The indefinite strike called by the All India Motor Transport Congress was the main reason for the subdued rates. Due to the proposed strike, originally scheduled to begin from August 22, most of the transporters stopped loading their vehicles by mid-week.

"The movement of cargo and vehicles coming to Mumbai slowed down considerably towards the week-end ", said Mukesh Sharma of ABR Carriers. According to him, the strike would have further reduced the freight rates within Maharashtra due to excess of vehicles (as trucks could not move out of the state).

The transporters who have now deferred their agitation to September-end, are demanding mainly the withdrawal of over 650 per cent hike in the third party motor insurance premia.

For the week ahead, the transporters feel that the rates may show a marginal increase.

In the northern sector, except for Bihar, the freight rates decreased in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 900 last week. The Mumbai to Delhi rates declined by Rs 300 to Rs 12,500.The rates from Mumbai to Srinagar decreased by 4.3 per cent to Rs 22,000 due to the commencement of apple season. Truck rates to Haryana and Punjab moved down by around Rs 300. The rates to Bihar climbed due to a severe shortage of vehicles. The Mumbai to Muzaffarpur rates increased by Rs 1,100 to Rs 17,500, a 6.6 per cent hike.

In the western sector, Mumbai to Surat truck rates declined by Rs 200 to Rs 3,000 while rates to Ahmedabad increased by Rs 200 to Rs 3,800.

Truck rates to Indore went down by 6.6 per cent to Rs 5,600. The rates to Udaipur ( in Rajasthan) witnessed a decline of Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,500. The freight rates from Mumbai to most of the cities in Maharashtra declined by around Rs 300.

While rates to south fluctuated in the range of Rs 200-500, the freight rates to the eastern sector declined substantially. The truck rates to Guwahati went down by Rs 4,000 to Rs 28,000.

While rates to West Bengal remained the same, truck rates to Orissa declined by around Rs 200.