Chand’s Vehicles Feel Pandemic Pinch
It took Vinay Vikash Hire Truck three years to finally roll into business. Despite the challenges proprietor Vinay Vikash Chand started full operation in 2006. Based at Nadi Back Road, Mr Chand started his business in 2003 with an excavator and a 16-wheeler truck.
“We strived to take the business to another level; three years later we were secured enough to meet the demand of our customers,” Mr Chand said.
“At the moment the company has 60 vehicles which consist of heavy machinery and trucks together with a concrete batching plant, a fully operational quarry, a mobile crusher and a block machine plant,” he said. “The company has a wide range and models of vehicles and machines.
“Heavy vehicles include Mitsubishi 10 wheelers, Howun 12 wheelers and Hino 700 series 12 wheelers; heavy machinery include a wide range of excavators, rollers, loaders and bulldozer; light vehicles include 4 x 4s inclusive of the brands of Ford, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D’max, Nissan Navara, Land Cruiser, and Mitsubishi and a cane harvester ma
chine.
Chand said the company has been affected by the pandemic.
“The business has been affected in high ways as most of our clients have pulled back their tenders and have put jobs on hold.
“As a result, our civil sector has been brought down leaving minimum and low wage earners now on reduced hours while a few are on temporary leave without pay. “Prior to COVID-19 we had a workforce of 60 but now we have 25 employees.”
“Our major challenges were faced during the start-off phase as it was hard to capture jobs in the civil sector,” he said.
“These challenges were overcome by having strong belief and continuous efforts towards our clients while slowly operating at a stable position.”
“Our major clients are Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) and the Ministry of Economy for whom we carry out civil works.
“Most of our vehicles are utilized on work sites designated by our clients; we also hire out heavy vehicles and supply materials such as gravel, sand, etc.