The Hindu Business Line : Heavy-axle-load truck sales rev up

This information may be significant, especially for the Railways, which earns a large portion of its revenues by moving bulk commodities on long-distance routes.

Demand for moving bulk goods on trucks appears to have gone up, given that truck sales in the high-axle-load, bulk category (25-49 tonnes) doubled for the nine-month period (April-December 2006), against the same period the previous year.

The segment witnessed growth rates of 107.27 per cent during the period, according to data compiled by the Indian Foundation of Transport and Research Training (IFTRT).

The research body points out that these trucks have national permits and road permits for five or more States, based on data from the State Transport authorities. With permits for so many States, these trucks are more likely to be used on the 750-1,000 km and 1,000-2,200 km trunk routes.

The trucks generally attract high-density cargo, such as cement, iron and steel, minerals/ores, timbers, chemicals, heavy-duty cables, fertilisers, foodgrains and petro-products.

IFTRT explained that running these trucks would not be financially viable if they move lighter cargoes. Interestingly, mixed cargo movement in the trucking sector has been cornered by intermediate and medium capacity (8-12 tonne and 15-16.2 tonne) goods carriages, which operate on the medium and long hauls.

These carriages usually move fast-moving consumer goods, food and vegetable items, white goods, milk products, high-value electronic items, paint and hardware, and paper and paper products.

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