Deals On Wheels Australia - Issue 399 2016_

NEWS&REVIEWS

AUSTRALIA’S #1 TRUCK MARKETPLACE TradeTrucks.com.au 251

T

his year marks the 25th anniversary of Whites

Diesels, one of Australia’s leading suppliers of

bus and truck parts.

Founded in 1991, by Darryl White, the company

started out as a small Queensland parts supplier,

with a single workshop in Sandgate. It’s now a

nationwide operation with seven distribution

points around the country.

In the industry, Whites is renowned as the

Mercedes-Benz specialist, supplying parts for

all Benz city and coach bus models. In addition,

Whites is one of the largest stockist of engine

and body parts for Mercedes Benz trucks. They

also hold an extensive range for Volvo, Scania,

MAN and other popular bus and truck models.

The Whites Diesels’ story is one of rags-to-

riches story. “I had $10,000 and couldn’t even

afford statements,” Darryl White says.

“I had to put white stickers on borrowed ones.

And then my local suppliers pulled the rug out

from under me.

“No more wholesale prices, which meant no

more margin. So I got on a plane, went to a trade-

fair in Germany and sourced all my own parts

suppliers.”

By taking the initiative, Darryl established Whites

Diesels as a completely independent supplier,

and was able to offer better prices and service

than ever before. Soon the Queensland business

began to prosper, and in 1998, Darryl saw an

opportunity to expand into NSW. He partnered

with a long-term customer, Rodney Hemaridis,

and founded Whites Diesels NSW.

Not surprisingly, the start-up phase of the NSW

business proved equally as challenging as the

Queensland operation. “The first month, I worked

out of my car and we earned $400,” says Rodney.

“But the next month, we leased a shed. The

month after that, we hired another salesman.

Each month things got better.”

Today, 25 years on, both Darryl and Rodney are

still actively involved in day-to-day operations.

Not at the executive level, though. They’re board

members, but they’ve gladly stepped back from

their executive roles. Darryl’s back running the

second-hand products and Rodney’s once again

supporting the sales and product teams.

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned in 25 years of

business,” Darryl says, “it’s that you have to know

your strengths and weaknesses, and focus on

doing things well, not doing them your way.

“We’re both back doing what we love and

what we’re best at, and Whites Diesels is better

for it.”

Darryl White and Rodney

Hemaridis, founders of Whites

Diesels Australia.

Photo by Homepix Photography

Whites Diesels

celebrates 25 years

DOW 399.cls 251 26/02/2016 10:02 am