The government has now made it compulsory for all new trucks in the country to come equipped with air-conditioned cabins. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has released a notification mandating that all trucks built on or after October 1, 2025, will have air-conditioned driver cabins. Prior to this notification, a draft notification was also issued in July to mandate the installation of AC systems in the cabins of vehicles that belong to the N2 and N3 categories. The centre has taken this initiative to enhance the overall safety and working conditions of truck drivers.
The final decision comes months after Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister, stated that all new trucks that ply on roads will come with AC systems to offer drivers a comfortable working environment and reduce fatigue. He further said that truck drivers play an important role in the transport sector by guaranteeing road safety in India; therefore, their well-being should also be our utmost priority.
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The minister stated in a gazette notification that, "The vehicles manufactured on or after October 1, 2025, shall be fitted with an air-conditioning system for the cabin of vehicles of the N2 and N3 categories. The testing of the cabin fitted with an air-conditioning system shall be as per Indian Standard Institution (ISI) regulations."
The Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari, raised this issue earlier as well. He said that truck drivers in the country are sometimes the most neglected section when it comes to public transport. These truck drivers have been working in extremely hot conditions, and they put their lives at risk supplying essential items across the nation through treacherous sections in dangerous conditions. They are often overworked. While performing their duties, they also get tired, which may lead to road accidents on highways.
He further addressed the issue of driver fatigue and said that the decision will reach a significant milestone and provide enhanced working conditions for drivers. He has been pushing for the installation of ac cabins in trucks, even though this move was rejected earlier by many quarters, saying it would raise the price of commercial vehicles in the country.
