Srinagar: In Jammu and Kashmir, transportation plays an important role in connecting local businesses with markets across the country. From fruits and furniture to handicrafts, shawls and other locally produced goods, businesses across the region depend on reliable and affordable transportation.
It was while working in the logistics sector that entrepreneur Ahmad Hameem Gadyari identified a gap that eventually led to the creation of DLCS Logistics.
During his association with Hindustan Unilever, Ahmad observed that trucks arriving in Jammu and Kashmir from different parts of the country often returned to their destinations without a return load.
At the same time, fruit dealers, furniture manufacturers, shawl producers, traders and other local businesses were regularly looking for vehicles to transport their goods outside the region.
Seeing an opportunity in this gap, Ahmad decided to leave his position in 2021 and establish his own venture. He founded DLCS Logistics with the objective of connecting transporters and drivers with suppliers and manufacturers in Jammu and Kashmir who required vehicles for outbound transportation.
The concept was relatively simple: instead of allowing trucks to return empty, connect them with businesses that need transportation.
The model is intended to benefit both sides. Transporters can improve vehicle utilisation by securing return loads, while local suppliers can potentially access transportation at more competitive rates. For businesses that regularly move goods outside Jammu and Kashmir, the availability of return-load vehicles can help address one of the recurring challenges in regional logistics.
The approach is particularly relevant to Kashmir’s business ecosystem. The region has a substantial presence of fruit traders, furniture manufacturers, handicraft businesses, shawl producers, textile units and other enterprises that depend on transportation to reach markets across India.
By attempting to connect available vehicles with businesses requiring transportation, DLCS Logistics has sought to bridge this gap within the supply chain.
Since its establishment in 2021, the company has expanded its operations and currently operates a network of more than 164 vehicles, according to information shared by the company. Its network connects drivers, vehicle operators, suppliers and businesses involved in the movement of goods.
Company representatives say that the network has helped improve vehicle utilisation and provided local businesses with access to more competitive transportation options. The figures and operational details mentioned in this report are based on information shared by the company.
The journey of DLCS Logistics reflects a broader trend of entrepreneurship emerging from Jammu and Kashmir, where local challenges are increasingly being viewed as opportunities to develop practical business solutions. Ahmad’s experience in the logistics sector helped him identify an issue within the transportation chain and develop a business model around it.
What began with the observation of trucks returning without loads has since developed into a growing logistics network. The company says its operations have also created earning opportunities for drivers, vehicle operators and others associated with the transportation ecosystem.
From identifying unused transportation capacity to building a network of more than 164 vehicles, Ahmad Hameem Gadyari’s journey with DLCS Logistics highlights how an everyday operational challenge can become the foundation for an entrepreneurial venture.
For the company, logistics is not only about moving goods from one destination to another. Its stated focus is on connecting available transportation with businesses that need it, improving vehicle utilisation and helping make the movement of goods more accessible within the region.
