Bridgestone has been given a thumping accreditation as a preferred brand by several fleet operators whom we have covered in the past few issues. In yet another interview, Delhi’s Goverdhan Transport Company bets big on Bridgestone tyres’ ability to last long, save fuel and offer better tyre mileage, reports Rajesh Rajgor
Regardless of whether one is a private individual, small business or large fleet operator, everyone is looking at reducing costs and the downtime associated with vehicle servicing, tyres and repairs. Goverdhan Transport Company (GTC) is one such operator that looks for return on investments, faster turnaround time and correct tyres and maintenance tools to efficiently run a large fleet of over 210 vehicles as a city cluster bus operator in the Delhi-NCR region. Formed in 2013 with a group of experienced people comprising Manoj Kumar and his partners as directors, GTC operates Tata Marcopolo buses with a 42-seating capacity each.
The vehicles have an average age of seven years and run 225-250 km every day across the length and breadth of Delhi. Elaborating on its fleet and adoption of Bridgestone tyres, Kumar reveals: “The capacity of the buses, which are GPS-enabled, are of 62 people – 42 sitting and 20 standing. Like every other public transporter, our expenses comprise fuel, maintenance, operational costs and tyres.”
Moreover, the operator that puts emphasis on service and maintenance of vehicles has its own workshop and periodically conducts repair and maintenance works. Over the years, GTC has learned to place special emphasis on choosing the right tyre brand for better return on investments and improved turnaround time. “The right set of tyres not only helps us in cost savings but improves mileage and total cost of ownership. Hence, we look for initial tread mileage, retread capacity, quality and price while picking up the tyres for our fleet,” informs, Manoj Kumar, Director, GTC.
Bridgestone: A Sustainable Transport Partner
GTC’s quest for a tyre brand that ticks all the aforementioned requirements ended with Bridgestone tyres. Kumar shares: “Our association with Bridgestone began in 2016 and since then the tyre consumption has come down from 55-60 to 45-50 units per month. The initial tread mileage has improved from 75,000-80,000 km to 1,10,000 km. The retread is better too and the overall usage has proven to increase fuel efficiency. Our fleets have seen a 5% improvement in fuel consumption as the life of the casing and overall tyre performance helps us save a few thousand rupees per year.”
Additionally, training conducted by Bridgestone has not only helped GTC with right tyre recommendation but also enabled them to take care of tyre maintenance. Kumar reveals: “Bridgestone recommended us all position tyres i.e. R153 and M851XM and also emphasised on timely rotations. Routinely, their service personnel guide us on tyre pressure checks, rotation of tyres periodically to avoid premature failure, recommendation on speed, wheel alignment, inspection for cuts and cracks, bulges or any other penetration, making them a long-term sustainable partner for us.”
Delivering Peace of Mind
Without a doubt, Bridgestone as a brand has made a great value proposition for GTC with quality performance and superior service. This gives Bridgestone repeat orders while ensuring that fleet’s productivity and performance is always up in all conditions.“Bridgestone’s initiative on driver training, mechanic training and safety awareness for the fleet multiplies their brand’s proposition for us,” adds Kumar. Elaborating on how the overheads on tyres have come down and the association with the ace tyre manufacturer Bridgestone has only grown, Kumar states: “Selecting Bridgestone means choosing safety and peace of mind.”
“The Bridgestone brand is synonymous with quality and longevity. The treatment given by Bridgestone’s local sales and service staff is really encouraging and one that we can always bet on for any problem with our tyres. Their recommendations about tyres, new technology and products from time to time are spot on. We have been doing tyre rotation every 10,000 km, inflation check every 7-10 days and hub greasing every 30,000 km now and it has helped us run smoothly in the cost-conscious public mobility space,” he adds. MOTORINDIA’s interaction with GTC reflects the fact that choosing a good product is an essential part of being successful in the market.
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“Our association with Bridgestone began in 2016 and since then the tyre consumption has come down from 55-60 to 45-50 units per month. The initial tread mileage has improved from 75,000-80,000 km to 1,10,000 km.
– Manoj Kumar, Director, GTC
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The Bridgestone Impact
• 15% reduction in tyre consumption
• 35% increase in tyre life
• 5% better fuel mileage