Question:
I signed on with H.O.W. they have no bad reports anywhere! They seem to be to good to bee true has anyone heard anything about them either good or bad? thanks in advance

Answer:
The company name is actualih H.O. Wolding out of WI. Perhaps this will help with any info from the forum.

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I went to H.O. Wolding back in Oct. unfortunately i was not hired, I will say that if you have'nt been to their company yet,as far as orientation you will have to pass their obstacle course and it's not easy. This has to be passed before you ever even get a road test. Did you talk to Gary Richardson, He's very nice and helpful. They do have alot of great perks and your right i've not seen any bad remarks anywhere about them. When i was there i talk to alot of their drivers over a four day period and none of them had anything negetive to say. I will also say that everyone i met or talk to was very nice and helpful. I did not pass the obstacle course so i did not get hired, however i was asked to come back and try again but i have since landed a very good local job so i'm stayin home. If i was to do OTR i would try them again. I was very impressed by how i was treated there. I hope this answers some of your questions. BEST OF LUCK. Jimmijam

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JJ thanks for the info can you expand on the course I am feeling a little nervous now

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Samurai, The yard course consist of eleven moves,(1 A measured right turn no more than a foot away from curb btw tandems are set all the way back. (2 right& left parallel parking in a 1 hundred foot space and you must be in perfectly straight. They have red painted lines that you have to be between and straight. (3 offset ,you have to drive between two trailers after making a sharp left buttonhook turn, while driving between the trailers you then have to set up to drive between two cars that are set off to the right btw you have about 18" or less on each side of the truck your driving and the trailers your driving between. Then you drive a long straight road and set-up for another even sharper left hand turn between two more trailers this is what they called truck stop parking after that you seeside back to a live dock once again you are to be perfectly straight and the trailer has to touch both rubber bumpers on dock, there will be a truck in the dock on the right side of you while you do this. You then have to alley back 72' of truck in a 50' space between two more trailers, moving on you make another sharp right turn and set up for a buttonhook right turn BTW make sure you stop at the unpainted stop sign you also have to do a straight line back 100'. Plus you have another seeside back in a 70' space between two more trailers. You must do all this without touching so much as a blade of grass on the sides of the course. Hitting anything is an automatic failure. If you make it through this in 9 points or less you never take the test again OH i forgot to tell you that they have a points system, 22 points or less you take the test again. More than 22 points you get a bus ticket home. Also their pre trip inspection consist of 250 items NO BS. Samurai I did not make it through for 2 reasons (1 i was way too nervous (2 i was not taught all the moves required to pass the course. It is however passable so don't let my experience discourage you from trying out H.O. Wolding. GOOD LUCK> Jimmijam

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I was trained to all of these movements but it looks like it will cause me a bowel movement when i am doing it. Thanks for the insite you really went above and beyond I hope I make it I will post my results and thanks again

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Originally posted by JimmiJam:
If you make it through this in 9 points or less you never take the test again OH i forgot to tell you that they have a points system, 22 points or less you take the test again. More than 22 points you get a bus ticket home.
It is however passable so don't let my experience discourage you from trying out H.O. Wolding. GOOD LUCK> Jimmijam
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Thanks for the description JJ. I was just wondering if they gave you points for getting out and looking over the situation or if they even allowed you out of the truck.
Do they allow you to practice on their course before actually being graded?


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I spoke to my recruiter at H.O.W. they expcet you to get out truck when you back up in fact points are removed for not doing this. She told me you can get out and check in all situations. Since I cannot find a local job I am going on the 28th if I fail I am going to be a pumpkinhead which was my second choice. I will keep you posted when I get back on a PC!


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Good Luck Samurai!!!
Looking forward to the results of your HOW experience. Hope all goes well with your testing.

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NO they do not let you practice the course, they do let you walk around the course so you can see how it's laid out and they do drive you through it once with a trainer, the trainer does the driving. You are aloud to get out and look as many times as you want but even so you do get points marked off for marking too many attempts and for taking too long. I myself was just too nervous and not well prepared to make it through the course. Where i went to school, they only had daycabs and 40' trailers, when i went to H.O. Wolding i had never been in a full conventional tractor and never had 53 feet of trailer behind me, so i was not really ready and had no time to adjust to the different trucks. I gave it my best shot but i just could'nt pass. I have since found a local job and am staying put. But if things don't workout i will try H.O. Wolding again. EVERYONE HAVE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Jimmijam

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You are very welcome samurai just doing the neighborly thing. I wish you the best of luck at H.O. Wolding, Just give it your best. OH remember always use your four ways when backing up they take major points off if you don't. keep us posted as to your progress i look forward to hearing about your experience. Jimmijam
[This message was edited by JimmiJam on December 20, 2002 at 22:25.]

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Well folks since thw only constant is change things may have changed. i called a company that required 1 year exp. to apply. Well I called anyway and due to the school i attended they are considering me. They are a 48 state carrier local to L.I. with the same home time as H.O.W. So Monday I am going to fill out the App and see what happans. I will keep you all posted if this changes my job status

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Just passed my road test with a Long Island based company that hauls ther own frieght.Better pay than H.O.W. and better bennies. They even give you daily lunch money just like mom did those many years ago which while it is a only 5 bucks better than nothing. The milage pay is on a sliding scale with short trips below 1500 miles paying .36 per and trips over 2500 .30. Theer driver retention is good and the fact the terminal is about 20 miles from my home makes it great. Trip time is 5 to 8 days no longer than two weeks.Basically not bad for my frist newbie job. Thanks for all the insight from all of you. I will update on a new topic for you folks to follow.
[This message was edited by samurai on December 23, 2002 at 16:19.]

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Congratulations, Samurai! Thanks for keeping us posted, good luck and be safe!
de KJ5KX

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Good to hear you found something, really sounds good, best of luck to ya. Keep us posted.
Jimmijam