United Natural Foods’ Warehouse to Wheels Program Helps Company Deliver for Customers During Critical Holiday Season While Building Pipeline of Future Truck Drivers
December 14 2022 - 4:15PM
Business Wire
In-house paid training program helps UNFI
associates fulfill career advancement by obtaining their Class A
CDL license and a future UNFI truck driving assignment
United Natural Foods, Inc. (“the Company” or “UNFI”) today
announced that its Warehouse to Wheels program has grown by more
than 300% over the past two years and is now available to
associates at a majority of UNFI’s 56 distribution centers.
Originally developed at a single UNFI distribution center to help
combat a driver shortage, today the program is offered to eligible
distribution center associates interested in obtaining the training
necessary to receive their Class A CDL license while being employed
by UNFI. Associates completing the 12-week program become full-time
UNFI truck drivers with assigned routes and opportunities to earn
higher wages and annual safe driving bonuses.
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Dillon Farmer, a graduate of UNFI’s
Warehouse to Wheels Program started with the company as a loader at
UNFI’s Hudson Valley, N.Y. distribution center in 2018. The
In-house paid training program helps UNFI associates fulfill career
advancement by obtaining their Class A CDL license and a future
UNFI truck driving assignment. (Photo: Business Wire)
One of the priorities underpinning UNFI’s Fuel the Future
strategy is to create unmatched career opportunities for
associates. The Warehouse to Wheels program is a unique example of
how the Company is supporting its frontline associates, eliminating
financial barriers or time constraints to allow them to pursue
career advancement, and making it easy for them to learn the skills
and earn the certifications needed to become a fully licensed truck
driver. For UNFI, the program aids its open driver recruitment
efforts while helping to create a pipeline of skilled drivers.
According to the American Trucking Association, the trucking
industry is short approximately 78,000 drivers and based on current
driver demographic trends, as well as projected growth in freight
demand, the shortage could swell to more than 160,000 over the next
decade.
“In many ways, drivers are the face of our company, and we rely
on them every day to deliver the widest variety of products to over
30,000 customer locations,” said Mark Bushway, UNFI’s Chief Supply
Chain Officer. “Today, more than ever, traditional career paths are
being challenged and the “Warehouse to Wheels” program offers
associates a unique opportunity for career growth while creating
stability for our operations and within our supply chain.”
Among the graduates of the Warehouse to Wheels Program is Dillon
Farmer, who started with UNFI as a loader at the Company’s Hudson
Valley, N.Y. distribution center in 2018.
“I took my role as a loader seriously as I knew how important it
was to ensure each trailer was loaded properly and in a timely
manner for our drivers. As my family grew and I looked to take the
next step in my career, driving for UNFI was the perfect option.
Participating in the Warehouse to Wheels program helped make it all
happen and I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” said Farmer.
UNFI truck drivers manage the nearly 16 billion pounds of food
the Company delivers each year. The Warehouse to Wheels program is
expected to help fill approximately 10-15% of UNFI’s annual truck
driver needs. For external drivers interested in exploring UNFI as
a career opportunity, please visit UNFI’s recruiting site at:
https://www.unfi.com/careers-drive-unfi.
About UNFI
UNFI is North America's premier grocery wholesaler delivering
the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to
more than 30,000 locations throughout North America, including
natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional
supermarket chains, ecommerce providers, and food service
customers. UNFI also provides a broad range of value-added services
and segmented marketing expertise, including proprietary
technology, data, market insights, and shelf management to help
customers and suppliers build their businesses and brands. As the
largest full-service grocery partner in North America, UNFI is
committed to building a food system that is better for all and is
uniquely positioned to deliver great food, more choices, and fresh
thinking to customers. To learn more about how UNFI is Fueling the
Future of Food, visit www.unfi.com.
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For Investors: Kristyn Farahmand 401-213-2160
kristyn.farahmand@unfi.com -or- Steve Bloomquist 952-828-4144
steve.j.bloomquist@unfi.com
For Media: Jeff Swanson 952-903-1645
jeffrey.s.swanson@unfi.com
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