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LOGISTICSNorthEast-15
1. What we did on
24 April 2014
when Mumbai
was voting?
2. While driving on the old Bombay-Pune highway, one cannot miss the large format
Indian Oil Corporation’s fuel station on the left side near Panvel crossing. That’s
where we decided to halt on the day the city of Mumbai was busy with General
Elections 2014 mode.
3. This IOC Fuel station also happens to be the ‘permanent adda’ for VRL Logistics
vehicles that ply in either direction. VRL drivers park their empty or loaded trucks
in this large open yard of the oil marketing company on this busy stretch. IOC and
VRL have entered into some kind of ‘arrangement’ whereby VRL vehicles avail of
fuel (diesel) from this retail outlet whenever they pass by. As a quid pro quo, VRL
vehicles are permitted overnight parking in this yard. Good arrangement.
4. Like in any such road trips, as a practice,
the team members certainly inspect
vehicles parked in the yards. The basic
idea is figure out what care these drivers
bestow on their cabins – home away from
home for them always.
This trip, undertaken in April 2014, under
the aegis of KRK Foundation, was no
different. Dr Vijay Pawar, Deputy
Manager (CSR) of Mahindra Logistics,
climbed onto parked vehicles for this
purpose. I, too.
6. Take a look…
This is what we find in the First Aid Box kept in the cabin.
It is an empty First Aid Box, now ‘rented out’ to some Swamiji’s picture.
No tincture. No band aid. No tablets for headache or fever. No cotton. No scissors.
Since when this First Aid Box is empty?
Once the company that sold this truck made provision for First Aid.
After those items got exhausted, thesre was NO REFILLS….
8. Yes, these trucks belong to Vijay Sankeshwar-owned VRL Logistics. He’s one of the
leading lights of transporters fraternity owning more than 1000 HCVs. Unlike many
others, he does not believe in light asset format. He actually owns them and hence
believed to take care of his drivers very well.
Not that he is expected to climb into each truck – like Vijay Pawar and I did – to
check whether First Aid Boxes are filled with the right ingredients or not.
But his ground staff at loading points can certainly oversee this task.
Yet, they don’t.
No regular check ups. First Aid Boxes are there for namesake.
In emergencies, the injured has nothing to dig into.
He has to wait even for cotton and tincture from somewhere.
9. What next?
These drivers cook and eat because they simply cannot afford to eat out – even at
dhabas – always.
Where do they cook?
Either inside the driver cabins.
Or under the hood of the truck.
Not too far away from the diesel tanks.
Safety hazard? Who cares?
Neither these drivers. Nor their supervisors.
10. Who’s this kid?
He is part of VRL Logistics – officially or
unofficially, nobody knows.
What’s he doing @ VRL Logistics?
“Am learning driving,” says he.
No, his training is not at any learning
institution.
But from his seniors.
Nothing new.
Well that is how 99% of drivers on Indian
highways have learnt: from fathers,
uncles, neighbours etc.
Did you say, ‘child labour’?
Forget it.
Child labour is omniscient. Omnipresent.
So this kid – yes, he’s minor – learning
driving is part of that child labour
scenario.
Today, he’s a kalasi (attendant), but
He’s India’s future truck driver.
In between learning, he handles
sundry jobs.
Like cooking and washing clothes of his
seniors.
11. These VRL Logistics drivers are experienced and been in service for a considerable
time. Each one of them holds a valid HCV license which means that their level of
highways signage awareness is pretty good. Is this assumption right or wrong?
12. Most of these VRL Logistics drivers could not provide the RIGHT answers when
these highways signages were shown to them. Their classic response:
“We are licensed drivers. We have passed the RTO exams. Not knowing these signs
NOW is no big deal.”
13. The question, we wish to pose to Vijay Sankeshwar is:
Why not these drivers’ IDLE TIME be put to better use?
Why not these drivers be made to gather in a room/hall at IOC retail outlets like
this and they be taught basic things such as signages, better dressing, etiquette,
manners etc. as part of personality development?
Is it not true that the entire truck driving tribe suffers from low self esteem?
Companies such as IOC which has a pan India network and excellent working
relationship with transport companies should join together to educate truck
drivers.
15. Is it not true that such a truck driver interactive programme was conducted at a IOC
retail outlet near Haldia, West Bengal educating them on the importance of
highways signages? Actually, these drivers are drawn from various transport
companies and were halting at this IOC outlet for lunch and resting at the peak of
summer. The only commonality was: they are truck drivers; little knowledge of
highway signages… and, willing to sit through a refresher/awareness programme.
16. The APPEAL is
NOT only to
Vijay Sankeshwar.
But..
for
ALL fleet owners.
