H.O. Wolding - Amherst, Wi.

Drove from Ky to upstate NY today and counted 5 HOW trucks they all were flat topps

 

the most noteworthy thing to comment on HOW is that the guy who cleaned the bunkhouse would start off with a fresh mop bucket in the bathroom/shower area and work his way to the vending/dining area with the same dirty bathroom water week in and week out

they also do not clean out the truck for the new driver...they assign you a truck and you have to clean it out....that is disgusting

dale d is not the most pleasant dispatcher

wish they had paid more to start considering all the yard time and dealing with chicago on a consistant basis

 

Yep,you haven't. But if you ever get to deliver at one of the big box hardware stores like HD or Lowes seem to have more freight outside, then inside the whse (especially in the summer). And a few other places that have poles and even a fuel islands in front of the docks The serpentine backing might be needed to get to the dock.

May trucking had us do a serpentine backing maneuver as part of the road test but that was the only company I worked for that did. Out of maybe a hundred loads you might need to do it one time if you are lucky. So kicking someone to the curb for failing that would seem foolish on the part of the carrier.

 

I worked for HOW several years ago. They gave me a filthy truck, and it seemed like I would just get it cleaned inside and get it organized, and they would swap trucks on me. Maybe what they really wanted was a truck detailer, not a driver. Pay was good on long runs, but there were a lot of short runs to Chicago or Minneapolis, so pay went down when that happened. Their trainers varied A LOT. Never had their health insurance, as my wife had good insurance at the time for both of us. They were decent about getting you rolling again when you broke down. I'd MAYBE work for them again, if they didn't swap trucks on a guy, and got rid of some of their short runs...
Brian

 

Well this ain't good. I was lined up for orientation but after reading this thread I am having second thoughts. Is there any recruiter out there that isn't a liar? they told us no flat tops all there trucks were raised roof or condos and they also said that all there trucks are 4 years old at oldest. The only exception to that was that when you get your first truck she said it would be one of the older trucks they are phasing out. Basically we were told in the 1st year we would have 3 trucks. A beater for 6 months, then one slightly newer at 6 months, and then one new or close to new at the year mark. After that we would get a new one every 4 years. At least thats what I was told.

 

Went with Wolding right after school, I have nothing but good things to say about my trainer, very professional, had daily showers except maybe two times in four weeks and that was only because the showers were disgusting. He kept his truck clean and really taught me alot. After 4 weeks on the road I spent a week at there terminal in Amherst WI, all in all that was a positive experience too. That is until the last day when they informed me that they didn't have a truck for me and I would have to ride with another driver to get it. The truck in question was at a Freightliner dealer in Massachusettes. No it wasn't new, thats where the last driver abandoned it.
Big red flag! Things went downhill fast after that, the truck was total crap, it was a raised roof but i'm 6' 1" tall, couldn't stand up straight, tranny was hammered, had to be jumpstarted and the best part was the interior lights didn't work.
All that I could take being new and all, but my biggest complaint is my dispatcher telling me to fudge my log book so I could make his ridiculous pick up and delivery times. Sorry Sean, not going to happen. Sure, we all do a little creative logging from time to time, but trying to fit 15 hours of driving into 11 hours of logging just aint happening. Good luck.

 

I started out driving with them in 93 and was there for a year. I was in one of those goofy cabover freightliners. There training program was OK except back then they put you out with another trainee for a month or so in a single bunk tractor. I couldnt stand this guy to begin with and was ready to kill him. Overall I thought they were nice people. I seem to remember Terry being one of the dispatchers and a few other freindly females there. There bunkhouses did kind of suck but it went by quick. Not sure if anyone else does but I seem to remember them having a handfull of cabover Petes that they purchased used from werner back then a well.

 

I've been driving for four years, all with Wolding. I've stayed busy and been treated great the entire time.
My first truck was an old International that I hated but I kept my mouth shut and in few months I was upgraded.
I'm home when i want to be for the most part ( every weekend ) and never have trouble getting home during the week if I need to be.
My dispatcher never asks me to make unreasonable appointment times. Can't speak for other dispatchers, but mine doesn't.

 

I have to agree with jr29. After researching several other companies, I chose to go with H.O. Wolding when I got out of school in Sept. 2008. After working for them for almost 6 months, I feel the recruiter was honest in her representation of the company. I run mostly southeast, with some extended runs to the midwest and upper-midwest occasionally. I get home almost every weekend, and sometimes get through the house during the week. Of course, that will very depending on where you live and who your dispatcher is.

One poster made negative mention of their training department - it's my understanding that their training department has undergone significant changes in management in the past few years and that the quality is greatly improved. I can't speak directly about their in-house CDL training, as I went to a local school. Sure, most of their trucks are Freightliner mid-roofs, and the starting pay is less than some larger carriers. I'm not hear to toot the horn for H.O. Wolding; they're not perfect, but you have to consider the big picture when evaluating a company.

 

A mid roof well some EXPERIENCED drivers consider that a flat top because well the top is flat. And that is still a small sleeper 56" I'm 6'4" I need more room than that