Truck rentals have gone up 3-3.5 per cent in mid-October following the increase in diesel and petrol prices. This comes in the backdrop of higher festival demand buoyant consumer spending, and low food inflation, among other things, according to IFTRT, a transport research body.

Last month alsotruck rentals had gone up 4 per cent due to an increase in diesel price and the onset of the festive season.

The despatches post monsoon on truck routes and booking and delivery of retail load, which are usually part truck loadings, are up 30-35 per cent in the current month. This led to further improvement in fleet utilisation of 20-25 per cent.

Maximum demand of freight movement is coming from small and medium enterprises, cars, two wheeler transportation, consumer durables, general merchandise, cement, timber, various high value marble and tiles, among others.

Despite mop up of black money by ₹70,000 crore, more than half of consumer spending in festival season comes unabatedly from unaccounted for money, feels IFTRT. The 10-15 per cent increase in salary due to seventh pay commission is a small port of consumer spendings, it added.

The rentals for long haul round trip such as Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Kolkata-Delhi, Delhi-Raipur-Delhi and Delhi-Bengaluru-Delhi has gone up by 3-3.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, retail part-load logistics, charged by transport firms, logistics firms, booking and delivery agencies have gone up by 10-12 per cent in August-September and October. IFTRT attributes this to goods booking of under-reported consignments from SME manufactures and traders, which escape Central and State taxes including service tax.

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