Orchestrating complex ODC and OWC movements

Transporting Over-Dimensional and Over-Weight Cargo (ODC/OWC) is a logistical challenge that requires precision, planning, and expertise. CJ DARCL specialises in navigating these complexities, ensuring that heavy construction equipment and materials are delivered safely and on time, no matter the challenge.

Your Project Logistics division specialises in handling Over-Dimensional Cargo (ODC) and Over-Weight Cargo (OWC). Can you share insights on managing the logistics challenges of transporting heavy construction equipment?

Transporting over-dimensional and over-weight cargo involves more than just moving items; it also entails planning precise logistics while working under tight deadlines. That is the foundation of our Project Logistics division at CJ DARCL.

Heavy construction equipment presents unique challenges: regulatory clearances, route feasibility, structural limitations, and safety considerations—each of which can impact timelines and costs. Our approach begins with detailed route engineering and simulation, often months in advance. We evaluate everything from bridge load capacities and road gradients to turning radii and seasonal factors, ensuring feasibility at a granular level.

Our strength lies in our ability to offer end-to-end project control. This includes multimodal coordination, close liaison with authorities for special permits, and deployment of custom-built handling equipment. We deploy escort vehicles, real-time GPS tracking, and on-ground coordination teams for particularly sensitive or high-value cargo to monitor every movement.

But beyond the operational execution, what sets us apart is our project mindset. We don’t see ourselves as a transporter; we embed ourselves into the project’s delivery lifecycle, aligning with EPC timelines and stakeholder milestones. Whether it’s windmill blades, tunnel boring machines, or refinery modules, we treat every move as a mission-critical operation.

By combining technical expertise with on-ground agility, we’ve consistently delivered successful ODC/OWC movements across some of India’s most challenging terrains.

Given the increasing emphasis on rapid construction methods, how does CJ Darcl contribute to ensuring the uninterrupted supply of materials for highway development projects?

The pace of development has emerged as a critical performance indicator in today’s infrastructure environment, and logistics are becoming increasingly essential to achieving that standard. The need for time-bound, precision-led supply chains has increased due to the government’s acceleration of highway development and EPC participants’ extensive use of precast and modular techniques.

We are enabling this momentum through an integrated logistics framework designed specifically for the infrastructure sector. Utilising protective features like rubber-pipe coatings, operational foresight that guarantees cargo integrity during the trip, and specially designed equipment for big loads, our solutions for moving heavy gear and building materials are designed for complexity.

Our real-time control tower model distinguishes us. It guarantees supply chain visibility and permits dynamic rerouting, exception management, and milestone-based material flow that corresponds with on-site construction sequencing. This synchronisation is crucial for maintaining project velocity and preventing idle time.

Road, rail, and marine lines make up our pan-India multimodal reach, which allows us the flexibility to minimise regional disruptions brought on by weather, traffic jams, or compliance requirements.

Fleet and route optimisation are critical for timely delivery. What technology-driven solutions are you deploying to improve efficiency, minimise transit delays, and ensure real-time tracking?

We have invested heavily in a tech-driven ecosystem to ensure our pan-India operations remain efficient, resilient, and customer-centric.

Our cloud-based Transport Management System (TMS) lies at the core of this digital transformation. It enables end-to-end visibility and control – from customer order booking and planning to shipment tracking, loading supervision, and ticket management. For customers, it offers self-service capabilities like real-time consignment status, ensuring transparency and stronger service engagement.

On the back end, our TMS is integrated with advanced modules for demand forecasting, pricing control, vendor ecosystem management, and fleet operations. This synergy empowers us to anticipate material flows, allocate resources dynamically, and reduce empty miles—all while maintaining cost and time efficiency.

We have also built powerful AI-enabled route optimisation capabilities beyond basic routing. Our systems factor in historical data, regulatory restrictions, and live updates on weather or road conditions to recommend the most viable and safe routes. These insights minimise delays and allow us to proactively re-route in response to disruptions, significantly improving delivery reliability.

Safety is equally integral to our operations. Through our Driver Fatigue Monitoring System (DFMS), we capture real-time video data during transit, enabling us to detect driver fatigue and implement timely interventions. This AI-powered system has proven effective in reducing incidents and creating a safer and more predictable delivery environment.

We ensure that our logistical capabilities stay ahead of the curve by fusing operational accuracy with predictive intelligence, giving each client we serve commodities, assurance, and control.

With the rising adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twins in infrastructure, do you foresee logistics providers integrating these technologies for enhanced project planning?

Combining digital twins and building information modelling (BIM) gives logistics companies a strong chance to become strategic partners rather than merely operational facilitators as infrastructure projects get more intricate and time-sensitive.

We view BIM as a design tool and a collaborative platform that can redefine how logistics is planned, executed, and optimised across large-scale infrastructure projects. By integrating with BIM environments, our teams can access real-time project schematics, construction timelines, and spatial data, allowing us to orchestrate Just-In-Time deliveries, reduce on-site congestion, and improve safety outcomes. This is particularly critical in high-stakes sectors like energy, metro rail, or industrial construction, where the margin for error is minimal.

We are also exploring how Digital Twins – virtual replicas of physical assets – can enhance lifecycle logistics. From warehousing and material staging to last-mile delivery in urban environments, a digital twin can simulate and streamline every touchpoint, helping us make smarter decisions grounded in data and predictive insights.

Ultimately, the goal is to transition from reactive logistics to integrated logistics intelligence. These technologies allow providers like us to plug into the larger infrastructure ecosystem earlier in the planning phase, ensuring that supply chain design and execution are not afterthoughts but core components of project success.

What steps is CJ Darcl taking to reduce carbon footprints in road construction logistics?

Sustainability is ingrained in our long-term commitment to designing and delivering logistics, not merely a compliance measure. With a focus on customer-centric sustainability tools, digital visibility, and multimodal solutions, we are implementing a multifaceted strategy to decarbonise construction logistics.

According to NITI Aayog, India’s logistics sector moves 4.6 billion tons of cargo annually, generating 2.3 gigatons of CO₂ emissions. These figures underscore the urgency of rethinking traditional freight models. One of our most effective levers has been the shift toward multimodal logistics, which helps reduce carbon intensity while enhancing delivery efficiency. For instance, we used specialised rail rakes to move 34 excavators across states, cutting emissions and maintaining project timelines.

We have also introduced Sustainability-as-a-Service, a value-added offering enabling clients to measure emissions, benchmark environmental impact, and implement real-time corrective strategies. This is supported by data from our transport management and fleet optimisation platforms, which help us minimise idle time, reduce fuel burn, and enhance route efficiency.

Are you exploring alternative fuel vehicles to enhance eco-friendly logistics solutions?

We view alternative fuel vehicles as a strategic lever in our long-term sustainability roadmap, and we’re taking decisive steps toward building a cleaner, future-ready fleet. We have piloted electric vehicles (EVs) for intracity logistics and are exploring LNG-powered trucks to reduce emissions in long-haul operations without compromising efficiency. We ensure that all vehicles in our fleet are maintained under 10 years of age to lower NOx and particulate emissions, and we’re actively encouraging our partner fleets to follow the same standards to maintain environmental integrity across the network.

For more information, visit: https://cjdarcl.com/