The Insider‘s Guide to Becoming a Walmart Delivery Driver in 2024

As an ecommerce and retail industry expert, I‘ve seen the meteoric rise of online shopping and delivery services. And Walmart has established itself as a leader through major investments to meet customer demand. This includes an ever-growing army of delivery drivers.

So what‘s the inside scoop on these Walmart driving jobs? As someone who analyzes emerging jobs, I decided to dig deeper into the duties, pay, qualifications and more to unearth everything an aspiring driver needs to know.

Let‘s get started!

An In-Depth Look at What Walmart Delivery Drivers Do

Walmart delivery drivers are on the front lines of getting thousands of daily online grocery and general merchandise orders into customers‘ homes.

As the famous retailer‘s ecommerce business has boomed to over $77 billion in sales for 2022, its delivery fleet has ballooned in size. Walmart‘s own fleet now includes over 12,000 delivery trucks and vans. Impressively, this makes it the second largest transportation fleet in America.

And this internal fleet is just one piece of Walmart‘s vast delivery infrastructure. The company also utilizes independent Walmart Spark drivers and third-party shipping firms to transport other orders.

Here are some key stats on Walmart‘s delivery operations:

• 170,000 Spark delivery drivers in 2022
• Partners with major carriers like FedEx and UPS
• 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store
• Walmart+ has over 11 million members as of late 2022

This vast delivery network allows Walmart to promise speedy shipping and convenient pickup options on everything from avocados to big screen TVs at competitive prices.

And delivery drivers make it all possible by providing that vital last-mile transportation of online orders.

But what exactly do Walmart delivery drivers do day-to-day?

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Whether they work for Walmart directly or a contracted service, drivers have a highly customer-service oriented role.

Their core duties include:

• Safely operating a designated delivery vehicle (personal car, Walmart van, etc)
• Picking up customer orders from Walmart locations
• Organizing multiple deliveries in your vehicle
• Following the best route to delivery addresses
• Dropping off Walmart orders at residential homes
• Bringing packages inside for customers if needed
• Collecting payments or processing returns
• Providing support to customers

The job requires organization, attention to detail, effective communication skills and a dedication to safe driving.

And according to over 4,300 delivery driver reviews on Glassdoor, the job also involves a lot of lifting, with packages from small grocery bags up to 150 pound furniture deliveries.

My analysis? It‘s certainly an active, demanding job. But the flexible schedules and income potential make it worth it for the right people, which I‘ll explore shortly.

First, let‘s look at exactly who Walmart drivers work for…

Do Walmart Delivery Drivers Work Directly for Walmart?

One common question those considering applying wonder is – will I actually work FOR Walmart as a delivery driver?

The answer is…it depends!

Walmart leverages a patchwork of different services to handle online order transportation:

The most common "delivery driver" roles that everyday people can pursue are either independent Spark Driver opportunities that allow you to use your personal vehicle or official Walmart InHome Delivery associate roles.

Let‘s explore exactly how to qualify and get hired for these Walmart delivery jobs…

Walmart Delivery Driver Requirements, Qualifications & Training

Interested in getting behind the wheel as a Walmart driver? Here are the core requirements and training expectations:

Spark Driver Requirements

As an independent gig-economy role similar to Uber or Instacart, the barriers to start Spark delivery are low. Essentially you need:

• Clean driving record
• Smartphone to run delivery apps
• Valid driver‘s license & insurance
• Vehicle in good condition
• Ability to lift ~25 pounds

It offers an easy entry point for those seeking flexible work. But standing out from the growing pool of Sparkers has gotten more competitive.

My advice? Take steps like maintaining high rating scores, low cancellation rates and providing excellent customer service. Developing a loyal customer base leads to more delivery opportunities!

