How do I calculate freight rates for road transport?

Road freight rates in India are calculated using several different models depending on the service type:

FTL (Full Truck Load) — charged per truck per trip:

• Quote is for the entire truck regardless of how much space you use
• Typical trucks: 17-ft (7–8 MT), 20-ft (10–12 MT), 32-ft SXL (15–20 MT), 40-ft trailer (25–30 MT)
• Rates by lane: ₹25–55 per km for a 32-ft truck (heavily route-dependent; Mumbai–Delhi ~₹65,000–90,000)

LTL / Part Load — charged per tonne or per CBM:

• Per tonne: ₹1,500–4,000/MT (500 km lane) depending on commodity and route
• Per CFT (cubic feet): ₹25–60/CFT for courier/express LTL
• W/M basis (same as sea LCL): charge whichever is greater — actual MT or volume MT

How to get reliable quotes:

1. Contact 3–4 transport companies directly (Blackbuck, Porter, Rivigo, TCI, GATI for established names)
2. Use freight aggregator platforms (Shiprocket, Porter for small loads; Blackbuck for FTL)
3. Provide exact: origin pin code, destination pin code, cargo weight, dimensions, and commodity type
4. Ask for quote including GST (12% on freight for most categories) and any loading/unloading charges

Transit time: 500 km typically 1–2 days; 1,500 km typically 2–4 days.