Telangana State has 1.75 lakh trucks and only 1.10 lakh drivers

Hyderabad: There is a huge shortage of lorry and truck drivers in the state for which the lorry owners association blames the faulty government policies.

For starters, they are seeking a fixed freight tariff as the incentives were not attractive, which is one of the reasons why not many are coming forward as drivers and this could lead to a major crisis.

According to association members, another worrying trend is that currently most of the drivers are mostly in their 50s. During long distances, where there is a need for two drivers, the cleaners, who are not eligible to drive, are taking the wheel to give relief to the driver. This can cause fatal road accidents, especially on the highways.
Shaik Abdul Bari, working president of the association, said “There are about 1.75 lakh lorries and trucks in the state, while the licensed drivers are only 1.10 lakh. Among the, over 50 per cent have crossed 50 years. These vehicles, engaged in transporting goods to long distances, need two drivers.”
He added, “The transport sector lacks government patronage. The government should fix per km freight charges and provide health checkups, especially eye camps, as a means to monitor the health condition of the drivers.”