InHome Delivery Qualifications

Since Walmart employs InHome Drivers directly, there are stricter hiring qualifications:

• Valid license with clean 3-year history
• High school diploma/GED
• Proof of insurance with reliable vehicle
• Pass background check & drug test
• Inventory scanning skills
• Ability to walk, lift, bend for long periods

As a Walmart associate role, you can expect a much more robust onboarding and training process as well including both classroom and on-the-job phases. Areas like delivery procedures, inventory management, ethics policies and customer service best practices.

This training and Walmart‘s strong branding provide an advantage. But the process has more hoops than the Spark driver program.

Now that we‘ve covered how to become a delivery driver, let‘s talk compensation and income earning potential driving for Walmart…

How Much Do Walmart Delivery Drivers Get Paid?

One of the biggest questions I always receive is – how much can delivery drivers make with Walmart?

The answer varies based on whether you work for Walmart directly or a third-party. But pay rates are up across the board.

Here‘s an overview of 2023 Walmart driver pay:

In addition to hourly or per delivery base pay, Walmart drivers also collect cash tips averaging $3 – $8 per delivery.

And during busier ecommerce surge periods like holidays, there is abundant overtime with time and a half wages too.

With performance incentives and tips, earnings of $25 – $35 per hour are common for full-timers according to Indeed data. That translates to annual full-time income of ~$55,000.

Considering that median individual income in the U.S. is around $41,535, Walmart driving roles pay pretty well especially given the accessible qualifications!

So in my expert opinion, Walmart delivery absolutely offers strong earning potential for job seekers of various backgrounds. If you excel in customer service, drive safely and efficiently use delivery tools like apps, you can do very well.

Now, let‘s examine additional job pros and cons beyond the pay…

The Good and Bad of Walmart Delivery Jobs

Delivering for Walmart offers some great advantages but also comes with a few downsides. Here is a full rundown of job pros and cons:

Benefits of Walmart Driving Jobs

Flexibility – Create schedule based on your needs as a Spark Driver. Gain stability of a Walmart associate with InHome.

Income Potential – Deliver full-time or part-time. Earn well above minimum wage. Cash tips provide tax-free extra income.

Career Growth – Can work way up to management in delivery operations or retail.

Helping Customers – Enable shoppers to conveniently and affordably get everyday essentials delivered.

Being Outdoors – Spend days on the road instead of cooped up.

Potential Challenges

Dynamic Schedules – Peak delivery windows mean working evenings, weekends and holidays. Can be chaotic.

Physically Demanding – Expect lots of bending, lifting and walking. Must handle heavy items with care.

Vehicle Wear & Tear – Your car will endure significant mileage and maintenance costs (Spark Driver).

Occasional Difficult Customers – Even with top-notch service, some individuals get unhappy.

Safety Risks of Driving – Logging so many hours on the road increases risks of accidents or confrontations.

All in all, if you truly enjoy driving, customer interactions, neighborhood navigating and earning an honest day‘s living, Walmart delivery jobs check a lot of boxes.

Just know that they differ greatly from a typical 9 to 5 desk job. Flexibility and earning potential come with sweat and hustle!

Key Takeaways: Is Walmart Delivery a Good Job?

So what‘s my final verdict as an industry insider?

Walmart delivery driver roles absolutely provide strong opportunities. Pay rates beat many entry-level retail and food service jobs. Drivers enable a mission-critical service fulfilling millions of Walmart.com orders.

However, these Walmart driving jobs also come with physical demands, schedule fluctuations and other tough realities that make them less than glamorous.

You must prepare mentally and physically for the workload and safety risks. Having a cheerful, self-motivated attitude is crucial.

But if you enjoy driving, informal customer interactions, time to think, and flexible earning opportunities, you’ll thrive as a "Spark" or InHome delivery driver.

Just realize it requires serious hustle, organization and responsibility handling expensive merchandise and heavy items.

For those willing to work hard though, Walmart delivery provides a great option. So throw on some comfy shoes and go make it happen!

John Smith is a retail industry analyst and contributing editor at The Package Hub, a leading logistics publication. He covers emerging jobs, technologies and trends across transportation, delivery and last-mile shipping.