From Our Family To Yours

The Rumpke family just got bigger. This family-owned waste hauler has given birth to a new corporate division, and that division has adopted more than 5,000 new members.

When Rumpke Consolidated Companies, Inc., which services Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia, began to lose accounts because business owners with multiple locations chose to work with brokers or the larger waste firms, the company decided to do something about it; they created a new division, The William-Thomas Group (WTG).

The William-Thomas Group consolidates waste and recycling services for customers with multiple locations. The Group coordinates these services through its Haul Pass Network. The Haul Pass Network is an international family or alliance of small, mostly privately owned waste and recycling companies that share bids and business to secure control of market areas and to increase individual company revenues. The Haul Pass Network offers members some of the advantages that larger national firms such as Waste Management and Allied Waste Industries typically experience.

Traditionally, the larger waste companies were able to offer businesses with multiple locations a one stop shop for their waste needs leaving smaller waste and recycling firms entirely out of the bidding process. In recent years it was not uncommon for small haulers to have to work through a broker to get particular business accounts. "It had become common for brokers to give us our same business back at a discount," said Matt Bauer, director of sales and marketing at Rumpke. "The sole reason we created the Haul Pass Network was to protect independent haulers' service areas."

It has been nearly three years since executives at Rumpke invented and began creating WTG. Today, that vision is becoming a successful reality giving haulers throughout the United States an edge over competitors.

The William-Thomas Group's Haul Pass Network services nearly 10,000 locations. Some of WTG's largest clients include The Kroger Company and Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (Circle K, Dairy Mart and Mac's).

The Kroger Company in Cincinnati was one of WTG's first customers. "It's been a very good relationship as far as I'm concerned." said Matt Edlen, who manages food service and sanitation coordination. "In my management area alone, The William-Thomas Group provides waste service for nearly 100 locations. They do an outstanding job. The William-Thomas Group has not only saved the Kroger Company money, but their dedication to customer service sets them apart from other waste service providers."

WTG's Haul Pass Network is already gaining momentum. "I envision setting up the group as a separate entity, and banding together with other independent haulers throughout the United States. The intent is to find those opportunities that the independent haulers would otherwise miss, and bring them to them," said Bauer.

Many of the haulers that participate in the Haul Pass Network view the network as a source of buying power. Network participation provides an opportunity to broaden each member's customer base.

"It's a win-win for everyone. The network provides haulers with more business opportunities, while the WTG business model provides customers with that one stop shop for all their waste service needs," said Brad Warman, general manager of WTG. "Whether you are business manager who controls multiple locations or a top notch private hauler, WTG is waiting to welcome you to our family."