After visiting prominent fleet operators who are regular customers of JK Tyre in the country, MOTORINDIA got the opportunity to visit Jalan Transolutions India Ltd. (JTIL)’s business centre at NH-8, Rewari, Haryana. Situated at a prime location spread across 25,000 square feet, it also runs an in-house JK ‘Truck Wheel Centre’ equipped with air compressors, greasing pumps, generator set, nitrogen inflator machine and pneumatic wrenches for every truck and bus care.
The leading transport operator was founded by Shri Madanlal Jalan and the legacy is being carried forward by his sons, Mr. Rajesh Jalan and Mr. Manish Jalan. Formerly known as Jalan Carriers Pvt. Ltd., it started its journey in 2002 as a dedicated two-wheeler transporter.
The Haryana-based truck operator had collaborated with JK Tyre nearly five years back with the objective of offering a complete suite of tyre solutions. As Mr. Manish Jalan, Director, JTIL, puts it: “We were primarily into the transportation business since 1986 which was started by my late father M.L. Jalan. Initially, we were running open-bodied trucks transporting various goods and commodities like coal, parcels, tea, plyboards, etc, between Delhi and Guwhati. We operated in this pick-and-drop transportation segment for around 14 years. Thereafter, we got into the organised sector (of transportation business) in 2002 and bought two fully-bodied trucks. We carved our niche by specializing in the two-wheeler transportation business and floated Jalan Carriers Pvt. Ltd. and later rechristened the company as Jalan Transolutions India Ltd. In the initial phase, we tied up with Yamaha India Pvt. Ltd. and later added Hero MotoCorp, HMSI, Bajaj, Suzuki, etc., in our client roster. We now own a fleet of 400+ trucks, mostly from Ashok Leyland, and have inaugurated our Business Centre along with a JK Truck Wheel Service Centre.”
It is to be mentioned here that Jalan Transolutions provides specialized transport solutions only for two-wheelers and has become one of the leading automobile transportation companies in north India. The transporter has also collaborated with Ashok Leyland for authorized service centre for maintaining vehicles and to reduce in-route breakdowns. “We provide qualitative, time-oriented and satisfactory transport services to our clients as per industry needs. We have been accredited to the “B+ve” rating of CRISIL. We have over the years earned ourselves the position of highly professional, reliable and safe service provider in the automobile sector,” added Mr. Jalan.
Shedding some further light on its association with JK Tyre, Mr. Jalan stated: “JK Tyre is the pioneer of radials in the country and is committed towards bringing the best of products and services. This initiative (of tying up with them) is another step in providing a one-stop tyre-related services to the customers. With radialisation picking up, JK Tyre, being the pioneer and market leader, has been striving to provide complete tyre solutions to us. The advantages of radialization are manifold as it enables better road grip keeping the vehicles in balance, enhances fuel efficiency, and ensures the wearability level of tyres is quite less. Going forward, we expect radials to run for over one lakh km (which is much higher than bias/nylon tyres). Furthermore, Rewari-Dharuhera has its own importance for the trucking business and the region is getting radialized quickly.”
It is to be mentioned here that the Jalan Business Centre, which was inaugurated last year in association with JK is well connected by three national highways – NH8 (Delhi-Jaipur-Mumbai), NH71 (Jalandhar-Rohtak-Jhajjar-Rewari) and NH71B (Rewari-Dharuhera-Sohna-Palwal). The outlet, spread across 25,000 square feet, has well-trained staff and top equipment. With a major thrust on the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and several highway projects on the anvil, JTIL is anticipating unprecedented growth in the transport sector of the economy.
When quizzed about its five-year-old association with JK Tyre, Mr. Jalan asserted: “Tyres account for more than 10% of our operational costs. In 2011, we entered the JK Tyre Fleet Management Program, and since then have been exclusively using their tyres only. The five-year relationship has been exceptional. Their products are world-class; after-sales services are of the highest quality, and training support has been exceptional. Thanks to JK, we embraced radialization in our fleet with over 90% of the rear wheels having been fitted with such tyres. JK tyre’s performance has been above par industry standards. In our future course of action, we will go for front axle radialization with their new tyre JUH5 which is currently undergoing test runs in our fleet. Based on the feedback we will take a final call in few months’ time.”
It is to be noted that Jalan Transolution is currently fitting Jet R Mile (nylon), JDH3 (radial) and Jet Xtra (nylon) tyres on its existing fleet. Currently, the average new tyre consumption of its fleet is 1500 tyres per annum with a large number of tyres going for first and second time retread. The trucks ply between 60,000-70,000 km/annum and traverse the entire routes of the country (barring NE India), especially in cities like Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Manesar, Gurgaon, Pantnagar, Hyderabad, etc.
Apart from providing ground-breaking products, another aspect which was lauded by JTIL is the Fleet Management Solution provided by the Delhi-based tyremaker. As effused by Mr. Jalan: “The awareness levels and skill sets in the driver fraternity are low but improving. And JK takes the due credit because they have rolled out a driver training programme with us, and the response has been terrific. A driver’s training centre along with reliable service centres was formed to ensure road safety and on-time delivery of vehicles. These services are available not only for Jalan fleets but for others as well.”
“The handholding (by JK) doesn’t end here because, thanks to them, we have established a wheel alignment centre. After every 10,000 km, we do wheel alignment for our trucks. As a result, the wear and tear of the tyres has come down, coupled with lowering of the rolling resistance in all new tyres made by JK, thereby improving the fuel efficiency (of the vehicle). Driver retention has also increased. With above par expectations, we have recommended their tyres to other fleet operators too,” added Mr. Jalan.
Clocking a turnover of Rs. 96 crores last FY, JTIL is expecting a level of Rs. 110 crores in the current fiscal and Rs. 150 crores during FY 2017-18. “Some of the key growth drivers for us would be consistent focus on reduction in vehicle maintenance cost through fully equipped workshop as well as centralized control through 100% GPS-enabled trucks to ensure on-time delivery. We are expecting business growth of 20% in the next two years,” asserted Mr. Jalan.
On its future course of action Mr. Jalan shared: “We aim to broaden our horizon and become one of India’s leading logistics service providers. We endeavor to counter challenges and make a difference in the automobile industry. We have already bought 22 flatbed chassis. We are drawing up plans to get into multi-modal transport business, warehousing and 3PL logistics. We are also foraying into the containerized segment to cater to the white goods, FMCG and auto component sectors. We are also open to buying directly from OEMs provided we get a reasonable price.”