Hosting over 80 per cent of passenger car transporters operating in the country, the Gurugram-Manesar region is quintessential hub for a unique and challenging segment of trucking logistics. For those fleets, JK Tyre is proving to be a worthy associate, not just as a supplier of an essential consumable, but as a crucial defender of the car carrier community in the region, writes Dhiyanesh Ravichandran
Hauling cars and motorcycles is one of the most challenging logistics business, not because of the nature of the cargo or practical difficulties associated in transportation, but precisely out of the car carrier industry’s less-than-ideal operational terms with its clients and demand-supply scenario. Thanks to the macro-economic slowdown and subdued car sales in the country since late 2018 as well, the industry is facing tough times right now. Earlier, just a couple of years ago, the industry was faced with severe doldrums out of standardisation of car carriers under CMVR norms. The operators came up with resilience, only to be caught in the slowdown later.
The car transportation industry in India started in mid-1980s, more so with the advent of Maruti Suzuki, whose manufacturing facility happened to be at Manesar in the Gurugram (previously Gurgaon) district of Haryana. With Maruti becoming a modern ‘people’s car’ in late 1980s and 1990s, the logistics demand for transporting cars started growing in leaps and bound. In the ensuing years, with Maruti Suzuki becoming the top selling brand, the region of Gurugram-Manesar became a hot bed for car carrying business in the country.
Today, the region houses more than 80 big car carrying fleets, with a size of more than 100 trucks each, together accounting for more than 10,000 tractor-trailers and 2,000 containerised rigid trucks plying across the country. All these fleets are predominantly catering to Maruti Suzuki, although many companies have diversified their client base and effectively manage their fleets across different automakers and market regions. The region is also known for fabrication of specialised trailers for car carriers.
An established market base for truck tyres, JK Tyre has been associating with car carrier fleets in this region for more than three decades. “The car transporting fleets are a biggest customer base for us in the Delhi NCR region. These are the ones who remained way more organised and professional in operations than the industry in general. As is often the case, we believe in long-term and close connect with each of those fleet customers, for many years now”, said V.K. Singh, Zonal Manager (F.M.) North – JK Tyre. The brand enjoys at least 25 per cent of market share in this region, he added.
Avishek Kochar, the Director of Jainex Group of Companies including Jainex Pariwahan Pvt. Ltd. involved in car carrying business, said that he is more than satisfied with JK Tyre products and services. “Our first trial with JK Tyre was in 2009, and from then on there was no turning back…the tyres gave us an exciting value proposition, and the brand kept on taking up the relationship up a notch at all time till day with new services and community services”, he noted.
He further opined that no other rival brands match up to the social and health initiatives of JK Tyre for the drivers and trucking community in this region, he averred, while partnering a free eye-check up and health camp with the brand at his fleet location for the welfare of local car carriers. “Initiatives like this are a regular affair, which has indeed built a strong fan base for JK Tyre in the region. Such direct relationship with the community and fleet customers like us build an immense trust and confidence on its product pricing and support”, he added.
With a fleet size of 400 car carriers, Jainex Pariwahan consumes about 90 tyres every month from JK Tyre, which is about 80 per cent of the fleet’s total requirement. The bias-radial tyre ratio for his fleet stands at 50-50. The transporter claims an average tyre mileage of 1.5 lakh kms and 80,000 kms on prime movers and locally-fabricated trailers respectively. In recent times, the company has begun shifting to modern and innovative car carrying trailers from Lohr India Automotive. These trailers come with dual-wheel, twin-axles that are way more efficient, with an enhanced tyre mileage up to 2 lakhs kms, according to the transporter.
Asked on JK Tyre’s fleet management activities with his company, Kochar said that he is about to undertake comprehensive fleet management packages with the brand on trial basis very soon. “We are already availing the brand’s technical service and expertise on preventive maintenance and driver training on tyre management, and complete packages are the next corollary”, he replied. He also expressed his readiness to test tubeless tyre technology in the immediate future.
“More than negotiation on discounts and better pricing, I prefer additional value-added services that can bring value-addition to my fleet operations. At times when the market is not that favourable, we have to be on our toes in managing our fleet and investments in a smart and efficient manner, to stay afloat”, opined the Director, while noting that tyre expenses are next to that of fuel in transportation business. In this regard, he counts on the partnership with JK Tyre by exploring newer avenues of engagement with the tyre expert.