New Puppy/Questions on training

[MVT&SVD]

I've been a GSD owner for about 12 years now but all of mine have always been outside kennel/run loose dogs (occasionally kept in the garage where potty training was never an issue). I recently purchased a 6 week old sable GSD that will be kept in the house for the most part, especially during winter months and I am lost on the potty training issues. My husband and I both work 9-5 jobs and only get to go home for lunch occassionally so Surge is kept in a very large crate for practically most of the day until we get home. I have puppy pads down at the end of the crate and a bed with bowl of water at the other end. When we get home he will be able to run freely throughout most of the house and we have been taking him outside every 1-2 hours but has only used the bathroom once when we do that. Since he is in his crate for the biggest part of the day and will be using puppy pads in there until I feel comfortable with letting him roam the house freely, I am not sure how we should potty train him? In the evenings we will be able to take him outside and also in the mornings but I am afraid he will be confused while in the crate. Any help of this from someone who has a simulair work schedule would be great!