WalmartIt announced Thursday it was increasing the pay of long-haul truck driver drivers as well as launching a program to train future generations. This is in addition to the need for the workers it depends on to stock shelves and warehouses all across the country.

According to the retailer, truck drivers can now earn up to $110,000 their first year at Walmart. This will increase their average salary. Walmart does not currently provide information on the average salary for new truck drivers but stated that they had made $87,000.

Walmart is also offering a 12 week program in Sanger and Dover in Delaware. This allows individuals to earn their commercial drivers licenses and become part of Walmart’s fleet. Anne Hatfield, a company spokesperson, stated that the program will pay for the license cost, which could run anywhere from $4,000 to $5,000.

Hatfield stated that initially, the program is only open to supply chain associates living near two training sites. She said that the program will eventually be open to all Walmart employees. According to her, the company hopes that it will train 400-800 new drivers in this year’s program.

Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States, employing 1.6 million people. It has been increasing its efforts to recruit truck driver drivers, as e-commerce makes it more difficult and changes the business model. There is a shortage of trucking labor.

An American shortage of truck driver drivers has caused a severe problem. all-time high of over 80,000 workersAccording to American Trucking Associations, last year was the worst. According to the American Trucking Associations trade group, there are many factors that contributed to this shortage of workers. These include the long haul trips and their exhausting work schedules, as well as the fact that current drivers tend be older than average, and the low number of female drivers. According to the trade group, the pandemic caused the truck driver shortage by leaving the sector and less people completing training programs.

Walmart announced the training and pay raise on Thursday morning via its corporate website. The company employs approximately 12,000 truck drivers. A spokeswoman for the company said that 4,500 truck drivers were hired by the company, which is more than ever before in its history. 

Walmart saw a rise in online sales during the pandemic. People ordered groceries online and received them at their homes. U.S. sales of ecommerce rose 11% over the past fiscal year ended January 31, 2012. On a 2-year basis, they jumped 90%.

Soaring sales online have reshaped the business landscape for Walmart and other retailers. This has prompted an increase in shipping speed and stocking at retail locations.