Is $60k A Year Midwest Regional In Year 1 Realistic?
Topic 32557 | Page 2
No worries, G. I figured you just weren't up on the latest. Requirements have changed just in my tenure, as well. When I started, it was 30 months in the previous 3 years. Now it's the previous 4 years. They've relaxed the requirements quite a bit in the past 8 years or so.
Walmart is probably the first place I'll apply once I get my physical sorted out. The smart trucking YouTube channel always advertises for GP Transco. I'll have to see if they have a terminal near me.
Unless you have 36 months of safe operation/experience, WMPF is not an option.
Depending on your location, Swift, Schneider, Smiths Transport, and US Express (others) all run Walmart Dedicated which can be a springboard to getting a job with Walmarts Private Fleet.
Thanks for letting me know that. I doubt I would qualify then. I've have my CDL A for several years but for my job I don't haul equipment and supplies every day with the flatbed trailer. I end up driving the dump truck and the boom truck a lot too. I'm also guessing they probably want some type of dry van experience which I don't have. So yeah I already was planning on checking out swift. I'll add the others to my list.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.
Walmart is probably the first place I'll apply once I get my physical sorted out. The smart trucking YouTube channel always advertises for GP Transco. I'll have to see if they have a terminal near me.
Unless you have 36 months of safe operation/experience, WMPF is not an option.
Depending on your location, Swift, Schneider, Smiths Transport, and US Express (others) all run Walmart Dedicated which can be a springboard to getting a job with Walmarts Private Fleet.
Thanks for letting me know that. I doubt I would qualify then. I've have my CDL A for several years but for my job I don't haul equipment and supplies every day with the flatbed trailer. I end up driving the dump truck and the boom truck a lot too. I'm also guessing they probably want some type of dry van experience which I don't have. So yeah I already was planning on checking out swift. I'll add the others to my list.
They care about tractor trailer experience, specifically OTR. I have a friend that worked at System transport for a couple years hauling flatbed only regionally and he qualified and was hired to the Walmart private fleet. He only had about 6 months of dry van experience. If I have a second I’ll attach the requirements from the Walmart website
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.
Walmart private fleet requirements
From the link:
An Interstate (Class A) Commercial Driver's License with Hazmat endorsement (including cleared background check) or will obtain HAZMAT endorsement (with cleared background check) within 120 calendar days of date of hire.
A minimum of 30 months experience working in a full-time Class A tractor/trailer driving position in the previous 4 years.
No more than two (2) moving violations while operating a personal or commercial motor vehicle in the last three (3) years.
No serious traffic violations while operating a commercial motor vehicle in the last three (3) years.
No preventable accidents* while operating a commercial motor vehicle in the last three (3) years.
No preventable* DOT recordable accidents (collisions resulting in disabling damage and/or immediate medical treatment away from the scene) while operating a commercial motor vehicle in the last ten (10) years.
No preventable accidents* resulting in a fatality or catastrophic injury in driving history (commercial motor vehicle).
So it actually doesn’t say anything about experience being specifically OTR
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Commercial Motor Vehicle:
A commercial motor vehicle is any vehicle used in commerce to transport passengers or property with either:
- A gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more
- A gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more which includes a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
I too had only flatbed experience and zero dryvan or reefer experience before going to the WMPF.
OTR doesn't matter, they just want to know if you can drive a tractor trailer.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dryvan:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
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Thanks for the correction Turtle. Sorry, my recollection was dated. Noted.