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Miles To Empty: India's Trucking Sector Signals Economic Drag

A dip in demand for freight haulage reflects broader uncertainties in the nation's growth trajectory.

By Shahkar Abidi

08 Mar 2025

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Miles To Empty: India's Trucking Sector Signals Economic Drag

For those who track the news of commerce, the rumble of diesel engines across India's vast highway network has long been a reassuring indicator of economic vitality. But a recent dispatch from Shriram Mobility, attuned to the pulse of the transportation sector, suggests a deceleration.

Truck rentals, a bellwether of goods movement, are displaying an uncharacteristic sluggishness, mirroring a wider recalibration of economic expectations. This dip, attributed to a confluence of factors—general slowdown in industrial activity, tepid infrastructure demand, and the perennial caution of the fiscal year-end—paints a picture of muted momentum in Asia's third-largest economy.

The granular ...

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