Tata Ace
Rs.26-29/km
Book Tata AcePerumbavoor plywood is one of the most common loads we see going from Kochi to Mumbai. The sheets are heavy, flat and easy to damage at the edges, and they usually travel in 20ft trucks or 32ft containers to Bhiwandi and Vashi traders. Spices, rubber products and coir goods make up most of the rest.
The route runs about 1,400 km. Most trucks take the coastal NH-66 through Mangalore, Goa and Ratnagiri, and the trip usually takes 2 - 3 days from loading to delivery.
Trip fares, Kochi to Mumbai
| Truck | Load capacity | Trip fare |
| Tata Ace | 750 kg - 1,100 kg | Rs.28,900 - Rs.32,100 |
| 14ft Eicher | 3.5 ton | Rs.36,500 - Rs.40,100 |
| 20ft truck | 6.5 ton | Rs.40,400 - Rs.43,000 |
| 32ft container | 7-8 ton | Rs.48,000 - Rs.52,200 |
| 32ft container | 16 ton | Rs.61,200 - Rs.66,000 |
All fares include toll. Your confirmed fare comes from the freight calculator once you enter the exact pickup and drop points.
What moves on this route
Plywood and veneer from Perumbavoor go to Mumbai furniture makers and dealers. Pepper and cardamom leave the Mattancherry and Jew Town traders for the Vashi spice market. Rubber goods, coir mats and seafood packaging material from the Edayar and Kalamassery industrial areas make up the rest.
Mumbai is the right end for all of this. It is the biggest wholesale market on the west coast, and a lot of Kerala goods are resold from Bhiwandi warehouses to Gujarat and north India.
Which road the truck takes
NH-66 along the coast is shorter, but the ghat sections near Karwar and the Kashedi ghat in Maharashtra are slow in heavy rain. From June to September, some drivers switch to the inland route through Bangalore and Pune. It adds about 150 km but avoids landslide closures. We tell you before loading which way the truck is going.
Plywood loads need proper lashing and a tarpaulin in the monsoon. Ask the loading team at your unit to stack sheets flat, not on edge.
Picking the right truck size
Plywood is the load where shippers most often get the truck wrong. A 20ft truck takes 6.5 ton, but a full stack of 18mm sheets reaches that weight before the body is full. Book by weight, not by how many bundles look like they will fit. For mixed spice and coir loads the opposite is true: the body fills up first, and the truck runs well under its weight limit.
If you ship every week, one 32ft container of 16 ton usually costs less per ton than two 20ft trucks. The truck size guide shows the body dimensions for each option.
What to plan for at the Mumbai end
Trucks over a certain size face entry timing restrictions inside Mumbai city during the day. Drops at Bhiwandi, Taloja and JNPT are not affected, but deliveries to Andheri or Lower Parel often have to wait for the night window. Tell us the consignee address at booking and we plan the arrival time around it.
Unloading at Bhiwandi godowns can take 3 to 4 hours for a full container. Ask your consignee to keep labour ready.
When to book
Demand on this route peaks twice a year. Plywood dispatches rise from October to December as Mumbai builders and furniture makers stock up, and spice loads rise after the pepper harvest in January and February. In those months, book at least 3 days ahead so the truck reports on your planned date.
Pickup and delivery points
In Kerala we pick up from Perumbavoor, Kalamassery, Edayar, Kakkanad, Aluva, Angamaly, Willingdon Island and Cochin port. In Mumbai the usual drops are Bhiwandi, Vashi APMC, Turbhe, Taloja MIDC, Andheri and JNPT for export cargo.
Payment
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.
For more trucks from Kerala, see hire truck in Kochi. For the return trip, see hire truck in Mumbai. Heavy plywood loads usually need a container truck.
Kochi to Mumbai: questions from shippers
How long does a truck take from Kochi to Mumbai?
Usually 2 - 3 days for the 1,400 km trip. In the monsoon, add a day, as ghat sections on NH-66 can close for a few hours after heavy rain.
What does a 20ft truck cost from Kochi to Mumbai?
A 20ft truck with 6.5 ton load capacity costs Rs.40,400 - Rs.43,000, toll included.
Can you load plywood at Perumbavoor?
Yes. Perumbavoor is one of our regular pickup points for this route. Tell us the sheet size and number of bundles at booking.
Is toll charged extra?
No. Toll is included in the trip fare.
Do you deliver to Vashi APMC?
Yes. Vashi and Turbhe are common drops for spice and dry goods loads. Entry timing at APMC is fixed, so share the trader's slot at booking.
Do you carry refrigerated seafood?
No. We do not run reefer trucks. We carry dry cargo such as seafood packaging, coir, spices and plywood.
Which documents are needed?
Tax invoice and e-way bill. The route crosses Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, and each border can check them.
How do I pay?
Booking Amount at confirmation, 90% at loading, and the balance at delivery before unloading. NEFT, IMPS, UPI and cards are accepted.
Can I send 1 ton of spices?
Yes, in a Tata Ace with 750 kg - 1,100 kg load capacity. The full truck is booked for your consignment.
Can I track the truck?
Yes. You get a GPS link after loading and can follow the truck until delivery.
