If you have been following our series, SmartFleetz with JK Tyre, you would have noticed that not only has the tyre manufacturer supported the business of fleet operators with quality tyres but has also been able to win customers hearts with its outstanding service levels and overall approach. Expecting nothing less, as we visited Kishor Transport Services Pvt. Ltd. (KTSPL) where we were greeted with the same enthusiasm and camaraderie that all fleet customers share with JK Tyre.
Interacting with MOTORINDIA, Mr. Kamal Kishore Gandhi, Managing Director, KTSPL, stated: “Our association with JK Tyre began in 1998 when we started sourcing tyres from them. We soon became their repeat customers as we were really happy with the durability, cost-effectiveness and reliability of their tyres. We have a fleet count of over 500 tractor-trailers which are all from the stable of Tata Motors. In our business operation, we approximately require 200-250 tyres per month with each tyre running for over 1,00,000 km in addition to retreading which is also done by JK Tyre.”
Operation and maintenance
KTSPL is the core company of the Bafna Group of Mumbai, run by Chairman Mr. S.M.Bafna, Mr. Arjun Bafna, and Mr. Aditya Bafna, having diversified activity in vehicle dealerships, aviation, ambulance manufacturing, C&F activity and logistics movement. Focusing on car/vehicle carrier operations, KTSPL has clients like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Toyota, General Motors, Renault, Bajaj, Nissan, TAFE, M&M, etc. “We are into car carrier movement, chassis on truck movement, transfer through railway bogie on rent as well as stockyard management. We also undertake end-to-end logistics, picking up vehicle from the plant to delivering it to the dealership, while also managing the parking for it. Naturally, when we have such a large business operation all over India, tyre becomes the epicenter of the business. Needless to reiterate, JK Tyre has become a heart of our business,” beamed Mr. Gandhi.
Elaborating on the maintenance of tyres in particular and the fleet in general, he added: “In order to operate safely, we educate all drivers before loading on checking the tyre condition, tyre pressure, removing fine pebbles or stones from the rims, periodical wheel alignment and check for any other maintenance issues prior to embarking upon the trip. Every yard of ours has a workshop and after loading each truck goes to the nearby yard for checking. Our fleet manager conducts random audits and drivers who maintain the vehicles in good overall condition receive incentives. This is the only way we can save cost in today’s competitive business environment where margins are usually wafer thin.”
Extending benefits
Stressing a bit more figuratively about tyres as a critical component to his business, the MD affirmed: “Tyres as a cost, account for 6 to 7 per cent of our overall cost of operations. This figure is going to move up as we add more trucks to expand our operations. Hence, very early we have started the practice of rewarding our drivers for maintaining the tyres well. The entire awareness will also save a lot of fuel owing to improved mileage.”
It is evident that the fleet operator gets the best savings in terms of cost per km with JK Tyre that benefits his business as well as the drivers and other employees. “Our fleet management team has found that JK tyres provide better grip and very high resistance to cuts on highways. The customer care rendered by the JK Fleet Management team is excellent with a dedicated tyre engineer visiting our workshop regularly to monitor the tyres for their condition.” he stated.
KTSPL also has a sister concern in the name of Toyota Logistics Kishor India Pvt. Ltd (TLKI), a joint venture between Toyota Transportation Co. Ltd. Japan, Toyota Tsusho Corporation Japan (Toyota Group of Japan) and Kishor Transport Services Pvt. Ltd. (Bafna Group). TLKI wishes to inherit the world-class processes through its holding company Toyota Transportation Company, Japan, and has done a detailed study to adapt the same to Indian conditions, with the help of its Indian partner KTSPL. “We wish to extend our association with JK Tyre even for our JV company and hope to leverage our relationship with them,” concluded Mr. Gandhi.
