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A Walmart logistics manager built an AI tool to help truck drivers get home faster by finding better loads on their routes, saving both time and empty-mile costs.

Top Companies AI — US (1/2)4h ago5 min read
A Walmart logistics manager built an AI tool to help truck drivers get home faster by finding better loads on their routes, saving both time and empty-mile costs.

Key takeaway

Walmart logistics manager Leo Garcia built an AI tool that helps truck drivers find the best available loads on their routes home, reducing delays and inefficient empty-mile driving. Using Walmart's in-house coding agent, the tool analyzes hundreds of truckloads in the Chicago region and flags the top options based on location and timing, allowing drivers to get home faster while keeping trucks loaded with merchandise.

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3 Key Points

  • What happened

    Leo Garcia, a regional load manager at Walmart in the Chicago area, created a tool using Walmart's in-house coding agent called Code Puppy that analyzes available truckloads in the region and flags the best options based on location, timing, and other factors. The tool has already helped drivers stay on schedule—for example, it once found an alternative load five miles away when a scheduled pickup would have delayed a driver by three hours.

  • Why it matters

    Garcia learned AI fundamentals through a Google AI certification course available to Walmart employees, then applied that knowledge to solve a real operational problem he faced daily. By helping drivers reach home on time without leaving trucks empty, the company reduces inefficient empty miles while improving driver satisfaction—something Garcia understands personally from his own five years as a truck driver before moving into management.

  • What to watch

    The tool is currently being tested for wider use across the organization, and like many employee-made projects at Walmart, it could be evaluated and distributed to other regions. Garcia said the tool has not yet been rolled out company-wide, but the system's ability to quantify routing options in seconds suggests potential for scaling.

FAQ

What AI tool did Garcia use to build this system?
Garcia used Walmart's in-house coding agent called Code Puppy, which he learned to work with after taking a Google AI certification course through Walmart's online education portal for employees.
How does the tool help drivers get home faster?
The tool analyzes hundreds of available truckloads in the region and flags the best five or so options based on location, timing, and other factors. For example, when a scheduled pickup was delayed by three hours, the system found an alternative load five miles away ready to go to the same destination, keeping the driver on schedule.
Is this tool available company-wide yet?
The tool is currently being tested for wider use across the organization, but Garcia said it has not yet been distributed company-wide. Like other employee-made projects at Walmart, it could be evaluated and rolled out to other regions.

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