​AC in Trucks Implementation to be Pushed Forward?

TrucksDekho team was among the first news portals to report air conditioning being made mandatory in trucks plying in India. The News had garnered a lot of attention as it was seen bringing a much needed respite for the hardworking trucking community of the country. But it seems that the truckers might have to wait a little longer to enjoy ACs inside their truck cabins.

A number of truck and bus makers, citing less time availability for coping with arrangements required to meet the BS-IV emission norms to be implemented April 01, 2017 onwards, may request the centre to postpone the mandatory AC implementation dates. Sources claim that the CV industry is already falling short on resources required to manufacture BS-IV emission norms compliant truck models. Mandatory AC and BS-IV emission norms are both scheduled to be implemented from April 01, 2017.

Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways, on March 13, 2016 had said that the ministry was looking to make air conditioning mandatory in trucks. He was worried about truck drivers’ conditions, as many had to continuously drive for over 12 hours, even in extreme Indian weather conditions.

But now as CV makers are thinking of requesting the government to postpone the mandatory AC implementation dates, the cool breeze that the truck drivers were waiting for, might just not see daylight any time soon.

It was Erich Nesselhauf, MD and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, who had come out in support of mandatory AC rule and said, “We welcome the government’s push for mandatory AC on trucks. With BharatBenz, we have been selling AC models throughout our 9-49 tonne range from day one onwards, so we are fully ready.“

Truck Drivers had heaved a sigh of relief on learning about the decision back in November 2017. It was through an amendment made to the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 that air conditioning in trucks was made mandatory in the country.