Indian truckers demand urgent diesel price cuts amid soaring costs

The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has urged the government to cut diesel prices immediately. Bal Malkit Singh, Adviser and former President of the AIMTC, wrote to the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas to highlight the financial strain on transporters. Global crude oil prices have dropped below USD 75 per barrel, returning to levels seen before recent conflicts. Despite this, transporters in India continue to face rising costs for tyres, lubricants, AdBlue, spare parts, chassis, insurance, tolls, permits, driver wages, finance, and compliance.

Diesel makes up 55-60 per cent of a commercial vehicle’s operating expenses. Freight rates have not kept pace with these costs, squeezing margins and making loan repayments and daily operations difficult. Road transport handles over 70 per cent of India’s domestic freight, supporting manufacturing, agriculture, exports, and essential supplies.

The AIMTC has requested a diesel price reduction in line with global crude rates. It also seeks the inclusion of diesel under the GST regime and the implementation of a uniform diesel price across the country under the 'One Nation, One Tax, One Uniform Diesel Price' policy. Lower diesel prices would ease logistics costs and improve supply chain efficiency. This would benefit businesses and consumers while supporting the transport sector’s financial stability.