Any info on the new J S Helwig and Sons?

#### Debbie you make Helwig sound like a ###### company good thing this post was not here when I hired on or I never would have left Hell and came to Heven!!!! Hell I have been running off my recap for the last 7 yrs, there has only been 1 time Chad told me the time I wanted was full, guess what went for the next available time it was only 2 days, when I take a break at a shipper or receiver its my choice, I do my 600-625 miles a day and get where I can park at truck stop if available....as far as lies go, you want to hear lies go to Hurricane Express cover 3250 miles in four days Cali to the Bronx, I have been told some half truths till you show them you have knowledge of what they are talking about then they come straight...Chad has never been in a fowl mood with any of his drivers that I am aware of. How do you know James has not called someone, I talk to him when he is there while Im at the yard, hell he does not bite and he puts his pants on just like we do....The best part that I really laugh at is the load part, haveing been an O/O there are no bad loads just some low paying ones because if the wheels turn your makeing money.......your a company driver depending on how long you have been here your being paid .40,.41,.42,.43cpm for all miles........my truck number 5_13 I may be new to Helwig but not to driveing and this company is a hellava better then where I was........

 

My name is Thom Stephens and I currently work at J. S. Helwig. As a former OTR driver and driver trainer with five different carriers over my many years, I can honestly say Helwig is the best place I have ever come across. It is small enough to know and take care of the drivers and big enough to get everyone plenty of miles. I now work inside and see Operations, Safety, Accounting, Recruiting and other departments from the inside and can speak very honestly that this is the most caring bunch of people toward drivers I have ever come across. So, in response to Cowboy3232's rant, I must say that he is absolutely wrong in his assessment and accusations. 1. The Fleet Managers have driven and know trucks and trucking inside and out. The owner personally looks at every single driver's mile each week and if he sees a driver getting below 2600 miles a week, he wants to know why and wants it corrected. 2. The loads are planned on average at 50 MPH and if a driver is earlier, there may be some repowers but, since we have very few teams, the charge that the teams get the good loads and solo drivers get crap is unfounded and blatantly false. 3. We ask our drivers to fuel at certain stops along the route to help us control fuel costs. Any driver with the capacity to reason knows this. If a recommended fuel stop is out of route or present some difficulty for the driver, it can be easily changed simply by communicating with the Fleet Manager. 4. Our meat loads are typically ready within 10-15 hours of a driver's arrival. This means you can take a 10 hour break and be ready to roll when it is ready. The charge of waiting four days fora meat load with Helwig is completely untrue. That is not how we do business here. 5. Our drivers average 2700-3100 miles per week and are actually making .40 CPM. You do the math. If you can flip burgers for $1080 - 1240 a week, please let me know where that is and I will go get me an apron. Helwig gets you miles, drives some of the newest and best equipment and gets you home. We take care of our drivers, period!

 

This is,or was,my first choice for new employment after being in oilfield for 2 years driving a vaccum tank. I don't think I will be applying now after reading this thread. Some things I just can't put up with after driving 18 years.

 

Bobthesailor, if you are looking for a company that actually keeps drivers running, pays what they say they are going to and treats all drivers with the respect they deserve, Helwig is a great option for you. With your many years of experience, you know how to separate the truth from the disgruntled rants of an unsuccessful driver so take another look at Helwig. Check out all the trucker boards and forums. You will find very little negative about the company compared to others. Is Helwig perfect? No, but the owner talks with drivers one on one all the time to see how improvements can be made and his open door policy is real. Constant attention to driver miles, respect and home time. After many years in this business myself, I am happier at Helwig than any place else I have ever been in the industry. Go beyond the so called "information" in posts and use your own experience and ability to discern truth from garbage and propaganda. Talk with all the Helwig drivers you come into contact with and I would be surprised if you hear many true complaints or concerns.

 

True. That's why Helwig is my first choice for new employment,however, the hometime policy,the fuel and routing procedures are my concern. I will take everything into considration. Thanks

 

hello any info that will help me i leave out next monday for js helwig and was woundering how they are and do they still do the fuel routing and hows the miles they called me and i think from what i have read its going to be a great company at least i hope so going a long way from home to join them i live in michigan!!!

 

I left there about 6 months ago to pursue a personal business. It's not a bad place to work. There are a lot of other worse places to work. It has grown a lot in the last 12 months prior to me leaving, and got to a point I didn't enjoy working their anymore. I never imagined they would hire out of Michigan. But they can get meat loads going anywhere when it's time to get you home.

You are not locked into the fuel solution but they "strongly" want you to stay on it, but weeks when too many deviate off it too often, and they will send out yet another fleet message, angrier then the one last week. You will find yourself fueling at some of the most congested, busy truck stops on the major east-west routes all too often.

But you will find yourself dealing with a number of regular shippers and receivers and this helps. In 6 months, you will know how to get in/out of 80% of their regular stops/picks. There was a buyout change at Dollar General about the time I left and I'm not sure if they're still doing the same amount of Dollar General freight or not. Hope so. Seemed like some DG loads were being exchanged for other frozen loads from various points.

 

Funny how someone with 3 posts comes on here and slams a company, and it was so long ago.... I left an outlaw company June 2014 and I have found my home...As far as the miles just like in any branch of trucking there are up and down weeks but if brought to their attention they will keep an eye on you miles and get them back up but then again if you are not willing to run where the loads go and when they need to go day or night then do not complain about miles....FYI my highest mile month on e-logs was 15950

 

Great company, equipment and staff. Just to give an example, Mr. James Helwig talks to you during orientation. He's very concerned about any doubts or dissapointments you've had with other companies. Small company with big heart and consistent freight. Mostly Cargill or Tyson. Only terminal is Terell, Tx. Far destination you'll drive would be Denver on New and NE New Mexico. Mostly East coast, no forced NY. 40 cm Mt or ld. $2500 paid in six months. 3000 plus mile a wk. Reefer company. So far I love it.

 

So far, I'll have 3500 miles by Tuesday and counting. .. plus you get paid Tuesdays and Fridays.