Change for the better
equipped with Volvo EMS 3.0, the Pro 3000 series truck will be made available with sleeper cab and advanced technology options like Intelligent Driver Information System (IDIS), fuel coach, cruise control, domex chassis and parabolic suspensions. Speaking of CNG vehicles in the five to 10.7-tonne GVW range, Shyam Maller, Executive Vice President, LMD Trucks, explained that they are especially designed to cater to the needs of customers in Delhi NCR. “These vehicles have been designed especially for customers on the look out for a wider load body. For instance, the carriage of electronics and apparel,” he stated. Citing Haryana and Delhi as the key emerging markets for organised logistics, Maller also drew attention upon the Total Industry Volumes (TIV) witnessing a 40 per cent surge in the respective regions. While traditional logistics involved the movement of goods from manufacturing hubs to consumption centres through a linear routing mechanism, E-commerce logistics is a combination of ‘one to one’, ‘many to one’, and ‘one to many’ routing based on the availability of goods and the destination. It hints at the prospect of logistics needs of e-commerce firms continuing to evolve rapidly. Besides e-commerce companies required to scale up to meet service levels, it will also require an increased focus on tier2 and tier3 cities. Trends like reverse logistics are expected to result in a higher demand for efficient vehicles from organised players. On the flip side, teething issues remain to be dealt with for the e-commerce segment to grow as envisaged to begin with. The mandatory compliance to E-way bill for inter-state movement for instance will come in to effect from February 01, 2018. It is expected to benefit the organised part of the long distance logistics industry. With the government looking to enforce a regulatory discipline threw a slew of changes besides the E-way bill, OEMs and transporters too have no choice but to fall in line and comply to realise the true potential of the E-commerce segment. “Regulations need to be met. Even though the industry did face hiccups during the initial days of BSIV implementation and GST rollout, things are yet to streamline with the industry expected to eventually find change beneficial,” he concluded.