Govt move to increase truck axle load raises concerns
NEWDELHI/MUMBAI: A Union transport ministry decision permitting trucks to carry up to 25% more weight than before will have implications for commodity prices, road traffic and safety, besides truck sales and freight rates, industry stakeholders and experts said.
Under new norms—which the government claims will reduce logistics costs by 2%—gross vehicle weight (GVW) for a two-axle truck (two wheels in the front axle and four wheels in the rear) has been raised from 16.2 tonnes to 18.5 tonnes; for three-axle trucks from 25 tonnes to 28.5 tonnes; and for five-axle trucks from 37 tonnes to 43.5 tonnes.
Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari said the move will help reduce transportation cost and consequently, commodity prices. Overloading is very rampant and the move will help to stop it. Gadkari said the move will help bring down corruption and overloading. “We will now enforce overloading rules very strictly. We are also requesting states to enforce provisions against overloading and not allow any overloaded vehicle to move till excess load is removed.”
He said axle loads were last notified in 1983 and no change has been made in last 35 years despite India’s progress.
He added that an advisory will be issued soon to address various queries. “We have taken the decision with consultation from all stakeholders,” Gadkari said.
“Freight rates will come down, although not immediately, but subsequently for sure,” said P.C. Sharma, chief executive of logistics company TCI Express.
According to Sharma, normal trucking will have an immediate impact while truck trailers will take time to show effect. “Allowing more weight on same size of truck for containerized cargo movement won’t have an impact till the government notifies new sizes for containers,” said Sharma.