Truckers jack up rates

NEW DELHI: Within hours of the government announcing a hike in fuel prices, truckers on Wednesday increased freight charges by nearly 15%, a move which will further cascade into the price rise.

All India Motor Transport Congress, representative body of truckers and transporters is meeting here today to work out the impact of the rise in fuel prices and announce the new freight charges.

“The freight rate could be hiked between 15-20%,” All India Motor Transport Congress managing committee member Deepak Sachdeva said. He said all major transport associations affiliated with the Congress would also meet on Saturday to take stock of the situation.

The transporters within Delhi and NCR region have increased the freight rates by 10%. “It has become difficult for us to absorb the increase in fuel charges and we are left with no choice but pass on the burden to consumers,” said Bajrang Gupta of Deepak Transports.