Truck rentals dip 3-4%

Truck rentals lost steam during July, recording a sharp drop of 20-25 per cent in cargo offerings from agriculture produce centres.

The number of trucks reporting at agriculture produce marketing committees across the country were low during the month. This resulted in a drop of three-four per cent in truck rentals on various routes, due to lower fruit and vegetable production than previously anticipated.

According to Indian Foundation of Transport Research & Training, the manufacturing sector didn’t fare well during last month, since the load availability from key industrial centres of intermediate items and finished products lost pace, leading to longer waiting periods for trucks to get cargo for their return journeys. The Foundation said truck rentals had a robust run since October 2009 till May 2011 on the back of strong growth in gross domestic product, with double-digit growth in manufacturing and import/export cargo and agriculture items/ commodities.

also picking up during March - May 2011. This led to truck rentals being overheated during the last 17th