Carrier Profiles

Carrier Profile: HELP Expedite

This Michigan-based expediting carrier is part of parent company E.L. Hollingsworth, founded in 1924. Offering various transportation services, Hollingsworth began hauling time-sensitive material for General Motors plants in the late 1960's; one of the first companies to transport hot freight in the Flint, MI area.

Basic Statistics
E.L. Hollingsworth was not only a trucking company, but also a cab company, which was increasingly called upon for small priority automotive shipments in the early days. The logical transition from cabs to expedited trucking resulted in E.L. Hollingsworth becoming the first-call carrier for GM's Michigan intrastate shipments from the late 1980's to the present.

HELP (Hollingsworth Expedited Lane Partners) Expedite, the expedited division of Hollingsworth, was formed in 1999. It is a privately-owned corporation headquartered in Flint, MI, with satellite locations in Detroit and Grand Rapids, MI and Nashville, TN.

HELP Expedite's CEO, Steve Barr, is a Native American from the Chippewa tribe, and the company is a certified minority-owned business. However, HELP Expedite's Vice President Chris Shepard says that this has not provided any real advantage when securing new accounts: "We still have to do the job. If there are companies out there who have minority spending goals, of course we hope they take a look at our company, but we have to prove ourselves every day, with every shipment."

This expedited carrier specializes in the high volume transportation of automotive expedited shipments, plastics, printed material, corrugated, retail, chemicals & lubricants.

Where They Run
HELP Expedite's main operating areas include the Great Lakes and Midwest regions in the US and Ontario, Canada.

This ISO 9002 certified company is a high-volume Michigan Intrastate carrier as well, utilizing a fleet of both independent contractors and company-owned equipment. Fleet size varies between 175-200 trucks and is composed of cargo vans, straight trucks and tractor-trailers. This represents around 60 per cent contractors and 40 per cent company drivers.

The company allows a 5 model year service life for both cargo vans and straight trucks. Straight trucks are not required to be sleeper-equipped. Dispatch to truck communication is accomplished via Qualcomm satellite equipment and the dispatching policy is based on "first-in, first-out," with no forced dispatch.

A Commercial Driver's License is not required for cargo van drivers, but is a requirement for the larger size trucks, along with a Hazardous Materials Endorsement.

The Package
Chris Shepard says that HELP Expedite offers prospective contractors a realistic projection of income: "We give prospective contractors the average earnings for their size unit. Being available and taking all loads offered determines whether you are on the high end or low end."

"We give our independent contractors access to economical insurance packages, but of course, the contractor can provide their own package Our company drivers have insurance packages which include medical, dental, vision and 401k.

The independent contractors leased to HELP Expedite enjoy:

·Weekly Settlements

·Accessorial Charges

·No Forced Dispatch

·Back Hauls at an Increased Percentage

·More Home Time

·Deadhead Pay After First 100 Miles

Interested parties can contact Larry Okopien, recruiting manager at: 800 622-1226

Some Thoughts From Management

"It's obvious that without our contractors, we have no equipment to move freight. Our contractors and drivers are highly-valued people and we feel that we have developed a working partnership with them; if they succeed, we succeed as well."

"By the same token, we have customers who we have to service on a daily basis, and our drivers understand that. If we we're not available for our customers, we can't keep them. Its all about response to our customer's needs, it's as simple as that."

Christine Nietski is the Operations Manager with HELP Expedite and a ten year veteran with the company. Her duties include managing the fleet, fleet payroll, and contractor relations/problem resolution.

She echoes the sentiments expressed by Chris Shepard regarding the Owner/operators and drivers with HELP Expedite: “We have real professionals in our fleet, and we're very proud of our drivers. They know what the job is and how to accomplish it.”

"I respect the people in expediting," Chris Shepard says, "it's a tough business at times with the ups and downs of emergency freight. An expediting contractor has to prepare for the busy times and well as the slow times in this industry. Also, no one can predict when a breakdown will occur, or when an emergency shipment will be needed; that's the nature of this type of business.

"Be ready to roll, remain available for dispatch and take all the loads offered, " are the keys to success for both independent contractor and company driver, says Shepard.

Shepard says that because HELP Expedite's main operating area is Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Ontario, Canada, it offers an opportunity for the contractor who is seeking more home time. "We've had contractors who have tried other carriers, but have come back to HELP Expedite because they found they were away from home too much."

"We have long been known as a Michigan-core carrier, and that is still our strength. At the same time though, we've been able to expand into more of an interstate carrier running the 48 states and Ontario and Quebec. If our contractors desire the longer-mileage loads, we have those as well."

Prospective expediting contractors have a legitimate concern with “overstaffing,” – too many trucks, not enough freight. Shepard says, “ We are straight forward about how many units we have in a contractor's home base. Our fleet size fluctuates seasonally, especially with automotive freight. The latter part of the third and virtually all of the fourth quarter are the busy times, and we make a special effort To build the fleet in anticipation of that time period.”

A potential problem area for companies utilizing both independent contractors and company drivers is the perception of dispatcher favoritism on behalf of the company drivers. Ms. Nietski resolves that concern by inviting O/O's and company drivers into operations to see for themselves just how the fleet is dispatched, and to dispel any notions of unfair practices.

“As a matter of fact,” Ms. Nietski says, “the customer's needs are the paramount concern in dispatching; we are primarily concerned with servicing the customer and ensuring their load is covered.

The Future
Reflecting on the changes in the expediting industry, Chris Shepard says that the business is increasingly competitive among carriers; however, there are more opportunities to move freight. He says that because of security issues, there has been a move from air freight shipments to surface expediting.

In addition, he feels there will be new opportunities in home delivery because of online consumer buying. Other potential new avenues include dedicated expedited shipments and private fleet replacement.

“Technology has moved this industry forward; if you can move the freight quickly and efficiently, you'll be at the top of the customer's list,” says Shepard.

In her 18 years in the expediting industry, Christine Nietski has seen some of the changes in this segment of transportation: “The economic situation has changed over the years, particularly with the fluctuations of automotive sales.

The automotive industry's ups and downs have traditionally effected our business, but with our expansion into new areas, that should lessen the impact.”

She continues, “One area of change I've noticed is that, a few years ago, the carriers with the cheapest tariffs got the load. Now service is a serious part of the process and those carriers who can provide one-call, worry-free transport of a shipment at a reasonable price will get the business.”

Web Information
EL Hollingsworth Homepage