behind me becoming a truck driver is to get the experience necessary to become a truck driver for WalMart. They take care of and pay their drivers well. I actually quit working for WalMart so I can drive to hopefully one day get rehired at WalMart. How messed up does that sound?

Not at all messed up...sounds like a plan to me.

I am debating which would be better. Staying with my current company until I can get on with WMPF or work here for a couple years then switch to a company with a WalMart dedicated for at least a year until I can get on with WalMart.

Any Suggestions?

I am debating which would be better. Staying with my current company until I can get on with WMPF or work here for a couple years then switch to a company with a WalMart dedicated for at least a year until I can get on with WalMart.

Any Suggestions?

That's a great question. Considering your long term goal of becoming a Walmart Private Fleet driver, your chances of being hired by them are greatly enhanced if you are already working on a Dedicated Walmart account. They will see your performance first hand, plus you have an opportunity to network with their drivers, shop personnel and dispatch. I would stick with HO Wolding for a year but start to figure out where to land next at the 9 month point. Most of the majors have Walmart Dedicated contracts.

My number one reason for running the Walmart account is stability. There has never been a lack of freight, we're always hustling.

Good luck. Safe travels.

Patrick wrote:

I am debating which would be better. Staying with my current company until I can get on with WMPF or work here for a couple years then switch to a company with a WalMart dedicated for at least a year until I can get on with WalMart.

Any Suggestions?

Patrick, I don't recall if you were a member when I published this post. Might be a good read for you considering your long term goal.

A day in the life of a Walmart Dedicated Driver