A FAMILY AFFAIR

Operator A FAMILY AFFAIR

Back in the mid-1990s two young and ambitious brothers, Hysni and Jimmy Dardania, started a transport business specialising in produce and operating around the Sydney Produce markets at Flemington. It was a small, modest start to the operation, kicking off with a single rigid Isuzu. But the family worked hard, built the business, and a quarter of a century later Dardania Logistics now operates a substantial fleet of prime movers, trailers and rigids.

These days Dardania Logistics still transports produce, but also handles transport and logistics for other parts of the food industry, including being a key logistics provider for Ferrero Australia, transporting such things as its famous Nutella spread and TikTak mints from its factory in Lithgow back into the Great Sydney region.

Excellence in logistics depends on the quality of the transport truck and the drivers as much as brilliant business planning and analysis. It is this perfect balance that Tim Dardania’s team brings to the table with his Sydneybased company.

Founded in 1995, Tim has been involved in the business from an early age.

“I studied at university and worked

A FAMILY AFFAIR

SYDNEY BASED, FAMILY OWNED AND RUN, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS COMPANY, DARDANIA LOGISTICS HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE IT STARTED WITH A SINGLE TRUCK IN THE 1990S. NOW WITH A FLEET OF GLEAMING MANS IT HAS SHOWN THAT SPECCING TRUCKS RIGHT AND CONCENTRATING ON WHAT YOU DO BEST IS A STRONG RECIPE FOR SUCCESS.

for several years in the insurance sector, but later I joined the family business on a full-time basis in 2007 and have stayed with the business as we expanded into Dardania Logistics,” he explains.

“In recent years, the business has done very well in expanding its customer base and is expanding further into the fastmoving consumer goods (FMCG) market.”

“We service a number of well-known ASX-listed brands in the food and confectionery industry. We invest time and effort in fostering long term relationships servicing our customer needs without failure. As such all our customers tend to support us in return through long term, mutually beneficial relationship.”

Dardania Logistics specialises in refrigerated transport and primarily transports temperature controlled finished products such as confectionery as well as raw ingredients for the food and beverage industry. However in recent years, they have expanded to include general freight.

Although the business has grown significantly and is now a 24/7 operation, Tim emphasises that it is still very much a family business.

“Unfortunately we lost Dad last year, but my brothers and I are still very much

involved and run different sections of the operation,” said Tim.

“It gives us a lot of pride to think that dad started this with just a single truck and we have been able to grow it into a significant logistics business,” he added.

Over the past two years, Dardania Logistics has converted almost its entire fleet of heavy prime mover to the MAN brand, with 11 of them now part of the line-up, all delivered by Sydney dealer, Penske Australia.

Earlier this year Dardania acquired two new MAN TGX 540 horsepower from Penske’s Sydney dealership. Tim takes pride in the MAN fleet and provides insight into what he expects from a vehicle.

“Our overarching goal is to find a vehicle that is of a sufficient build quality, meets modern fuel efficiency and environmental standards, and can be acquired at a competitive price,” he says.

“I believe MAN has struck this delicate balance with the new TGX 26.540 in terms of providing an all-rounder, which can handle the smaller distribution jobs around town but also is capable enough to send out with the longer, line-haul jobs as well.”

Tim’s MAN fleet has been there through the expansion and growth of his business. The MAN TGX range is known for its low total cost of ownership, exceptional reliability and efficiency, and advanced safety features. The low tare weight of the trucks also leaves room for an increased payload on jobs.

The company uses its local dealership, which is close by its Sydney headquarters, and is happy to provide positive feedback.

“The whole team at our local Penske dealership, from the sales team to the service team, do an excellent job in meeting customer needs and expectations,” he says.

“The sales team ensures we can get the equipment and planning in place well in advance of peak periods. Quick turnaround on orders and delivery has been a regular high standard we have come to expect.”

“Same again in the service department; a short turnaround of equipment through the service cycles is very helpful especially during busy peak periods. This helps ensure we keep downtime to a minimum and in the end, helps us be more efficient with our use of equipment and servicing our customers.”

While Dardania started with an Isuzu and still has Isuzu as well as Fuso rigids on fleet , it has been largely oriented to “IT GIVES US A LOT OF PRIDE TO THINK THAT DAD STARTED THIS WITH JUST A SINGLE TRUCK AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GROW IT INTO A SIGNIFICANT LOGISTICS BUSINESS”

Dardania Logistics boss, Tim Dardania

European trucks having had Volvos, Benz and Scanias before the switch to MAN.

“We were the early adopters of the MAN brand in Australia after we purchased our first MAN truck in 2012,” Tim emphasised.

“ I have to say we have experienced excellent customer service and dedication from the whole team at Penske and it is a credit to their commitment to growing the MAN brand.”

“In addition to the customer service, we have found MAN to be exceptionally reliable, and we are happy to recommend these trucks to others.”

In terms of feedback from his drivers, Tim reckons they love the German trucks, particularly the comfort and ease of operation.

“Our drivers’ feedback is very positive especially for the TGX 540s, citing good comfort levels, easy manoeuvrability and they reckon the cabin’s interior design is functional and provides good all-round vision and spatial awareness,” Tim added.

In fact Dardania still has its original 2012 MAN TGX 480 still on the fleet and going strong, emphasising that it is as much a practical decision as it is a sentimental one.

“I look at the numbers, not the sentiment, and the MANs measure up in every metric,” he said.

Fuel consumption has also been a big factor with the MANs for Dardania with the frugal nature of the 540 horse prime movers impressing the bean counter in Tim.

“They are very consistent and are always economical, no matter which driver is behind the wheel, and that is a significant factor, because we have a number of drivers rotating through different trucks all the time,” said Tim.

Dardania has a team of 15 drivers on its books operating through three shifts, 24 hours a day seven days a week.

‘That is another reason why the AMT is such an important factor because you know they will always shift efficiently and you will never have to change another clutch,” he chuckles.

The company only runs single trailer rigs and has steered clear of adding B Doubles and avoided expanding into line haul operations, sticking to its knitting instead.

Tim reckons, while it has been tempting to expand further afield, the company has been very disciplined and diligent in sticking to what it knows and specialising in the intra-state logistics business.

“We specialise in what we know and what we do best and we have stuck to that ensuring we do the best job we can.”

This means Dardania runs around the Greater Sydney area every day as well as across the Blue Mountains to the Ferrero factory in Lithgow and to logistics hubs in Goulburn and the Central Coast.

“Customers have approached us to expand into line haul and it is tempting but staying local has been the right thing to do because at this stage it is what we do best.

“Having said that, while we have preferred to consolidate it could still be on the cards in the next five or so years, depending on how things pan out, “ he adds.

As Dardania Logistics keeps growing and expanding its business, MAN continues to be a part of the company’s growth and Tim Dardania reckons that will continue for some time to come.