From an accidental summer job to a 25-year legacy, Vinet K. Chadha’s journey with Combined Logistics proves that curiosity, courage, and consistency can chart a remarkable course through the world of freight forwarding.
My entry was chance, but staying? That was all me
“I was 17, just out of school, with two long months of vacation, waiting for my board exam results to come, and no real plan,” recalls Vinet K Chadha, Founder & MD, Combined Logistics. “My uncle was in the air freight business, so I thought I’d just hang around his office.” What began as casual curiosity soon became a calling. “The energy, the coordination, the sheer scale of international cargo, it pulled me in,” he adds, smiling. What was supposed to be a summer internship became a full-time fascination. Today, that same spark has grown into a remarkable legacy: in 2025, Vinet celebrates 31 years in the trade, and Combined Logistics marks 25 years of operational excellence.
God always has a bigger plan, you just need to trust
Steps that Shaped
From juggling college and a part-time job to launching his own venture at a young age, Vinet’s path was anything but linear. “The hustle taught me how to manage pressure and learn fast,” he says. By 1999, he made the leap, founding Combined Logistics despite the looming presence of well-established players. “We didn’t have much, no deep pockets, no big backers. But we had passion.” One early breakthrough came in the form of a major buyer nomination, putting the company on the global radar. That moment became a pivot point and proof that the grind was worth it.
Grit over Glamour
“The biggest hurdle? Being taken seriously,” Vinet says, recalling the early days when he was often the youngest in the room. “People had decades behind them; I had only determination.” With limited funds and no team, he became a one-man army, managing sales, operations, documentation, and more. “You name it, I did it.” There were constant challenges: tight cash flows, demanding clients, and long hours. But his mantra was simple: Bhag lo, ya bhaag lo (Participate, or run away). He chose to stay, to learn, to persist. And slowly but surely, the pieces fell into place.
Evolution in Motion
Over the last two and a half decades, the logistics industry has transformed radically, and Vinet has watched every turn. “It went from ledgers and landlines to real-time tracking and AI,” he notes. But while technology brought speed and transparency, it also raised the bar. “Now clients want everything: speed, reliability, visibility, sustainability, and all at the best rate.” The pandemic, he adds, was another inflection point, showing how fragile global supply chains could be. What used to be people-driven is now a complex blend of tech, trust, and experience. “That’s what keeps it fresh; you’re always learning.”
Advice from the Aisle
For newcomers without a roadmap, Vinet offers this: “Be curious. Show up. Ask questions. Do the work.” Logistics, he says, isn’t something you learn in a day; it’s something you grow into. “One day it’s documents, the next day it’s customs, and then it’s a midnight crisis. You evolve.” Relationships, he emphasises, are key: “People do business with people they trust.” His final nudge to aspiring professionals? “Move the world, trust the system, and just start your journey in freight forwarding.”
