The Trucks, Parts, Service Distributor of the Year program is back in action for another year.
Now in its 22nd year, the Distributor of the Year program is once again sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN), Cummins-Meritor, High Bar Brands, Interstate Billing Service and Karmak.
Finalists for this year's award were announced in July, with one prior winner, two prior finalists and two first-time finalists earning nominations from the aftermarket for the industry's highest honor. Over the next few months, we will be learning more about these organizations and what makes them so unique. Today we learn more about Wheeler Fleet Solutions.
When was your business founded, and by whom?
In 1960 by Harold Wheeler Jr.
How many locations do you have? (Please list the cities)
We have three locations: Somerset Pa., Olive Branch Miss., and Grand Prairie, Texas.
How many employees do you have?
We have approximately 400 employees.
How does your business recruit new employees?
At Wheeler we support our managers' hiring needs by utilizing job descriptions to create job postings to attract a diverse talent pool. We also use a mix of external recruiting, internal promotions and temporary workers to meet the businesses' workforce needs.
What is your company’s value proposition?
We maximize uptime for critical fleets through various programs to make sure they have inventory and service when and where they need it. Differential customer connectivity, driven by exceptional customer service, extensive product knowledge and a solutions-oriented approach. And in--house engineering capabilities supporting the build-out of our private label portfolio.
Do you offer any additional services to complement your parts offering?
Yes, a full line of engineering capabilities, worldwide sourcing, kitting, our own Wheeler Fit private label products and the ability to develop “solutions” to make up for unavailable or below standard OEM components.
How do you differentiate your business from your competitors?
Our customer obsession when it comes to service, response time and bringing solutions to market. Additionally, we strive to be the best overall value supply chain partner, not a low-cost parts provider. We believe we clearly demonstrate our value in our offerings and services.
What is the biggest challenge facing your business in 2023?
Supply chain challenges continue to be the most significant headwind.
Why do you believe the heavy-duty aftermarket has nominated you for this award?
After over two decades of being the largest supplier to the United States Postal Service, we are now a critical supplier to some of the other big names in the automotive fleet industry. Additionally, our solution-oriented private label brand, Wheeler Fit, our growing e-commerce fulfillment capabilities, and our own WheelerFleet.com website demonstrate rapid growth coupled with a strong go-to-market strategy in both the e-commerce and traditional aftermarket parts channels.
Profiles of our 2023 Distributor of the Year finalists will begin later this year. To learn more about the DOTY program, go to the event webpage.
