From a single truck in 1975 to a leading multimodal logistics player today, CJ Darcl has been transforming India’s supply chains. In conversation with The CEO Magazine, JH Baig, Deputy CEO, shares how technology, sustainability, and global partnerships are driving the company’s growth and shaping India’s position in international trade.

TCM: What makes your company stand out as a multimodal logistics leader in India’s competitive market?

Mr. Baig: From starting off with a single truck oscillating between Delhi & Assam in 1975, our company has grown to become a leading multimodal logistics player in India.  Handling over 2,500 trucks daily, our capabilities across rail, coastal shipping, warehousing, and project cargo enable us to offer end-to-end multimodal solutions to our clients across Pan India. What distinguishes us is our customised solutions, advanced technologies, approach to sustainability with carbon emissions tracking, and innovation.

From AI-powered driver monitoring systems that have reduced accidents by up to 70%, to ERP, WMS, and a cloud-native TMS that digitises operations, we have embedded technology into every layer of our business. We are also finalizing the TMS 2.0 upgrade to digitize documentation, tracking, and billing, aimed at SMEs to avoid vendor juggling. In a fragmented market, this combination of scale, innovation, and reliability positions the company as a trusted partner for India’s largest industries.

TCM: How has the company strengthened supply chain resilience amid global disruptions?

Mr. Baig: Resilience in today’s supply chains comes from diversification and visibility. The pandemic and geopolitical events revealed the vulnerability of conventional, single-mode supply chains. From creating multimodal solutions that reduce over-reliance on specific corridors to using digital platforms that provide customers with end-to-end visibility, the company has embraced diversity across its vendor base. 

Further, we actively collaborate with our customers to redesign supply chains focusing on predictability and risk management. Beyond infrastructure, our focus on driver welfare and safety innovations ensures that the human element of logistics remains resilient. This proactive stance allows us not only to withstand shocks but to be prepared for them before they arise making our supply chain networks stronger and ready for the future.

TCM: How is the partnership with CJ Logistics enhancing CJ Darcl’s edge in domestic and international supply chains?

Mr. Baig: The strategic partnership between CJ Logistics and CJ Darcl has fundamentally transformed our capabilities in optimising supply chains with the global scale and expertise of CJ Logistics. As a global integrated logistics company, it brings extraordinary international reach with over 460 operational hubs and presence in 46 countries, providing our company with unparalleled access to global markets and supply chain networks. 

Since 2013, CJ Logistics has systematically built its global foundation through strategic acquisitions, including Smart Cargo in China, Gemadept in Vietnam, IBRAKOM in the UAE and DSC in the United States, creating a comprehensive network that spans key economic regions across Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North America.

This partnership provides the company with access to globally recognized best practices and advanced supply chain management solutions developed over CJ Logistics' 90-year legacy as Korea's leading integrated logistics company. The collaboration has enabled us to venture into new verticals including warehousing and distribution, shipping services, third-party logistics, and air freight services, significantly expanding its service portfolio beyond traditional transportation.

CJ Logistics' recognition as the first Korean company on Fortune's "Change the World List 50" in 2017 underscores the innovative capabilities it possesses and offers to its subsidiary, CJ Darcl Logistics.

From accelerated digitization initiatives to implementation of KPI-driven procedures, and introduction of automation across multiple operational processes, this synergy has enabled our company to offer clients the best of both worlds - international logistics excellence backed by comprehensive local market knowledge and operational resilience across India.

TCM: With warehousing becoming strategic, how is the company expanding in contract logistics and integrated warehousing?

Mr. Baig: Warehousing is a strategic hub that determines supply chain speed and reliability. With over 2.5 million sq. feet of warehousing network and a Pan India network of fleet, we support end-to-end management of consignments from first to last mile along with storage solutions. While our TMS enables real-time tracking throughout the supply chain, our Warehouse Management System improves accuracy, visibility, and inventory control. This translates to faster turnarounds for our clients, better inventory management, and a single partner handling end-to-end logistics which leads to better management of the entire supply chain. Warehousing and distribution are a crucial pillar of the company’s future expansion as sectors go toward combined solutions.

TCM: Is your company exploring EVs, LNG, or other alternative fuels to address diesel costs and sustainability?

Mr. Baig: With sustainability being one of our core priorities, we are actively exploring alternate fuels to cut down our emissions. We are piloting an electric vehicle in Bengaluru for intra city transportation to gain insights on its performance for short-haul logistics. For long-haul deliveries, we are promoting multimodal transportation by combining different mode of logistics. This not just helps our clients reduce their carbon footprint but also enables proper utilization of resources in an efficient manner. Apart from this, we are also in talks with several OEMs for LNG fuelled vehicles. In addition to it, we are phasing out older vehicles with more than 10 years of age and moving from BS IV to BS VI vehicles. Another alternate fuel budding in this segment which is under our radar is hydrogen. While it’s still in its nascent stages, it will have a significant impact on the future of sustainable logistics once the infrastructure matures.

TCM: What is your company long-term vision and the role in shaping India’s position in global trade?

Mr. Baig: With the vision to position our company as India's No. 1 Total Logistics Service Provider, we aim to strategically elevate its position in domestic as well as international trade. By seamlessly connecting the different modes of transportation with integrated hubs we aim to advance our multimodal network to offer the most seamless solutions. This well-connected network will be strengthened by strategic expansion of our warehousing and distribution capabilities and scaling our Full Truck Load (FTL) business. Along with this, technology would remain the epicentre of our growth trajectory with continuous transfer of technology, engineering, systems and solutions from CJ Logistics Corporation. With this combination of technological expertise and multimodal excellence, we intend to enhance the country's competitiveness in global trade by providing reliable supply chain solutions that position India as a global manufacturing and logistics hub.