SC ruling on overloading trucks irks transporters

The transporters' associations in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh (MP) have demanded intervention from their respective state governments on the Supreme Court's recent judgement over overloading.

The apex court, in its verdict, has directed the state governments to strictly implement the loading limits for trucks and passenger vehicles.

The associations fear that the implementation of the order would increase the transportation cost. "Implementation of rule would increase the cost of transportation considerably and it would ultimately pinch the common consumer," said transporters in MP.

"To meet the demand from their clients transporters would have to purchase vehicles. For this purpose they should be given concession in the transport tax, loans should be made available at consessional rates and premium on the insurance should be reduced," said J S Rekhi, general secretary, Vahan Bachao Kruti Samiti (VBKS), in a release.

Rekhi said it was owing to the insistence of the consignee that the transporters had to overload the vehicles. The cosignees, by doing so, try to save their transportation costs and should be held responsible for this, he added.

The release attributed the problem to stiff competition among the transporters, who reduce costs and overload their vehicles. The state government should come out with a common pricing policy across the state, said the release.

The transporters have demanded exemption of certain items from overloading norms.