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Infrastructure is the backbone of a nation's economy. It functions like arteries and veins in the body that keep the blood flowing throughout. Logistics sector can be that part of the infrastructure. Without a robust and efficient logistics infrastructure, industries will find it hard to ensure smooth movements of goods across the value chain. The trucking industry- considered to be the backbone of India's economy- has been battered by the imposed lockdowns at the onset of the second wave of the pandemic in India especially after seeing steady recovery over the last couple of months from the first wave. The fresh wave of Covid-19 cases sweeping the country and the resultant lockdown measures implemented by several states have already started hurting transporters. The trade is estimated to suffer $2.4 billion (Rs 17,800 crore) of revenue loss in April alone. This could also affect GDP growth, which is projected at 10.5% by the central bank for this fiscal year.

The Indian road transport sector carries goods worth $150 billion a year, which means about $12 billion of business is done per month. The truck fleet utilisation had peaked to 85% in March, which was better than the pre-Covid levels, but has now dropped to 70%. Truckers will be hard-pressed to pay back their EMIs. Transportation of goods through roadways slowed during April. The average number of daily e-way bills generated in April so far is around 2 million as compared to 2.3 million in March. These bills are necessary for moving goods from one state to the other via road. Besides goods, people's movement has also reduced. Organised Trucking can put together the pieces of a fragmented industry by augmenting performance and visibility through tech-infusion and bolster its credibility in the months to come.

Anjani Mandal, CEO of Nandan Nilekani-backed startup 4TiGO Networks and Logistics shared his insights with leading a financial newspaper into the ground realities of the infra and logistics industry as it stands, how the second wave has impacted business, projections for 2021 as well as the impact on truck drivers and fleet owners and how things were steering back to normal.