Soon, single app to track cargo across rail, land, sea & air; ‘uberisation’ of trucks on cards

India Inc will soon have access to a single app that will allow them to track their cargo in real-time across all modes of transportation – land, rail, sea, and air. More than 700 companies have already signed up for this app, which is set to be launched by the government.
An official told ET that the app, which is currently being developed, will enable companies to track the movement of trucks, trains, and air couriers.This will be particularly beneficial for private companies involved in courier,logistics, shipping, and manufacturing.
The app is being developed by the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) and will track and trace consignments using specific tracking codes. It will also measure the reliability of truck movement and provide real-time visibility of vehicles.

India already has a Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) as part of its National Logistics Policy. This platform integrates 35 digital systems from different ministries, including the goods and services tax. By enhancing visibility through tracking, the lead time for the import-export cycle will be reduced, resulting in lower inventory carrying costs and improved management of empty containers.

In addition to the app, the government is also working on a plan to ‘uberise’ trucks, aiming to decrease the movement of empty trucks and trailers. The goal is to locate empty trucks or containers within a 50 km radius, which will significantly improve logistics efficiency. A proof of concept has already been conducted, and the aim is to reduce empty truck movement and waiting time, thus lowering operational and maintenance costs.
Read From ET |Cargo app plans
All these efforts are part of India’s plan to reduce logistics costs to 5-6% of the country’s gross domestic product. Currently, these costs account for 7.8-8.9% of GDP, according to estimates from the National Council of Applied Economic Research. The government also aims to improve India’s ranking in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, aiming to move below the 25th position from the current 38th.