The Indian tractor-trailer market has witnessed some significant developments in terms of implementation of the AIS091 and AIS113 codes. As a part of this, the trailers and the safety critical components used on them are supposed to be homologated. Once this is done, the interchangeability of tractors and trailers would be facilitated.
Discussions are on at ARAI on this subject to formulate a code. With this, the fleet owners are expected to shift from rigid trucks to tractor-trailers. The current tractor-trailer presence is only 15 per cent of the total M&HCV market. This is expected to grow to anywhere between 20 per cent and 30 per cent by 2020.
JOST, with its full range of trailer components and sound experience in the Indian market, is geared for exciting action ahead. “Our roadmap for 2020 is being focused, technologically ahead of customer needs in terms of innovation, simplicity in design and end-customer benefits. Our brands – JOST, Rockinger, Tridec and Edbro – under the JOST umbrella have products to cater to the entire tractor-trailer segment which makes us a unique player in the market to give a one-stop solution to the fleet owner. There is a nationwide well-thought-out plan to increase our aftersales and service network on the solid platform that we have already created through our service campaigns and end-customer engagement programs”, says Mr. Markus Schaedlich, President, JOST-Asia.
Answering a question on the company’s focus for the next few years, he says: “Our key focus would be to recognize customer needs and market trends faster than others and provide solutions which fit such demands, offer products which are superior in technology and service and have a high availability in all sales channels which we serve.”
“Our roadmap for 2020 is being focused, technologically ahead of customer needs in terms of innovation, simplicity in design and end-customer benefits in terms of cost of ownership” – Mr.Markus Schaedlich, President, JOST-Asia.
JOST India which has completed 10 years has come a long way. The company success is based on its products and services. Quality, cost, delivery and performance are the key to success.
Mr. Pradeep GS, Managing Director, VP – Sales & Marketing, JOST India, says: “We already have the full range of fifth wheels required in local production for the range of tractors. In the coming years we plan to provide optimum products from this range in terms of weight and cost to address this market. The other products in our repertoire are trailer axles, suspensions, landing gears and kingpins manufactured or assembled locally. We also address the tipper and special trailer market, Over Dimensional Cargo segments with our tipping cylinder and wet kits, trailer axle steering and suspension systems, axle lift systems, towing hitches, container twist locks, Hubodometers, slewing rings from our brands through imports and trading”.
In terms of technology, JOST has products to cater to the upcoming market needs for safety and comfort (which are expected in the next couple of years) with its SKS – Sensor Coupling System (Three sensors showing locking position, kingpin position and coupling height in the driver’s cabin), Flashtronic (Optical locking display directly on the Fifth Wheel), Lubetronic (Auto lubrication system for low-maintenance Fifth wheels) and the most advanced KKS (A complete system that offers automatic coupling and un-coupling of tractor-trailers with the driver sitting in his cabin with electronically or pneumatically controlled and monitored Fifth Wheels, Kingpin and landing gear).
“In the last few years we saw sales growth which was over proportional to the market growth as we gained market shares based on our QCD performance. In the coming years we will see sales growth which exceeds market growth by adding new products and services”, adds Mr. Pradeep.
By Rajeswari Prasad