Truck rentals on major trunk routes in India remained steady in December 2024, due to the winter chill and a slowdown in consumption, which dampened logistics activity.

Some trunk routes like Kolkata-Guwahati-Kolkata and Mumbai-Chennai-Mumbai saw an increase of 1.5 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively in December 2024 on a month-on-month basis, while the key Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi route was down 0.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, trucking activity in the Prayagraj region surged 30–40 per cent in December, driven by preparations for the Maha Kumbh Mela scheduled to be held from January 13 to February 26. However, restrictions on truck entry during the 45-day event may moderate vehicle movement and slightly impact truck rentals. Meanwhile, the ongoing ban on BS3 and BS4 diesel vehicles in the NCR (National Capital Region) continues to challenge truckers operating there, according to data from the Shriram Mobility Bulletin.

“December 2024 marked a tepid yet stable period for India’s trucking and mobility sector. While truck rentals on major trunk routes remained steady, fleet occupancy levels continued to remain subdued. The upcoming Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is driving a surge in trucking demand to that region, but restrictions during the event, until February 26, 2025, may temper this momentum,” said Y S Chakravarti, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Shriram Finance Ltd.

December’s holiday season drove a 10 per cent increase in FASTag transactions and a 13 per cent rise in transaction value compared to December 2023. This highlights heightened road travel activity during the holiday season. Fuel consumption trends for petrol and diesel increased 11 per cent and 6 per cent respectively year-on-year in December 2024.