Tata Ace
Live rate at booking
Book Tata AceTen minutes from the Andhra border
Gummidipoondi is the last big industrial stop on NH16 before Tamil Nadu gives way to Andhra Pradesh, and that fact decides most of the small-vehicle bookings we get from here. Units in the SIPCOT estate and along the highway send spares, samples and small dispatches north to Nellore, Ongole and Vijayawada far more than they send them back into Chennai. If the lot is under a tonne, a mini truck on rent in Gummidipoondi does the job: a Tata Ace (also called Chota Hathi) with driver, carrying only your goods, direct to a receiver at least 100 km away.
Short runs into Chennai city or to Ponneri are not something we book. Intercity only.
Crossing the border with a small load
An interstate trip means an e-way bill whenever the goods are worth more than 50,000 rupees. The consignor or consignee generates it, and the driver carries the invoice and the e-way bill number. Small vehicles get stopped at checks as often as big ones, and a missing document on an Ace costs the same half day as on a 32FT container.
Our advice for this lane: share the e-way bill number with us before the vehicle rolls, not after it has been pulled over.
Where Gummidipoondi loads go
- Tirupati, about 120 km, mostly via Puttur: same-day delivery possible if the truck loads early; otherwise next day
- Nellore, about 130 km up NH16: same-day delivery possible if the truck loads early; otherwise next day
- Puducherry, about 210 km going south around Chennai: 1 day
- Ongole, about 245 km: 1 day
- Vijayawada, about 390 km: 1 day
NH16 north of the border is a fast, divided road, so the Andhra runs keep to time better than the southbound Puducherry trip, which has to thread around the Chennai outer ring and the ECR.
Loads we see from the SIPCOT side
The estate is heavy on steel and engineering, and most of that output moves on bigger vehicles. The mini truck (Chota Hathi) picks up the smaller pieces:
- machined parts, fasteners and castings sent to a customer as a trial lot
- maintenance spares for plants in Nellore and Ongole
- chemical and lubricant drums, sealed and declared at booking
- packaging material and printed cartons going to Andhra units
The Ace carries up to 1,100 kg. Steel is dense, so an Ace hits its weight limit with half the deck empty; do not let anyone talk you into overloading it. Anything over a tonne should go on a 14FT Eicher (3.5 ton). For long steel sections, the open truck options are the ones to look at.
Chota Hathi (Mini Truck) rates from Gummidipoondi
Truck freight rates are not fixed. What a load costs depends on the route, vehicle type, load capacity needed, cargo, pickup date and how many trucks are running that lane that week. Nellore and Vijayawada send plenty of vehicles back towards Chennai, which helps pricing on those lanes; smaller towns off the highway can take longer to arrange.
TruckGuru pricing is quoted per trip at the time of booking, with toll included.
Current freight rates depend on route, vehicle type, cargo and availability. Check the live rate when booking.
Booking
Put in the plot number and the estate name on the website or the TruckGuru app, along with weight and date. We call back within 30 minutes during working hours (Mon-Sat 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM, Sun 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM). Loading and unloading labour is arranged by you, and so is transit insurance. You get a digital Lorry Receipt at loading, GPS tracking to delivery and a GST invoice after. For heavier dispatches, see hire truck in Chennai or the truck type guide.
Questions from Gummidipoondi units
Sir, 600 kg castings to Nellore today evening. Possible?
Same-day depends on what is free nearby, so book as early as you can and we confirm on the callback. Nellore is about 130 km, so same-day delivery possible if the truck loads early; otherwise next day.
Do I need an e-way bill to Andhra?
Yes, for goods worth more than 50,000 rupees. The consignor or consignee generates it before the vehicle leaves.
How much steel can a Tata Ace take?
Up to its rated up to 1,100 kg, no more. Steel reaches that weight long before the deck is full.
Can you do Gummidipoondi to Ennore port area?
No. That is under 100 km. We only book intercity trips over 100 km.
Is the vehicle only for my goods?
Yes. One vehicle per consignment, with only your goods on it.
Will the driver load the drums?
No. You arrange loading and unloading labour. The driver secures the load.
Is insurance included in the fare?
No. Transit insurance is arranged by the customer.
What documents will I get?
A digital Lorry Receipt at loading and a GST invoice after delivery.
Can I send my personal things to Vijayawada?
Our trucks mostly carry business loads. For a one-off household move to another city, we can supply the truck and driver. Packing, loading and unloading are arranged by you.
What are the payment terms?
Payment is split into three parts: Booking Amount at booking confirmation, 90% at loading once the truck reaches the pickup location, and the remaining Balance at delivery before unloading begins. Accepted: NEFT, IMPS, UPI (PhonePe, GPay), and major debit and credit cards. No cash payments accepted.
Can I see where the vehicle is at the border?
Yes. It is GPS tracked from dispatch to delivery, and the live location shows on the app.
