News / Maersk opts for rail freight to compensate for India's 'lost' truck capacity

Maersk has seen a 30% uptick in rail freight volumes in India during the country’s coronavirus lockdown.

But some local forwarders aren’t convinced rail services can challenge road’s predominance.

India’s lockdown began 72-days ago, triggering a raft of supply chain disruption via grounded flights, overzealous policing and an exodus of truck drivers from major cities.

“Trucks were abandoned by drivers who rushed back to their home towns,” Maersk said, adding it had then become a “herculean task” to find truck capacity for export cargo.

As ...