In the last week, the rates in some of the northern states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan registered a five per cent dip. However, the truck freight rates to Delhi and neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab staged a recovery of 3-4 per cent.

"The movement of goods is likely to pick up in the next week which will increase the demand for the vehicles. Consequently, the freight rates will rise", said Mukesh Sharma of ABR Carriers.

The truck freight rates in south too dipped by five per cent in the last week except for Trivandrum (Kerala) were the rates went up by around 11 per cent. According to transporters, shortage of vehicles to Trivandrum was mainly responsible for the sudden increase in the freight rate.

Otherwise,the truck rates remained subdued in the south. "The movement of material from Mumbai to southern states was minimal", said AK Singh of Delhi Assam Roadway Corporation.

In the east, truck freights from Mumbai to Assam dipped by over 11 per cent. The rates for Mumbai to Guwahati dipped from Rs 30,000 to Rs 26,500 ( Saturday rate). In West Bengal, the rates fell by around 10 per cent. The maximum fall in the truck freight rates was from Mumbai to Raniganj route where the rates decreased by Rs 2,500.