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Halvor Lines reviews

2.4
(25)
$300 - $1,731/week

Summary

Overall

Home Time

Equipment and Maintenance

Dispatchers and Managers

Salary Surveys

$300 $1,022 $1,731
weekly average

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Ratings and Reviews

Current Employee - Feb 5, 2024

Here’s the deal this is a good company to get started with, they are very upfront. But you need to have a work ethic, if you need to be home every other day this company isn’t for you. You want 90% drop and hook this company isn’t for you, you want to hold a steering wheel all day every day this company isn’t for you. But if you communicate, keep a decent attitude you can do well here. I came through the CDL program, the training is probably some of the best there is, and Halvor took me from $13 an hour to $1000 a week consistently, is it the best money no, but it’s a lot better than what I had. You have a 120k mile commitment to uphold but you can get some decent miles IF you want to do the work. So let’s say 1 year 3 months. Most CDL schools are 7-10k now so they’re not robbing anyone wanting 10k back if you quit. There is no perfect job in trucking and there’s all kinds of headaches, but if you’re looking for a good starter company to get your experience, fulfill your school commitment, and get some decent miles this is a good one. After that commitment is done, Halvor is a decent place to stay. Or head on home and drive local. It’s all about getting money and being safe.

Pros

Top notch CDL training 1k a week for training is unheard of. Approachable management Terminals are well stocked Pay is average. Especially for new people.

Cons

Long waits in reefer div. Dispatchers can be moody

Home Time
No Rating
Equipment and Maintenance
No Rating
Dispatchers and Managers
No Rating

Current Employee - Jan 10, 2024

If you’re a new driver you’re only getting about 600-1500 miles a week which is only $300-$600 pay a week. I’m having a hard time paying my bills!!

Pros

New equipment

Cons

Low pay and low miles for new drivers

Home Time
No Rating
Equipment and Maintenance
No Rating
Dispatchers and Managers
No Rating

Former Employee - Aug 31, 2023

I hold the perspective that Halvor Lines may potentially raise concerns as an organization. Their operational model entails an agreement whereby individuals commit to a year of service in exchange for coverage of their CDL training expenses. However, it becomes disconcerting when one considers the clause that mandates a $10,000 repayment if an individual either voluntarily resigns or is terminated. What has further raised eyebrows in my observation is the frequent dismissal of students, often for reasons unrelated to their job performance. For instance, I personally witnessed an incident where an individual was terminated due to a messy hotel room, a situation that could arguably be attributed to inadequate housekeeping services provided by the hotel. These dismissals appear to occur abruptly, with no prior warning or progressive disciplinary measures. Additionally, there have been reports of Halvor Lines entering students' accommodations without their prior consent, an action that raises legitimate concerns about potential violations of privacy. Such practices warrant careful consideration and evaluation within the context of employment standards and ethical conduct.

Pros

Cons

Home Time
Equipment and Maintenance
Dispatchers and Managers

Current Employee - Jan 28, 2023

Driver manager is great with getting me home and getting good miles/pay. I plan to retire here. I couldn't see myself working anywhere else. Shop in Superior is great to work with.

Pros

Managers, home time, pay, great people

Cons

None

Home Time
Equipment and Maintenance
Dispatchers and Managers

Former Employee - Jan 3, 2023

Thought this was good place to work but they proved me wrong after 3 years of employment I lost my dad stepdad and mom in 2021 but they said my productivity was low what #### do they expect when your world comes crashing down but they done me favor home every weekend make more money than being gone 3/4 weeks drivers don't get fired at south bend Indiana they will steal your belongings nothing you can do bout it even sentimental value stuff they suck

Pros

Good equipment

Cons

Do not have death in family that's a no no

Home Time
Equipment and Maintenance
Dispatchers and Managers

Salary Surveys

Company Driver - 1 Year CDL Experience

Surveyed in South Bend, IN on Feb 5, 2024

$1,000 per week

Current Employee

Yes

Company Driver - 1-5 Months CDL Experience

Surveyed in Superior, WI on Jan 10, 2024

$300 per week

Current Employee

Yes

Company Driver - 3 Years CDL Experience

Surveyed in Superior, WI on Dec 28, 2023

$1,000 per week

Current Employee

No

Company Driver - In CDL School CDL Experience

Surveyed in Superior, WI on Aug 31, 2023

$962 per week

Current Employee

No

Company Driver - 5+ Years CDL Experience

Surveyed in on Jan 28, 2023

$1,731 per week

Current Employee

Yes

Discussions

Halvor lines info please

Lwood53

Nov 12, 2014

Halvor lines info please

As a student they are good to start out with, much better than any of the bigger box mega carriers. I am assuming you will be with one of the trainers for at least a few weeks?

