Sand lorry owners urge TN govt to exempt goods vehicles from tracking device rule

Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owners Oppose Mandatory GPS Tracking on Trucks

In Chennai, the Tamil Nadu State Sand Lorry Owners Federation is urging the state government to scrap its new rule requiring Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) on goods vehicles and light commercial vehicles. They call it an unnecessary expense that hits truck owners hard.

Federation president S. Yuvaraj wrote a letter to Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar, explaining their stance. He pointed out that everyone in the transport sector backs VLTDs for passenger vehicles to boost road safety. This push started nationwide after the shocking 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, which led to big safety reforms.

"We fully support GPS tracking devices on passenger buses and taxis," Yuvaraj said. "But forcing them on lorries and light vehicles doesn’t improve safety—it feels like it’s just about generating revenue for the government."

He highlighted a key issue: Most commercial vehicles already have GPRS systems for real-time tracking and monitoring. Adding another VLTD would mean double the cost and hassle for owners, creating an avoidable financial burden.

Yuvaraj also slammed the government for skipping talks with transport groups before rolling out the order. "In a democracy, we need discussions with stakeholders," he added. "Orders without input breed distrust among vehicle owners."

The Commissionerate of Transport and Road Safety recently issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) for VLTD manufacturers. They aim to get the system running by October 22. The rule targets buses, school vehicles, stage carriages, tourist vehicles, private service vehicles, taxis, maxi cabs, and goods carriers like water and petroleum tankers. The department can even extend it to more vehicle types later.

Push for Traffic Fine Relief

On top of the VLTD protest, the federation raised another big concern: Unpaid traffic fines piling up from the state’s online penalty system. Yuvaraj said these fines, worth hundreds of crores, often stem from quick checks based only on vehicle registration numbers and enforcement quotas. Many owners ignore them because they seem unfair.

He suggested Tamil Nadu follow the lead of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with a one-time settlement scheme. There, owners pay just 50% of dues through a compound fine or Lok Adalat process. "We’re eager to settle our arrears if the government offers this relief," the federation stated. "It helps vehicle owners and brings in good revenue for the state."

As the VLTD deadline approaches, this appeal from sand lorry owners is gaining traction. It spotlights the need for better consultation on Tamil Nadu transport rules, GPS tracking mandates, and traffic fine solutions to ease the load on commercial vehicle owners.

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