Transporters Seek Special Health Cover for Truck Drivers

The corona pandemic has triggered a catastrophic situation with grave health and economic difficulties. The lockdown is wreaking massive disruption and is playing havoc over the   essential supply chain flow. As a result, the transport industry is increasingly facing intense disturbances over numerous issues including availability of skilled truck drivers for driving trucks. The transporters need well trained drivers to operate and make timely deliveries and meet unprecedented hike in demand. Even as authorities suggest people stay home and stay safe, the truck drivers are putting their health  safety at stake  to ensure the smooth logistic operations.

Truck drivers need to  work diligently  to deliver critical medical supplies including  corona testing kits, masks , PPE kits, medicines,  food, groceries and other essentials to hospitals and grocery stores  in the country . Due to restrictions posed during implementation of the lockdown, merely seven percent of truck drivers are currently working.  Seeing the massive influx of labor in the country, even truck drivers have left for their native homes. They do not want to put their life in jeopardy and are refusing to work as they are fearing for their safety. Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training are asserting that Truck drivers are demanding 50-60 percent higher wages. This will result in higher cost of logistics for essential items.

The government needs to give assurance to the truck drivers to prevent further chaos and disruption. Initiatives need to be taken for the safety of truck drivers to ensure safe and continuous movement of trucks.

Truck drivers are important workers in supply chain

Transporters Ahmedabad to Delhi Truck drivers are the mainstay of the transport industry, which is the backbone of the economy and lifeline of the nation. Thus, they need to be treated with a lot of care and adequate health cover should be provided as they are also doing public service and risking their lives under extenuating circumstances. It is essential for the government to allow unrestricted movement of transport vehicles carrying essential and non-essential goods.

Few suggested measures to be taken for safety of truck drivers 

• To ensure drivers return to work, the government needs to declare medical insurance for all truck drivers resuming duty.
• Transporters are seeking an insurance cover of approximately Rs 50 lakh cover for drivers involved in the supply of essential products and commodities.
• To ensure health and safety of truck drivers, sanitization and thermal screening need to be done after every 200 km on national and state highways. This will also prevent the erratic spread of novel coronavirus.
• To enable the truck operators to operate smoothly without any interruptions, the transporters are seeking permission for extension of validity of driving license, national and state permits, along with comprehensive insurance for truck drivers.
• Truck drivers need to be assured that they will not be stranded without food in case of a breakdown,

The government is issuing directives for the health benefit of truck drivers to ensure smooth operations of the supply chain. However, large number of truck drivers do not have social security net and they continue to face numerous difficulties as they are stopped and questioned even when they are driving trucks carrying essential products