Jan Heldoorn has been a familiar face at Heisterkamp for 25 years. What began as a time of endless paperwork and manual processes has evolved alongside the company’s automation and tremendous growth. In this interview, Jan looks back on his career, the team spirit of the past and present, and what makes Heisterkamp special to him.
How did you start working at Heisterkamp?
“I joined Heisterkamp in September 2000, working in the invoicing department. The timing was rather unusual, as the office was undergoing renovation. My first few weeks were mainly spent moving things from the ground floor to the first floor and back again. It was only after that that the real work began. It’s now been 25 years.''
What was the invoicing work like in the past?
“It was all about paperwork. Drivers would hand in piles of documents: consignment notes, loading and unloading details, you name it. Sometimes there were thirty vehicles’ worth of paperwork on your desk at once. Colleagues would pop round to each other’s desks to look for missing documents. Only once everything was complete could an invoice be issued. I don’t miss that real drudgery.”
"The systems may have changed, but the family atmosphere at Heisterkamp has always remained."- Supervisor Invoicing Trucking
What has changed as a result of automation?
“The difference is huge. Whereas everything used to be entered manually, almost everything now comes in digitally. Our role is now mainly one of checking: are the addresses correct, have customs holds been processed, and have customer agreements been applied correctly? Every customer is different, so invoicing remains a human task. Ultimately, we ensure that the invoice is legally correct.”
How has the team changed over the years?
“We used to need more people and there was a high turnover. Now we work with a permanent group of colleagues who are happy to stay here. That makes the work more enjoyable. What I do sometimes miss is the collaborative puzzle-solving of the past: checking together at the end of the week to see which documents were still missing. That really created a strong team spirit.”
How do you view Heisterkamp as a company?
“Heisterkamp still feels like a family company. Everyone addresses each other by their first name, from management to drivers. It’s always been that way and I really appreciate it. The company’s growth is impressive. What once started as a great transport company has grown into an organisation known throughout Europe.”
What does your 25th anniversary mean to you?
What does your 25th anniversary mean to you?
“It’s a special milestone. It’s rare these days to work for one company for that long. The traditions have also remained the same: summer parties, Christmas parties and Friday afternoon drinks. And I’m allowed to carry on for a while longer, until 2047. If I have to, I’ll be happy to do so.”
Jan's workday soundtrack
🎧 Born in the U.S.A – Bruce Springsteen
🎧 With or Without you – U2
🎧 Don’t stop me now - Queen
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