One of America’s top temperature-controlled trucking companies, J.S. Helwig & Son is a 48-state common and contract carrier with approximately 400 trucks and approximately 600 refrigerated trailers that service temperature-controlled and time-sensitive traffic customers. It operates on two simple principles—customer service and respect for its drivers.

“We maintain a tight control over our operations to consistently surpass customer service goals with on-time delivery percentages ranging from 95 to 99 percent,” says James Helwig, founder, owner, and CEO of J.S. Helwig & Son.

The firm does not broker any freight and operates a fleet with 95 percent company drivers. Significant investments in the firm’s transportation fleet and IT products have bolstered its operations. J.S. Helwig & Son operates across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., maintaining a disciplined approach to its operating lanes to provide industry-leading delivery services. The firm rejects the notion of prioritizing extra miles over safety and compromises on profitability to ensure safer operations, uphold high driver standards, and deliver top-tier services.

In order to ensure efficient and safe freight delivery, the company’s trucks have advanced Qualcomm satellite tracking, electronic logging devices, and accident prevention systems. These vehicles also feature auxiliary power units, low rolling resistance tires, and Thermo King Precedent Reefer units.

Complementing the freight operations is Helwig’s systematic order management, load planning, billing, and administrative functions. These functions rely on the TMW.Suite transformation management system. Every truck connects to TMW.Suite via Qualcomm and Omnitracs GPS units, ensuring effective communication between drivers and management and real-time, 24-hour tracking of loads. The company uses route optimization programs to maximize capacity utilization, saving clients significant costs and drivers’ time.

J.S. Helwig & Son stands apart from other carriers through its agility, scalability, and direct oversight of shipments. The company provides a “family touch” while maintaining the scalability and stability of a large firm. It offers a comprehensive view, enjoys the network’s autonomy with each customer, and makes prompt decisions.

“We aren’t trying to be the biggest; we’re trying to be the best. We’d rather do an excellent job running 400 trucks than be mediocre running 4,000,” says Jamie Helwig, president of J.S. Helwig & Son. Such operational ethos has led the firm to win accolades from blue-chip customers like Cargill, Tyson, Nestle Water, Family Dollar, Geodis, and Lineage. Surpassing client expectations requires unparalleled service offerings and a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s intricacies. This is precisely how James Helwig leverages his biggest asset—his experience—to guide his team to consistently deliver outcomes.

Before founding J.S. Helwig & Son, Helwig was a boxer and bouncer, roles in which he learned ‘what not to do’ in a business. Following his stint as a Golden Gloves boxer in the mid-1960s, including a match against Joe Frazier, he found his calling when he helped a freight broker unload his truck.

He began his journey in logistics as a lumper, where he regularly conversed with truckers and understood their daily routines and challenges. These experiences culminated in him becoming a driver, experiencing the responsibilities firsthand, and acquiring a unique perspective on the trucking industry. Subsequently, he founded J.S. Helwig & Son in the 1980s, which has grown to be well-known in the industry for its driver appreciation initiatives.

The father-son duo credits their dedicated and skilled drivers for the crucial role they play in the company’s ambitious venture. The company fosters a family-like atmosphere and camaraderie among its workforce, where each individual feels valued and commits to the firm’s goals and objectives. The founder has an open-door policy, encouraging drivers to openly express their ideas, observations, and suggestions.

Every employee meets with the founder during their orientation, receiving his direct line and cell phone number to reach him at any time. The management team also personally acknowledges drivers’ birthdays, demonstrating their appreciation with complimentary dinners. The drivers receive competitive benefits packages, paid vacations, and access to a terminal equipped with modern amenities. Helwig & Sons also ranks among the highest in the National Survey of Driver Wages.

These driver-oriented practices have enabled the firm to achieve one of the industry’s lowest driver turnover rates and offer clients high levels of reliability and dependability. Helwig provides vacation buyout programs during peak seasons, allowing the company to meet capacity demands while offering drivers significant earnings for extended voluntary periods on the road. These programs benefit drivers and customers, underlining the value the firm brings with its services.

Focused on long-term objectives instead of short-term transactions, J.S. Helwig & Son has cultivated a loyal customer base within an average engagement span of fifteen years. The company plans to maintain its current strategies to ensure a lasting market presence. Helwig’s journey is far from over, as it continues to carry the torch of exceptional service and strives towards continued success. Fueled by the desire to be the best in the business, the firm sets new benchmarks of quality, leaving an everlasting impression on the industry it so passionately serves