Transport industry hit by shortage of truck drivers

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080055873&ch=7/6/2008%2010:55:00%20AM
Madhu Bharathi

Sunday, July 6, 2008 (New Delhi)

As if fuel price hike was not enough, the Indian transport industry is forced to face a new crisis. At least one in every four trucks is left in terminals because of shortage of drivers.

Not many opt for as a career because they are looked down upon by the society.

Already 25 per cent of trucks are off the roads because there are no drivers and worse not many are opting to be behind the wheel.

''People don't respect us. Wherever we go they think we are untouchables. In a way some drivers are also to be blamed. But all are not bad,'' said Mohammed Kallu,
On any given day, a long distance driver clocks at least 400 km and he does not have any insurance. Adding to that, he is looked down upon by most people, reason enough for him to switch careers or as is the case now not opt for it at all.

''We train them. After that they go to other more 'respectable' of driving professions. They drive call taxis and the mushrooming BPOs want many drivers for their cabs,'' said Ravii Shankar, Secretary, Chennai Goods Transport Association.

A truck driver gets 8,000 to 15,000 rupees depending on the duration of the trip. Subramani owns 350 . He says if a driver decides to leave it is difficult to stop him.

''It is very difficult to read a driver's mind. We'll have to go in their own way and handle them eventually,'' said P V Subramani, CMD, Cargowings Pvt. Ltd.

With prices of every commodity depending on truck traffic, this shortage of drivers could mean India could be driving into a crisis