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Walmart is expanding its Associate-to-Driver training program to employees in the Reading, Allentown, Lebanon and Bethlehem areas.
Walmart said associates who work at a store within a 50-mile radius of Pottsville, where it has a hiring transportation office, are eligible to apply for its 12-week program to become a tractor-trailer driver.
Since the program was announced last year, Walmart has trained 56 associates from various supply chain roles, the company said.
“Walmart associates know the crucial role our Private Fleet of more than 13,000 drivers play across our company. Delivering great items at an incredible value would truly not be possible without the drivers in our Private Fleet” said Fernando Cortes, senior vice president of Walmart Transportation in a blog post on the company’s website.
“In fact, many Walmart associates have long been interested in stepping into these driver roles themselves but felt limited by the time and expense of the training required,” Cortes said.
Obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and training to become a truck driver can be expensive, on average it can cost up to $8,000, according to the National Sound Trucking School.
With Walmart’s new Associate-To-Driver program, Walmart fully covers the cost and upon completion of the program, drivers can earn up to $110,000 the first year, the company said.
“Walmart’s Associate-to-Driver program gave me the opportunity to change my family’s lives and travel the country with my best friend,” said Reece Niblett, team driver. Niblett has worked for Walmart’s supply chain since 2012 and is one of the supply chain associates who went through the inaugural Associate-To-Driver program last year.