More than 2 lakh truck operators have launched a nationwide strike since Januray 5, to press for their long standing demands, severely affecting truck transport across several states, including Tamil Nadu, Adhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan as well as the National Capital region. The strike is being led by the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), which has over 4000 truck operators associations affiliated to it.

The truck operators have been demanding reduction of diesel prices by Rs. 10 per litre in the light of the global decline in crude oil prices, uniform 4% VAT on diesel, 30-35% reduction in tyre prices, rollback in national permit fee from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 1500, scrapping of registration and filing requirements in the new Carriers Act, restructuring of tenure of loans in cases where the truck owners are unable to pay back their loans and exemption of service tax for all sub contract services under the Goods Transport Agencies (GTA). Several attempts at negotiations between the representatives of the truck transporters and the Surface Transport Ministry have been inconclusive, forcing the transporters to go strike.

In the NCT of Delhi, several truck operators have returned their permits to the government as a sign of protest.

The Central government, while refusing to accept the truck transporters demands, has given the states the go-ahead to call in the army and impose ESMA, to prevent any disruption of supplies. Meanwhile, on January 7, the Delhi government imposed ESMA and threatened stern action against the striking truck operators. The police have been impounding the trucks of the striking truck operators. The government has now announced that it will hire other drivers to ply the impounded trucks and also allow private operators without permits to carry goods throughout the country. All this is being done to put pressure on the striking truck operators to withdraw the strike. 

People's Voice supports the just demands of the striking truck operators.