Skip bin and waste management services firm Bingo Industries is being helped through rapid expansion by a responsive working relationship with West-Trans Equipment.
Bingo’s bright orange trucks are becoming almost as familiar a sight in Sydney’s inner suburbs as the harbour bridge, standing out on the roads as their drivers drop off skip bins or return with loads for recycling.
Established in 2005, Bingo Industries has evolved out of the acquisitions of several companies, some of which had been in business for 10 years.
Under the leadership of CEO Daniel Tartak, Bingo has expanded to employ 320 people and cover the entire Sydney metropolitan area. Its fleet of more than 120 new and near new trucks range in type and size, allowing drivers to access a variety of sites and to place bins to meet customers’ requirements.
Group Operations Manager Jamie Reynolds progressed through the firm after starting as a driver five years ago. His extensive role includes responsibility for safety, driver performance, and procurement and maintenance of the company’s fleet, plant and machinery across its five sites.
Jamie says many things set Bingo apart from other operators in the area, starting with the company culture.
“Everyone here works hard, but we all get along as friends and respect each other. With a good working environment, it’s the kind of place you want to come to work,” he says.
Added to this is a huge commitment to customer service, cleanliness of vehicles and operations, and leadership in recycling, the latter typified with the recent opening of its cutting-edge recycling facility, workshop and head office in Auburn.
The new site complements its recycling centres at St Marys, Mortdale and Banksmeadow, with another due to open in Minto – all strategically located to service each area of the greater Sydney region.
Underpinning these factors in its growth is a reliable, efficient fleet of trucks, which powers Bingo’s ability to deliver a dependable, prompt service to its customers.
Jamie puts much of this down to a successful relationship with West-Trans Equipment.
Superior product
“Bingo prides itself on having a modern, safe fleet, covering both trucks and bins,” says Jamie. “West-Trans offers a superior product, which is reliable and tailored to our specified high standards.”
The relationship with West-Trans Equipment started 10 years ago, as Bingo’s first few trucks were from the Mulgrave-based specialist in hooklifts and skiploaders.
Bingo’s fleet comprises skiploaders, hooklifts, and front and rear lift compactor trucks. It bought around 100 of these from West-Trans Equipment over the years, with a further 20 on order for early 2016 delivery.
In late November 2015, West-Trans supplied Bingo with two DS 40 telescopic arm skiploaders and two MXS 150 telescopic arm skiploaders, and has just delivered four HL20 hooklifts.
The new vehicles quickly made an impact within the business, with Jamie highlighting increased productivity and better safety aspects, particularly around compliance. Running and maintenance costs are reduced, as they don’t need new parts and require less fuel. Quicker loading and unloading mechanisms also help the drivers do their jobs more efficiently.
“Every driver loves a new truck, and it’s great to see their reaction when a brand new orange truck pulls into the yard,” says Jamie. “Happy drivers are more productive drivers, and the best way to keep them happy is to make sure they’re using good equipment.”
Preparing for growth
Jamie says Bingo invests in new trucks to equip itself for forecasted business growth. Although, he adds that due to their strong relationship, if they need a truck urgently, West-Trans Equipment is responsive and work will start promptly to expedite delivery of the urgently required unit.
“We particularly appreciate their ability to supply equipment quickly, as a good service and support network is vital to our operation,” Jamie says. “They now have a ‘Bingo spec’ in their production system for our trucks. So when it gets to the stage of modifying the design, they have the details.”
West-Trans Equipment Group Managing Director Jim Whittle said his team works closely with Jamie to modify equipment to meet Bingo’s specific requirements and address new ideas.
“On the skiploaders, they have a safety handrail fitted to the main body. This is an exclusive feature and a safety requirement on their vehicles that was specifically developed between ourselves and Bingo,” explains Jim. “The skiploaders also have load-holding valves fitted to the main lift cylinders and Bingo is testing a new weighing system on a MXS 150 model skiploader.”
The hooklifts are West-Trans Equipment’s standard 20-tonne units, but with a tarp tower with automated cover system to make the drivers’ jobs easier and cleaner. With practicality in mind, most vehicles have shovel and broom holders.
West-Trans Equipment coordinates with the chassis supplier and organises each new order from start to finish, including the signature Bingo orange paint job.
New solutions
Jamie says communication is continual with West-Trans Equipment. Jim updates him on new products they are offering or developing, and approaches him with new solutions to a previously identified issue. When Jamie has an idea to improve something, they act on that.
“We’ll talk about it and give it a go, and if that’s not ideal, they move on to the next one,” Jamie says. “They’re not trying to sell us a product, they’re trying to turn our ideas into feasible solutions.”
Like Bingo, West-Trans Equipment is Australian owned and the company manufactures all its equipment in Australia. This means a prompt and hands-on service from a local supplier, which Jamie says is exemplified by its aftersales.
Going that extra mile
When Bingo took delivery of a HMF crane truck recently, Jim spent two days at their head office showing the relevant employees how to operate the equipment, detailing its moving parts and the best service methods. He also gave the drivers his card so they could contact him directly with any queries.
“West-Trans is very hands-on that way,” acknowledges Jamie. “They’re only a phone call away. Anything I need, any maintenance queries the workshop team has, a lot of the time they won’t just answer the question over the phone, they’ll drive the 40km here to see us.
“They’ve built a very good business relationship with us based on mutual respect and good service – we do the right thing by them they do the right thing by us.” adds Jamie. “We’ve never had a drama with them and their product is awesome.”
With the reassurance of a quality fleet behind it, Jamie says Bingo’s focus is to continue on what they’re doing and do it well. The company is experiencing a rapid growth phase, particularly in the commercial, industrial and liquid waste side of the business. It will now look to maximise the use of its recently-opened facilities and to carry on expanding.
Meanwhile, Bingo’s fleet will keep growing to keep pace with expansion because, in Jamie’s words, “The trucks are the bottom line: without them, we have nothing.”
One of the Bingo skiploaders supplied by West-Trans Equipment