photo = REUTERS
Walmart, the largest retailer in the US, will pay up to 130 million won per year as a truck driver for the first year. Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the growth of the e-commerce (e-commerce) market, manpower shortages and supply chain disruptions are intertwined.
According to CNBC on the 7th (local time), Walmart announced that it will raise the salaries of long-distance drivers to $95,000 to $110,000 (about 115 million to 134 million won) in the first year. It has been raised by up to 25% from the previous $87,500 (about 107 million won).
Walmart has also decided to start driver training programs in various parts of the United States, including Texas and Delaware. Walmart will also cover the cost of obtaining a commercial driver’s license ($4,000 to $5,000). Existing Walmart employees can also apply. Walmart aims to train 400 to 800 new drivers this year.
According to CNBC, Walmart has 12,000 truck drivers. Wal-Mart hired 4,500 drivers, the largest number ever, last year alone, but it is interpreted that it is still suffering from a manpower shortage. This is because Wal-Mart’s e-commerce competitiveness sharply increased due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the delivery business increased, while workers left the company.
According to the Trucking and Transportation Association of America, the number of long-distance drivers last year was 80,000 fewer than demand. The association explained, “The shortage of manpower is getting worse due to long long-distance driving times, aging drivers, and a shortage of female manpower.”
Reporter Noh Yoo-jeong yjroh@hankyung.com
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