It all depends on the helper and your skill of using him. Last year I had such a great helper that is was like I had another driver with me. He was really that good!
We had 2 DIADS and he mastered it after the 2nd day. At signature stops he would deliver and I would search and sort packages. With residential I could give him 2 stops and I would run one off with the theory I would be at the truck before him ready to go, but he would arrive BEFORE me sometimes. When he did, he would be in the back digging out our next stops! He learned the area that well in a few days!
The point I'm trying to make is he was never just standing there and I was never sitting in the driver seat waiting for him. When the truck wasn't moving we were doing something productive with our time.
When the truck was moving he would look at the DIAD to see what was next. If I was in the back for more than 3 seconds looking for a package he would jump back there and start digging with me.
This is what UPS has wet dreams about. This is the way the helper team should be run. When the helper and I work as effeciently as this, we can do 300 stops before sunset.
If you are a new driver just follow this advice. When the helper is away from the truck make sure you are sorting and prerecording so that when you come to the next stop your package selection time is around 1 second. When ever possible park where you can run off 1-3 stops and the helper can run off 1-3 stops. If you get to the truck before him, start digging and prerecording. Soon it will be 2nd nature to use the helper efficiently.
I like the helper because I don't have to get out of the truck as much
. Some drivers hate the helper because they get too much work in their opinion. I happen to think the helper is an asset if used correctly and my body always feels better during Dec. when I have a one. That's evidence enough for me!