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Transystems foreman Eddy Heisel is up to his ears in work

By Lorraine Cavener, The Times-News Online
October 30, 2001
 
PAUL - This is the time of year when Eddy Heisel is probably the busiest man in Minidoka County, maybe in the entire Magic Valley.
      He has a knack for talking on his cell phone at the same time he is talking on his desk phone. People are lined up outside his office for job interviews or they walk in unannounced to talk to him about an immediate need.
      "I need the slice for the last 24 hours," he said in one phone, as the other phone started ringing again. "Start getting that every day."
      The other caller had a message about a loader that was brought into the shop for repairs. Heisel told the caller that something should be done about it ASAP.
      As foreman for the new beet hauler for Amalgamated Sugar Company -- Transystems -- Heisel's days are hectic at this time of the year.
      During the first year as hauler the chartreuse green Transystems trucks are becoming familiar. The company is using 93 trucks in Idaho. In the six-month hauling season the 40 trucks that Heisel oversees are scheduled to haul 2.3 million of the 5 million tons of beets hauled in the state.
      The factory contracted to Circle-A since about 1968, but the decision to go with Transystems was made because of economic reasons, said Amalgamated's John Schorr, ag manager for the Paul factory.
      "Circle A is an excellent company," he said. "But it was a cost savings for the company."
      Transystems is a good company to work with, he added.
      "They understand the beet business."
      Heisel said one of the things he likes about Transystems is the up-to-date equipment.
      Global Positioning System is being installed in all the trucks, Heisel said.
      "We're still working a few kinks out, but with GPS we will be able to dispatch better," he said.
      The information from GPS can be downloaded onto laptop computers, which will tell Heisel how many tons per pile are left to move.
      "As the pile decreases, it shows automatically," he said. "There is no guessing."
      A printout, including information about how many tons the factory sliced in the last 24 hours, will be made every 24 hours once the new equipment is in place.
      With the juggling act Heisel has to perform, GPS will come in handy.
      While acreage has increased, capacities at the piling grounds have not been increased, Heisel said.
      Keeping on top of constant pile moves to make room for more beets is something he deals with on a minute-by-minute basis.
      To keep up with the amount of beets the Paul factory requires a truck to be unloaded every two minutes.
      Besides, the GPS equipment trucks are also equipped with electronic shift transmissions.
      Many of the drivers were not used to such sophisticated equipment, he said
      "That was a little obstacle to get over," Heisel said.
      But they learned quickly, he added.
      Even with all the sophisticated equipment, Transystems' main concern is safety, Heisel said.
      "That is why they have that bright green color," he said.
      Steve Torix, the division maintenance manager, for Transystems agrees.
      "Our first three rules are safety, safety and safety," Torix said.
      The company has a team philosophy, he said.
      "You don't work for me, you work with me," Torix said.
      The company is still hiring drivers for this year's haul.
      As with most years drivers are not found until after harvest because many are driving for farmers, said Heisel, who knows about finding drivers from his many years of working for Circle A.
      "Harvest is a killer every year," he said. "We usually don't fill trucks until after harvest."
      But it's not all business; the company is also family oriented.
      "They are very employee-minded. They offer benefits after one month," Torix said. "Benefits are something every employee should have."
      The company wants people from the community and offers year-round jobs. In the summer, when beet hauling is done, the jobs consists of rock and road construction work.
      "The idea is to keep people on the job," he said.
      Employees are valued, Heisel said.
      "Without them we don't make money," he added.
      And valuing employees helps with production, Heisel said.
      "I can't be prouder of the help I've got," he said. "We've got some guys that are really producing. It's just unreal."