The document discusses the important role that truck drivers play in transporting raw materials and finished goods throughout India each day. It notes that truck drivers face many challenges on the road like lack of proper restrooms, fatigue, and poor personal hygiene. It emphasizes that if transportation is disrupted, it could have major negative impacts on businesses and the economy. It promotes providing more support and facilities for truck drivers at factory gates and warehouses to help ensure their health, safety, and ability to do their jobs efficiently.
2. Do we care?
If not, we must.
Ramesh Kumar
@ CSCMP Delhi Round Table, TCI House, Gurgaon
March 14, 2014
3. our day begins with …
Morning ablutions … toileting with/without newspaper. Brushing teeth. … hot beverage to
kickstart the day
4. @ breakfast table…
Nice processed food-heavy breakfast plus a bowl of fresh fruits/vegetables…
5. then … off to work
Tension-filled ride to workplace on roads self- or chauffeur-driven in fuel-guzzling motorised
transport
6. Work in office
Hooked to cyberway to ensure organisation makes money so that you & I receive our paycheck
regularly
7. Work @ plant
Production at plants run unhindered with timely arrival of raw materials (inbound) and timely
despatch of finished product (outbound) to point of sale across the nation
8. Journey back home
Work for the day completed, returning home for night rest and readying for fresh grind or
nation building regimen the next day..
9. Rest & relaxation
Sherbet or on the rocks to loosen up nervy work schedule, once back home, before dinner
10. Dinner Time
Proper dinner with family – in the company of parents if it is a joint set up or with spouse &
kids if it is a nuclear set up…
16. Road, dining table
While YOU & I dined with mouth-watering dishes laid upon glass-topped or mahogany tables
with sparkling cutleries, these hapless drivers who ensure you and I live well every day, cook
and eat on the hard tarmac DAILY…
17. Wooden plank, bed
No airconditioned or ceiling fanned bedroom for him. But an innovative bed on the sides of
highways.
30. Obsession
Our dream will come crashing down if transport goes off road – affecting overall economy.
31. Hurdles, unwelcome
Like it or not, transport disruption is least desired. No tranport. No raw materials @ plant. No
trucks. No dispatch of finished products. Nightmare.
32. Cargo safety, Big Challenge
Accidents on highways due to lack of rest room and fatigue affects your career by affecting
operations at your plant.
33. Highway sign awareness
Automotive Skill Development Council dipstick survey claims poor knowledge of highway signs
among truck drivers
34. Highway sign awareness
So… educate truck drivers on highway signages. Go to factory gates (inbound/outbound).
Conduct classes for them on roadside.
35. Highway sign awareness
An aware driver means safe delivery of your raw materials and finished products. All in your
OWN interest…
36. Driver fatigue, Killer
Lack of sleep or apnea reduces concentration and decision-making abilities. Yes, fatigue is the
biggest cause for accidents on highways – challenging your delivery schedules of raw
materials/finished items
37. Personal hygiene, pathetic
This truck driver is carrying a bottle of water … not for drinking but …. To complete his bowel
cleaning exercise behind bushes under open sky on highways. Why? No highway amenities.
39. Restroom @ Factory Gates
Build portacabins with toilet facilities @ factory gates (inbound/outbound) and @ warehouses
40. who am i…
Founder of KRK Foundation, a Registered Trust, working for truck drivers’ welfare
41. Deep Apartment, 52 Ward No. 1, Behind Punjab National Bank,
Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 030/India
ramesh@krkfoundation.org
IMPROVING Truck Drivers’ Working & Living Conditions
42. What I DO: DHABA DIALOGUE
Halt @ dhabas on highways to engage them to talk about their challenges on road and at
home.
43. FACTORY GATE MEET
Visit factory gates for interaction with inbound/outbound truck drivers to check facilities
offered to them by OEMs/3PLs
44. Family connect via Village Visits
Arrange village visits for 3PLs, OEMs, Transporters for interaction with truck drivers’ families
living in remote parts of India