Road freight in India and cargo consolidation possibilities

 

The concept of cargo consolidation in India is gaining momentum, thanks to the punctuality and efficacy with which goods are delivered besides being cost effective. The lesser than load (LTL) shipments enables shippers to earn desirable rates besides making the best use of supply chain logistics. Small shippers are highly benefitted through the consolidation where shipments arrive from various locations and shippers can avoid paying higher rate since it is consolidated into one shipment. Besides being cost efficient, consolidation minimizes damages and improves quality in delivering goods perfectly.

Road freight in India is a major player in Indian logistics scenario where truckers, transporters, retailers and mechanics are however unsatisfied owing to the skeptic about the lack of transparency in middlemen and small operators. Lack of demand supply match, low utilization, low returns, low salary and high broker commissions keep those involved highly disappointed.

Things have changed though throughout the country like road freight in Chennai as across the country where start-ups are trying to organize this unorganized sector. By leveraging technology and data, they are discovering new channels, meeting current demands and unleashing new opportunities. Long haul transport, short haul delivery and logistics software solutions are gaining prominence in the freight transport industry.

Emerging as winner in road freight in India is intricate because certain trucks cannot be replaced by another and truckers are not fully paid on completing assignment. Starts ups effort to solve these problems and are opting for freight matching solutions. Thereby shipping requirements are matched to destinations and available trucks.

Unlike sea freight in India or air freight, road freight in India plays a major role in transporting groceries, fruits, flowers and dry goods across markets and destinations across the country. Rail transport is an alternative for road freight in Chennai and India for transporting heavy vehicles, livestock, grains, coal and metals apart from many other products and goods.

Road transport unlike air freight in Chennai has no time frame and no limits in volume of goods that can be exported. They also do not have destination constraints and can reach even the most remote locations, besides being most preferable in land locked countries. They also adapt to dry freights, frozen and refrigerated freights and could also handle heavy and oversized loads.

Road transport is however is bound by some shortcomings such as traffic regulations, speed limits and unpredictable weather constraints. Unexpected accidents and delays also challenge the efficiency of road freight in India. The positive attributes are reliability, cost effective structure and intermodal strategy where road freights are clubbed with rail freights.

Goods such as electronics, textiles, machinery and plastics are preferably transported by intermodal transport employing rails and roads. Rail transport on the other hand has its own limitations where shorter distances are not suitable for this mode. Besides goods such as carbon black, animal hides and used auto parts are prohibited in rail transport.

Road freight in India plays an important role in contributing to the country’s economy and a fruit role in cargo consolidation in India.