CJ Darcl Logistics Bets Big On BharatBenz

CJ Darcl Logistics has a historical experience of working with different truck makers and owning diverse truck models as part of its assets, making them an expert in fleet priorities and buying parameters. Enticed by Daimler’s legacy and acclaim, the company went for BharatBenz trucks in 2013 to test the waters. Six years on, the logistics giant seems more than convinced that the brand is living up to its parent group’s name in India. Dhiyanesh Ravichandran gets the details

- Dhiyanesh Ravichandran

Truck fleets are the lifeblood of logistics and transport firms, and choosing the right trucks and brand partner is a big decision. Of all their fleet management responsibilities, vehicle selection and induction is likely to present the greatest conundrums ever for such companies. That’s no wonder, since determining fleet needs and correct replacement can be a tough task, especially when dozens of makes, variants and packages keep one baffled with most being similar and sensible, while constantly striving to preserve the company’s capital by ‘achieving more with less’ and keeping the stakeholders happy. Surprisingly, for large fleet companies like CJ Darcl Logistics, one of India’s foremost end-to-end transport companies and fleet aggregators for almost four decades, fleet strategisation and induction of new vehicles is extremely streamlined and effective.

This is thanks to their vast experience in trucking and fleet organisation for decades, and the expertise they have gained from years of aggregating fleets from their associates and suppliers. With an aggregated fleet reach of over 1,00,000 trucks, complemented by an in-hand strength of nearly 1,000 vehicles, the knowledge pool the company has evolved in this subject is immense. As Nikhil Agarwal, President of CJ Darcl Logistics, puts it, his company doesn’t need any consultant for truck buying. “We are consultants ourselves; our fleet committee is much more competent to decide on buying matters. We have extensive experience with different truck makers, fabricators and suppliers, and we know how robust and efficient their products are with our valuable operational insights,” he says.