INDORE: Harvesting of new season kharif crop and industrial goods are seen boosting business for truckers battling high operational cost amid skyrocketing fuel prices.
Atleast 60-65 per cent trucks are back in business and more are likely to follow the suit with the picking of the harvesting and festival season, claimed truckers.
Rajendra Trehan, chairman, Indore Truck Operators Association said, “Around 60 per cent trucks are in business and we expect the percentage to increase in a fortnight as the harvesting of kharif crops will pick up.”
Madhya Pradesh, a leading cultivator of soyabean and pulses is seen pushing in business for truckers for transporting commodities to different parts of the country.
Apart from agricultural goods, the supply of kirana and industrial goods have also picked up pace and are likely to improve further from the first week of October, said truckers.
Vijay Kalra, vice president, All India Motor Transport Congress (West Zone), an apex body of transporters said, “Overhead expenses are jumping back to back but the festival season is seen giving some cushion by improving business for truckers though margins are unlikely to improve because fuel prices are very high.”
Truckers claimed a jump of around 30 per cent in operational cost due to high fuel prices.
Recently truckers of Indore have called to abolish the practise of giving loading, unloading and other hidden expenses asking the owner of the goods to bear all expenses.
Truckers said they are forced to pay atleast Rs 3,500 per vehicle (20 ton) for loading, unloading and other charges which ideally the owner of the goods should bear. Indore is a major trading and business center with an estimated movement of around 4,000-5,000 commercial vehicles every day in normal conditions.
