Leyland arm unveils transport exchange

Ashley Transport Services, a freight management company, on Monday announced the launch of a new service transport exchange.

The company, jointly promoted by the vehicles major Ashok Leyland and Ashok Leyland Finance (now merged with IndusInd Bank), plans to open 100 such exchanges by the end of this financial year.

Launching a transport exchange in Chennai on Monday, J K Rajagopal, chief executive officer (transport exchange), Ashley Transport, said, "The service is a platform that provides information on the availability of trucks to meet load requirements. It offers value-added services to truck firms and operators."

The service is expected to improve competitiveness and reliability of small truck operators by matching load requirements and supply of vehicles at all major routes online.

All transactions are captured onto a central database, from where information can be accessed at local online kiosks and call centers. The database will also have information on truck owners and transport contractors.

The service also provides value-addition services, such as arranging challan discounting, truck hire purchase settlement.

Initially, there is no membership fee for the service for truck operators and truck companies. Ashley Transport is in talks with oil companies to provide credit through smart cards under the transport exchange service.