Article · 15 min read

Truck transport business in India 2026: the real numbers

CalcGuru · calcguru.in Free Intermediate India

A worked 2026 model of owning heavy trucks: a truck costs roughly Rs 38 to 46 lakh on the road, diesel is half of total cost, and a single empty return leg costs about Rs 66,000, a whole month of surplus. Shows why owner-drivers survive where hired-driver fleets struggle.

  • Break-even needs the top third of the freight rate band, with return loads.
  • One empty return trip can wipe out a month's surplus.
  • Read the gross vehicle weight on the RC before you buy; it sets your presumptive tax.
Open on calcguru.in ↗

The question it answers

  1. How do I start a logistics or transport company in India?

Read with it

  1. An August 2026 guide to the asset-light logistics business (a 3PL that owns no fleet): GST registration in each state of... calcguru.in Article · 15 min read Logistics business in India 2026: what a 3PL needs CalcGuru
  2. A July 2026 guide for anyone starting a goods transport business: there is no transport company licence, only a permit per... calcguru.in Article · 10 min read Transport company in India 2026: permits and the GST choice CalcGuru
  3. The government portal where goods movements above the threshold are documented with e-way bills and where transporters enrol... ewaybillgst.gov.in Tool · Official portal E-Way Bill System GST Network
  4. A July 2026 guide to the asset-light way into logistics, a courier franchise: no courier licence exists, courier services carry... calcguru.in Article · 8 min read Courier franchise in India 2026: models and GST CalcGuru
  5. MoRTH's own portal for the National Permit for goods carriages, where a transporter pays the National Permit authorisation fee... vahan.parivahan.gov.in Tool · Portal Online National Permit (Vahan, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
eChai Partner Brands The partnership →