Hometime could be sketchy for you at times...when they say they run east they usually mean OH, PA, NJ, NY, MD..and remember unless its a major break down they want all truck services covered in Superior.

Pay is a little low in my opinion even for a student, If you get good miles and don't destroy things you will get whatever their safety bonus has turned into today, was an additional .04 per mile when I was there. Rand McNally short miles and electronic logs of course.

Most equipment I remember being under 4 years old for trucks and under 500000 miles, trailers probably 5 or 6 years old max. Trucks are underpowered but as a whole pretty reliable. They used to be strictly Kenworths with a few freigtliners, now i see a little bit of everything. 

What I did not like was all the politics and cheerleading BS that goes on there. They seem to be more concentrated on their community involvement/company image/"get the fat truck driver back into shape program" versus actually getting the majority of their drivers big miles and making them big money. 

They want everyone to think they are still an elite fleet, in my opinion they are just so-so overall. If you choose them get your year or two in and move on. If you like it there, Better you than me. 

I left their at a bad time for the trucking industry, the housing crash 2008 or so, when a lot of trucking outfits bit the dust. So maybe they have changed since then, but as an experienced driver i would probably not one to come back unless i had to.

Halvor lines info please

Lwood53

Nov 12, 2014

Halvor lines info please

If they have steady freight heading to your area home time every 7 to 10 days should be no issue. 

The issue most of us had was with reloading on the east coast, the loads from there going to he midwest dont pay good...and like most companies they depend a lot on brokers...so thats where we ended up laying over a lot and waiting. 

If you deliver in NC and they cant find freight that day they could just send you home, which could work to your advantage. Keep in mind they wont pay you to drive home, only the miles between your last delivery and next reload.

When I worked there they were not nearly as strict as some companies were with out of route miles to get you home. That may have changed but I am just telling you the way I remember it.

Halvor lines info please

Lwood53

Nov 12, 2014

Halvor lines info please

All I can tell you is my experiences from over 8 years ago, so things may have changed, hopefully for the better. There have got to be at least a few of their drivers on here who can fill you in.

Outbound loads from Superior, if lots of loads are available you are given a ** cough, cough** ... "choice" of outbound loads.

Your reload is whatever they can find you, usually heading back toward Chicago, Minneapolis/Saint Paul, or Duluth in as direct of a way as possible. Sometimes you may have to reload out east, deliver in Chicagoland, reload in Chicagoland, then deliver up in their neck of the woods.

As I said, its been over eight years. The majority of their freight at that time went to the states I already mentioned. 

A good chunk also went to Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia too...but dont plan on going there every week.

The longer runs like Laredo, Florida, California, Pacific NW they liked to save for the teams and the brown nosers. Thats not to say you will never get to go there...just telling it like I remember it.

BTW I only did vans and reefers when HL still had reefers, never flats. About the time I left a lot of the flatbed guys were fighting over van loads because freight was so slow...

No you would not absolutely have to go directly back and forth to NC...but keep in mind that if you are sitting in Superior and want to be home in 3 days, common sense tells you not to take a load going to Texas or Florida.

Halvor Lines-Good/Bad?

grusco

Mar 29, 2012

Halvor Lines-Good/Bad?

They would be a decent fit for a rookie in my opinion, and far better than the huge mega carriers. You will have to go out with one of their trainers for a few weeks or more if you are totally new to trucking.

Electronic logs will keep the DOT out of your business for the most part. they run fairly safe equipment, and have their reputation built on that. 

Be flexible (shouldn't need saying in this industry), be willing to run east and Canada as 80% of their freight goes there with vans, reefers, or flats. There is no forced NYC or Quebec loads (at least in 2008 there wasn't), If I remember right nothing was totally forced. But don't plan on a gravy run to California every week, remember you are there to work and make the company and yourself money.

Stay away from the whiners, complainers, terminal rats and truck stop lawyers they have working there and you will be fine. Keep the left door shut on focus on doing your job.

Sometimes backhauls/reloads/broker freight can be spotty so like I said be flexible. If you live close to Duluth they have a lot of short haul stuff too (Milwaukee, Des Moines, Chicago) so you can take time off here and there if the big mile loads get slow. 

If you live close to the twin cities you have many more options available. 

Halvor Lines-Good/Bad?

grusco

Mar 29, 2012

Halvor Lines-Good/Bad?

They're a good company to drive for. They get u home on a weekly basis and u can make decent money. Just don't listen to all the negativity from other drivers. Make ur own opinion on the company. Take the loads dispatch offers,buy their fuel for their Trk where they say to buy it and things will go good. Good luck to ya!