An overview of the trucking sector in india: Significance and structure

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the trucking sector. It describes the significance of road transport and the structure of the trucking industry. It also explores the causes and consequences of the structure. The paper brings out the significance of road transport by examining the modal share and GDP share, and profiling the type of roads and vehicles. The paper highlights the structure of the trucking industry comprising its core actors, the providers of the tangible elements, support services, and government and regulatory bodies. The causes of this structure, especially the core actors, are discussed with the help of the phenomenon of ‘Unholy Equilibrium’. The consequences are seen in the fragmented ownership pattern and poor service quality. The paper concludes by bringing out the priorities of any transport system through a ‘five S’ framework. The trucking sector should be driven by speed with sustainability, safety, security, and stresslessness.