Straight Drive

Bhushan Mhapralkar

Two recent events have once again defined the role of a commercial vehicle driver in the Indian ecosystem. In February 2017, a truck driver was allegedly beaten up at Pilkhua Road on National Highway 9 in Uttar Pradesh. A month later, 29-year old truck driver Pitamber from Uttar Pradesh won the ‘Super Class’ race of the fourth season of Tata Prima T1 truck racing championship held at Greater Noida. Home to strategic trucking routes like the famous Grand Trunk road, Uttar Pradesh has contributed significantly to the growth of the transport industry, both in the form of fleet operators and drivers. It is ironic therefore that a driver gets beaten up in one incident, and is subject to much appreciation in the other. As the country prepares for GST it has once again become necessary to look at the role of the truck driver. It is he who will transport majority of goods and consumables that GST will cover. Many may fail to understand this, and even the truck drivers are often not aware of their rights. They are only told of their responsibilities. Often harassed, and not just at state borders, truck drivers are an important part of the Indian ecosystem. Compelled to live and operate under sub-human conditions quite often, it is ironic that a person entrusted with ferrying goods worth lakhs and crores of rupees over terrains that are not always safe and friendly, is treated with little respect.

As the country prepares for GST it has once again become necessary to look at the role of the truck driver”.