Whiting Systems Inc. President Chad Glenn (left) and former president Russ Whiting, of the family ownership group, with one of the company's large truck wash gantries.
There are some machines that won’t fit in a car wash.
That’s where Whiting Systems Inc. comes in.
The Alexander-based company manufactures automatic, large-vehicle wash systems and detergents — along with providing service, reporting and analysis — to customers in industries within the United States and around the world.
“We manufacture the best piece of machinery in this environment,” Whiting Systems President Chad Glenn said.
Whiting manufactures brush and touchless wash gantries and drive-thrus, pressure washers and cleaning agents for industries relying heavily on trucks, trains, vans, buses and other large vehicles. It offers washing systems for irregularly shaped vehicles, tankers, tractor trailers and smaller vehicles and specializes in cleaning and washing oil-field services trucks and equipment and large mining equipment.
Whiting also provides online diagnostics and upgrade services, wash-monitoring and reporting solutions.
Clients include truck leasing companies Penske Truck Leasing and Ryder System Inc. as well as Walmart and J.B. Hunt, among many others.
“So many people in trucking are not managing their own fleets anymore,” Glenn said. “They’ve turned that over to the Penskes and Ryders of the world.”
Whiting’s programs include its full-service Fleet Image Program, leasing programs and detergent and maintenance programs.
Whiting Systems has 84 employees spread among its 13-acre manufacturing location in Little Rock and distribution centers in Glendale, Arizona; Youngstown, Ohio; and Bismarck, North Dakota. It has close to 900 automated systems in the United States alone, not to mention its manual systems and pressure guns, and is projected to bring in close to $22 million in revenues this year.
Whether selling or leasing, Whiting continues to expand its worldwide reach. Recent deals include systems for UPS in the United Kingdom, a franchise in Australia and automated systems and detergents for a company in Bogota, Colombia.
Closer to home, Whiting recently installed a system for Ben E. Keith’s distribution location in Little Rock and signed deals with Wayne Smith Trucking in Morrilton and Little Rock-based waste management company Republic Services.
“We do lead the country in providing large, automated systems,” said Glenn, a product of the transportation/logistics industry and longtime acquaintance of the Whiting family. He came on board as president three years ago.
“It wasn’t the revenue that got me excited,” Glenn said. “Or the margins or even the personal income. … I think the growth potential is astronomical.”
The family-owned company was founded in 1974 by Buddy Whiting, who got his start selling power washers door to door in Arkansas. Whiting Systems began nationwide distribution of its systems and detergents in 1988 and manufactured its first large-vehicle, automated wash system in 1993. New technologies, service staff, chemical blending plants and expansion followed.
“What he started and where he has taken this place today is unbelievable, Glenn said of Whiting, 74.
New wrinkles include tarps customized with customers’ logos and signage, and Glenn is eagerly anticipating a foray into e-commerce to sell its parts and cleaning agents through entities like Amazon. It already has a deal with Ryder Fleet Products.
“It’s coming … That whole arena. By 2019, we think that’s going to be a tremendous growth opportunity for us,” Glenn said of the e-commerce effort.
Challenges, he said, include finding skilled trade laborers as younger people today gravitate away from work as plumbers and electricians. But Whiting Systems is in growth mode and, with the pending new developments, Glenn doesn’t expect a slowdown any time soon.
“I don’t think we’re anywhere close to where we’re going,” he said.
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