Is H.O. Wolding a good Company?

Morning y'all!

5wire, and the others who had just started out with H.O.Wolding...

How are things going now? I am going through NTTS right now and am looking at HOW. I have met Betty a few times myself.

My graduation date is December 23rd with the DMV road test to follow either the next week or the week after (darn holidays ) Either way, I am looking at the beginning of next year...

 

Good evening all!

I also was curious as to how the folks here are doing. I am scheduled to graduate from ProDrive on the 21st of the month with my road test the following week. I am flying out to Amherst for November 1st orientation and just wanted to hear what you all had to say as far as orientation goes, how you are treated, miles a week, etc.

Look forward to everyone's reply and stay safe out there. Thanks in advance.

 

Congrats to both of you.
HOW is best called an ethical company...if they hire you, they want you to stay and work as long as you work hard. No company is perfect, but i have been treated well, given as much work as i can handle, and always been given a fair shake.
trucking is right for some, not for others. Just keep a good attitude, and bust your butt, there is almost always more freight than trucks...
many of the older trailers are now getting weeded out, as are many of the oldest trucks...how does keep trucks longer than most, but that means they can pay pretty good, and not have to make folks take bad lease deals...(many companies subdizie their entire companies with this model, where folks end up working for free or even at a loss).
How is basicly 100% company drivers in company trucks...no leasers..so no conflict of interest with company vs lease vs owneroperator contracter.
folks tend to stay at how if they are staying with trucking, so for a smallee company that still hires newbies, there is an amazing number of very experanced drivers with 1 million, 2 million or even 3 million safe miles.....
Bust you butt on your cdl test, if i remember right, i think first pass on your test is very important in getting hired.

 

Thanks for the input Zippy. I grew up in the trucking industry, my dad's dad was a trucker, my dad was an OTR driver for 10 years, and being out on the road with him I have a general idea of what to expect out there. I know being a passenger is a whole lot then being the driver, but so far through school, I know that I am really going to enjoy this profession.

As far as HOW goes, I don't mind the older equipment. As long as it gets me from point A to point B safely & on time, I have will have no complaints. Do you (or any other HOW drivers) have any input on what of what to expect during orientation & the training period? Also, what is a reasonable expectation of miles each week? I have no problem busting my you know what so that I can pay off these college loans.

I look forward to all replies & be safe out there.

 

You usually fly in (or maybe ride in on a truck or bus) over the weekend, or on monday...check into the "bunkhouse", not bad, rooms have 2 bunkbeads, lockers,free wifi, a laundry area, showers, public computer, flat screen tv, vending, and a fridge...a local restraunt in acrosd the street, you get free breakfast/lunch while at yhe bunkhose, reinbursed for dinner...you get a couple days to practice driving and doing manuvers in the yard, takr a road test...pass, you are sent out with a trainer......training is generaly truely training...not "teaming", so you gets lots of seat time...
In a few weeks (maybe 2-3 avg) when you are ready, you return to the yard, spend a week of final training, do a road test, and a few days of classroom stuff, then are assigned a truck.
I do regional, and have been pleasently surprised by getting home most weekends/resets,...regional usually gets special lightweight (small trucks) to haul heavy loads...then there is extented regional, and true otr. The small truck is actually kinda nice...easier to park in very tight places in nj/ny/li...
while in wi, you can get rides in companys cars provided for freeby other drivers till you are hired and can drive, so even though you are in a rural area, it is not too bad...

 

Zippy, could you (or anyone else at HOW) tell what the road test is like and what the final week of training consists of? Does the physical include any lifting or anything or is it just your plain jane physical?

I will be going OTR and was wondering what their primary running lanes are, what kinds of freight you haul, & how much SoCal freight you guys run. I know you run regional Zippy, but I was just wondering if you had heard anything thru the grapevine.

I know I'm asking a lot of questions but I have only talked to a recruiter & wanted input from the current drivers. I appreciate you being patient with me Zippy.

Look forward to all replies and be safe out there.

 

I did CA and AZ during training for a couple trips...ca is all live load, and max truck speed in ca is 55, so unless you really want to be there,more $$ to be msde elsewhere. Running WI to flagstaff AZ has a few of the top mile/$ earners at the company...but if you live back east, heck the i-90 corrodior has tons of cust. If you want to stay out 3+ weeks, dispatch can get you most anywhere...
Either by our usual loads, or by brokered loads...regular custmers are often drop and hook, adding miles, simplfing your life....if you run mostly in one area, running familar loads...seeing the same places every few weeks, life is simpler starting out...you get to know who will take the load early, where you can park...etc.
just comes down to what you like. Yhe most frequent lanes are shown as power lanes on the company website...i'll see 4 company trucks or more some hours passing me going the other way on some lanes...amazing for a pretty small company by trucking standards.
physical is done by 3rd party...some lifting, weight dragging...to simulate cranking trailers...etc.
road test is fair...to ensure you are where you should be experance/skill eise...both before/after training...be good, be safe, and excersise good judgment. They know you as a newbe is still learning, but they must determine you are safe, and have a good head on your sholders.
work hard, have a good attitude, and life should be fine.
Remember your 1st truck is a starter truck....yhey know folks might bump stuff, miss gears, etc...so it is just a start ....heck my 1st truck was amost perfect relilibility wise..was kinda ugly...2nd truck looks better, but getting some stuff squared away...
Mantance is good..trucks have suto oilers

 

Thanks for all the info Zippy. I don't mind staying out 3+ weeks at all. I know that's how one is going to make the most $$$ & would really like to go all over the place. I realize with CA only being 55 is going to mean less money but I would ideally like to get to SoCal at least once a month as my fiance lives in Long Beach, even if just for a couple of hours as it is more than I currently see her.

All in all, I feel like HOW is a great place to get started in this industry with a great support system. Words can't explain how excited I am to get started.

Keep the dirty side down & be safe out there.

 

I’m thinking of signing with How, anyone have any updates on the company since it’s 2017?