At a pit-stop during the JK Tyre Happiness Truck campaign, Rajesh Rajgor met up with Nand Prakash Vohra, founder of Mohan Transport Co., who shared exclusive time for a conversation to provide updates about how the company has grown over the years and its plans for the future
In the course of our JK Tyre Happiness truck campaign across North India, we had a small pit-stop at the Mohan Transport Co. (MTC) located at Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. This gave us an opportunity to not only see the operations of the company for our own selves but we also got to interact with Nand Prakash Vohra, its founder. Above all, we got a sense of how JK Tyre forges strong and long-lasting partnerships with its customers. Mohan Transport Co. was set up in 1978 and has, over the years, grown to be one of the most sought after and respected fleet operators not only in Bilaspur but also in the country. It has crafted success on the back of its efficient and highly dependable services to most of the cement companies in India.
Elaborating about the company’s journey so far, Vohra said: “We have close to 500 trucks, almost all of which have been sourced from Tata Motors. We are into inbound transportation of fly ash to all the major cement companies and work with leading manufacturers such as ACC, Emami, Dalmia, Ambuja, OCL, Star Cement, etc. It is our expertise in transportation of bulk goods that has helped us create long-term relationships with these companies.” MTC transports around 9-10 thousand metric tons of bulk every month. Its fleet comprises mainly V-shaped bulkers in the tonnage capacity of 31, 37 and 49 tons and its major operation covers the States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, Guwahati and Assam.
Service first
Providing insights about how the transportation sector works, Vohra says that timely delivery and proper service, apart from maintaining a strong fleet of well-maintained trucks, are some of the factors that are crucial to the success of any business in this field. “It helps a lot if you choose the right brands to be associated with – in our case Tata Trucks and JK Tyre,” he adds. “One of the major contributing parameters that define our success model is our ability to keep up promises and adhering to commitments. This is important because any delay on our part can cause huge losses to our clients,” he says.
Meanwhile, has the economic setback in the wake of GST and demonetization impacted his business? Vohra replies in the negative. “We have been surviving for four decades thanks to our reliable service and our strong partnerships and that has taken us through the most lean of all times,” he says. One important partner that has been instrumental in MTC’s growth, particularly in the last decade, is JK Tyre. “We are thankful to the sustained services rendered by the tyre maker despite growing competition in the field. For the last 10 years we have relied on JK Tyre for most of our tyre requirements. Not only have we received constant support from the local fleet management team but we also have a strong connect with the seniors,” Vohra says.
The number game
As with many fleet operators, MTC’s major expenses are in the form of fuel and tyres. The company requires around 200 tyres per month. “Our need is for 2,000-2,400 tyres annually and hence we rely on the diligent supplies of JK Tyre,” Vohra informs. The company uses maximum of radial tyres – up to 75%. “These tyres lend an average life of 100,000 km across all the vehicles. We also shift the radial tyres from the rear axle after they are used for around 50,000 km to the front axle to get the best results. Retreading further extends the tyres’ life by another 55,000 km,” he shares.
Matters of maintenance
The company also understands the importance of proper fleet and tyre maintenance to stay profitable. As such, MTC depends on a Tata Motors’ authorised service centre for all its maintenance needs. “They are also going to set up a JK Tyre wheel alignment centre at their workshop in order to align and balance wheels on time. It is obvious that we need such expertise to maintain our workhorses and hence we do not shy away from investing in the right people and technology for service and maintenance,” Vohra says. And in addition to this focus on having a well-maintained fleet, the company also believes in extending the same concept to include its staff. “We have facilities for our drivers in terms of rest and free food in our pantry here on the office premise,” he points out.
Taking the high road
The company has been retaining a steady pace of growth and clocked gross turnover of Rs. 100 crores last fiscal, while hoping to continue the effort in sustaining the same numbers in the current challenging times. “Our track record is such that we have been able to sustain our transport business operations and steer the growth curve, thus crafting a success statement for both our customers and ourselves despite the volatility and competition. As for the way ahead, we will continuously be on the lookout for improving our operations to enhance our core business,” Vohra says.