Delhivery Bets Big on Road Trains to Revolutionize High-Volume Logistics

In a bid to transfigure freight transportation, Delhivery is introducing road trains, i.e., tractor units towing multiple trailers, to cut costs and boost efficiency in high-volume sectors like automobiles and FMCG.

Arun Bagavathi, Delhivery’s network design head, highlights the impact of cost efficiency in the logistics sector and mentions that a 10% reduction in shipping costs per vehicle could turn road trains from an option to a necessity.

Last week, Delhivery launched its first road train in partnership with Volvo Trucks. This model pairs a 24-foot intermediate trailer with a 44-foot semi-trailer, increasing cargo volume by 50% compared to traditional semi-trailers. Following the road ministry’s approval of road trains in 2020, Delhivery has been piloting two models on the Mumbai-Nagpur corridor, reporting efficiency gains of at least 10%. By 2025, the company aims to expand its road train fleet to 10 units, covering major expressways such as Delhi-Lucknow and Bangalore-Chennai. Simultaneously, Delhivery is accelerating its shift to LNG-powered trucks, planning to increase its fleet from 20 to 50 within three months, reinforcing its commitment to cost efficiency and sustainable logistics.