K L Harring : True info from a former KLH team

After reading some rather insulting comments about this company in another thread on this forum, we'd like to add our 2 cents worth. We hired on at KL Harring in May 2014. The recruiting process was thorough and old school, up to and including a face to face interview with Keith Harring, owner of the company. Keith made the interview a pleasure to participate in, giving us his full attention and letting us know there were no time constraints and that all questions would be answered honestly to the best of his ability. Honesty is a big deal to this man.

After the interview, he introduced us to his team, including dispatch, office, warehousing and mechanics. He then made it available to us to ask any questions we wished from any of the teams that happened to be on the yard. After accepting the position, Keith made sure we knew that we could give our current employer plenty of notice because he feels that things need to be handled the proper way to protect our reputations as drivers and to not leave our current employer in a bind.

After orientation, we received our brand new T660 (owner operator spec'd) and were given plenty of time to set it up. Because KLH hauls high value, high security freight, the first week or so we were required to follow a trainer team on those type loads to learn the security process. Keith doesn't just throw you into the pool and say sink or swim. Our trainer team answered all our questions and treated us like professionals. They were a top shelf team.

After training, we did make a few mistakes. The dispatch team was totally helpful and didn't treat us badly during these times. They were almost apologetic in dealing with us but informed us of the proper way to handle the individual situations that had cropped up. Their security protocol is strict and must be followed for very good reasons. Initially, it seemed difficult but after about 2 weeks, we pretty much had it mastered. Ten years ago, while employed with Schneider, their security protocol on high value loads required teams to run a minimum of 300 miles before stopping so what KLH required wasn't unreasonable in our minds.

Our work week schedule began on Sunday morning, about 10 am. We would run a high value load out, deliver next morning, load general freight back to the PA area that afternoon, deliver or drop next morning. We would repeat this process usually through Fri night. Depending on your freight, there might be some local work loading and staging or delivering of dropped loads. This was done by everyone so no one team was singled out. We all had the privilege of dropping loads and turning on a new load. We all got to do local work. We were all part of the KLH team.

Normally, Saturdays were a day off to get laundry done, groceries bought, truck washed and to spend time with the other teams that didn't live locally. Keith allowed those out of towners with RVs to park them on the yard, hooked up to his electricity, no charge. Saturday evenings, the RVs would be set up with awnings up, lawn chairs out, fire pit blazing and propane grill fired up. Keith would show up most Saturdays and would spend time with the drivers. He's an old school driver himself and seemed to enjoy hanging with us. He encouraged a family feel to his team and often brought his family to the yard on Saturdays. While we were there, Keith's daughter had an ice cream social for the drivers to earn a Girl Scout badge. On another occasion, Keith brought the biggest crab legs we've ever seen to the yard, and cooked them himself for the drivers, just to show his appreciation. We've never had an employer who went to that much trouble for us.

We want to share a personal experience in answer to the poster that called Keith "a control freak who needs to be on meds" and said that "security is more important than safety". My husband was on a blood pressure medication. We were about to leave out on a load to NJ. After 8 yrs of this med, his body had an allergic reaction to it and had to go to the ER. I went inside, informed dispatch of the situation. They immediately took the load off us and sent us to the ER. Keith and his wife both called us that day, checking on hubby's condition and asking what they could do to help. Not one word about the freight or the down time, other than to say take what you need. We know of other situations that had occurred with other teams that they handled exactly the same way.

As far as pay, benefits, equipment, all are way above the average. This is a high caliber company that needs high caliber drivers. A "paid tourist" will not make it here. We didn't leave this job because it was a bad job. We would go back there if our personal situation would allow it. We hope this helps clear up any misunderstandings. Its a tough job that requires real, honest to God, dedicated drivers to get it done, but if you'd like to work for a company where you're not just "meat in the seat", this company is for you. If anyone reading this wants more info, you can message us on Facebook or email us at fort_tracy@1791.com.

 

bigdogpile, if you checked the FB page, you'll find that my name is not Keith and that I've been around for a long time. Just trying to give other drivers a different look at the company from someone else who's driven for them.