Truck is not a synonym of accident

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If I were asked a day back what was the first thing that comes to my mind when someone said 'truck', I would have replied reckless driving, accidents and drug addicts. But now I have reached to a mature conclusion.

Typical life of a truck driver involves a minimum of two-day journey in which he has to drive for at least 18 hours a day that too all alone because MNREGA has taken away the conductor who used to assist him. It is so risky for him to travel alone with the items worth lakhs and crores on the highways which are susceptible to attack by mafias and robbers. In some cases, when he stops for food and rest at dhabas, he is robbed of diesel and even murdered for the items loaded in the truck. He therefore, cannot rest properly and sometimes while driving fall asleep leading to accidents which ends his own life.  Most of the drivers drive old models of truck which lacks hydraulic mechanism and requires extra effort. This makes him tired and leads to extensive body pain which makes it difficult for him to sleep so he takes alcohol to induce sleep. A truck at high speed cannot change direction or apply brakes suddenly which leads to accidents and the blame comes on the truck driver.

Truck transportation faces other challenges too. Dating back to history, transportation in India was mainly carried out through railways maintained by the Britishers. They never let road transportation to prosper fearing competition and made rigid laws which are still in effect. Constitutionally, transportation comes under state list which means each state has the authority to make rules governing transportation as per their wish. All states in India levy different amount of value added tax on petroleum products which increases transportation cost and creates uneven market which is bad for consumers. Highways provide easy access to liquor and drugs to the drivers which aggravates road safety issue. Supreme Court passed a rule that such shops should be kept away from highways but it is not yet enforced. Police deployed on the state borders illicitly demand money from drivers to pass through the border and operates a mafia involving even the top officials. Transportation sector is unorganised which enhances the problems for drivers. In cases of serious injuries, he cannot claim money from the owners. There is no limit on the duration of his work and the right to form association is also denied. 

Conditions of this sector are changing with better roads and  new modernised models of trucks. But a lot more needs to be done like electronic mechanism for toll tax, GPS facility for tracking trucks, national register for drivers and inclusion of petroleum in the GST.

Ending with a hope that this piece has made you realise the challenges before the truck drivers and brought about a change in your perception.