Tata Ace
Rs.26-29/km
Live rate at booking
Book Tata AceA tempo out of Chennai, planned around the rain
TruckGuru's tempo service in Chennai books a Tata Ace or Dost (750 kg - 1,100 kg) or a Bada Dost (up to 1.5 ton) with driver, for intercity loads over 100 km. The rate is not fixed: it is quoted per trip at booking, toll included. Pondicherry and Vellore are same day possible; Bangalore, Trichy and Madurai take 1 day.
Chennai gets its heavy rain when most of India is drying out. The northeast monsoon runs roughly from mid-October to December, and that is also when the Deepavali and year-end dispatch rush peaks. Waterlogged stretches around Velachery, Pallikaranai and the low roads near Manali can hold a tempo for hours, and cartons left under a tarpaulin in a November downpour arrive damp. Our advice for those ten weeks is simple: ask for a closed-body tempo, load early, and keep a day of slack on any delivery that matters.
Where the loads start
Chennai's small intercity freight comes from four clusters, each tied to a different exit from the city.
West, along the Bangalore highway
Ambattur and Padi for engineering job work, fasteners and fabricated parts; Sriperumbudur, Oragadam and Irungattukottai for automobile and electronics supplier loads. Bangalore, Vellore and Krishnagiri are the natural drops.
South, down GST Road
Guindy, Maraimalai Nagar and the units around Tambaram send spares, pharma packs and printed material towards Trichy, Madurai and Tirunelveli.
North, towards Andhra
Manali, Madhavaram, Red Hills and Gummidipoondi carry chemicals in sealed drums, steel items and packaged food for Nellore, Ongole and Vijayawada.
The old wholesale centre
Parrys, Sowcarpet and the Broadway lanes of George Town are where electricals, hardware, textiles and stationery are bought for resale across Tamil Nadu. Pickups there are tight: the tempo usually stands on a main road and the goods come out by handcart.
We do not do deliveries within Chennai. Drops in Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur or Sriperumbudur itself are under 100 km and outside what we book.
Lanes and transit from Chennai
| Destination | Road distance | Usual truck transit |
| Vellore | about 140 km | Same day possible, depends on loading time |
| Pondicherry | about 150 km | Same day possible, depends on loading time |
| Trichy | about 330 km | 1 day |
| Bangalore | about 350 km | 1 day |
| Vijayawada | about 450 km | 1 day |
| Madurai | about 460 km | 1 day |
| Hyderabad | about 630 km | 1 - 2 days |
Treat these as maximum figures. The Bangalore lane is the busiest and the easiest to book at short notice. Tempos for the far south, Tirunelveli and Nagercoil, are fewer, so give us a day's notice there.
What a tempo carries, and when to go bigger
A tempo suits 200 kg to about a tonne: a few drums, a pallet of components, 30 to 50 cartons. It is the wrong choice for a loose lot of steel sections, which passes 1.1 ton fast, or for a full batch from an Oragadam supplier going to a plant in Hosur. Those belong in a 14FT Eicher (3.5 ton) or a 17FT Eicher. The truck size page has body dimensions, and hire truck in Chennai covers the bigger vehicles. If you already know you want the smallest body, the Tata Ace page explains its limits.
Tempo rates from Chennai
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. From Chennai, the rates on the Bangalore lane move least; the Andhra lanes and anything to Kerala tighten during the northeast monsoon and before Pongal.
TruckGuru pricing is quoted per trip at the time of booking, with toll included.
Indicative Ace-class trip fares from Chennai
| Route | Distance | Ace / Dost / Pickup (750 kg - 1,100 kg) |
| Chennai to Trichy | about 330 km | Rs.8,600 - Rs.9,600 |
| Chennai to Bangalore | about 350 km | Rs.9,100 - Rs.10,200 |
| Chennai to Madurai | about 460 km | Rs.12,000 - Rs.13,300 |
| Chennai to Hyderabad | about 630 km | Rs.16,400 - Rs.18,300 |
Indicative fares, checked September 2026. Freight rates move with route, vehicle type, cargo, date and availability. Confirm the current rate at booking.
Current freight rates depend on route, vehicle type, cargo and availability. Check the live rate when booking.
How booking and delivery work
Enter pickup, drop, weight and date on the website or the TruckGuru app. We call back within 30 minutes during working hours (Mon-Sat 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM, Sun 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM) to confirm the vehicle and loading time. The tempo carries only your goods. A digital Lorry Receipt is issued at loading, the vehicle is GPS tracked to delivery, and the GST invoice is sent after delivery.
Loading and unloading labour and transit insurance are arranged by you. The e-way bill, for goods above Rs.50,000, is generated by the consignor or consignee.
Chennai shippers ask
Can I get a tempo from Ambattur to Bangalore today?
Often yes, if you book early in the working day. Bangalore is about 350 km, a 1-day lane, and it is the easiest route from Chennai to fill at short notice.
Do you do local deliveries within Chennai?
No. We only book intercity trips of more than 100 km. Guindy to Ambattur, or Chennai to Sriperumbudur, is too short for us.
How much can one tempo take?
A Tata Ace or Dost carries 750 kg - 1,100 kg. A Bada Dost carries up to 1.5 ton. Past that, book a 14FT Eicher.
It is November and raining. Should I still send cartons?
Yes, but ask for a closed-body tempo and load early in the day. Open tempos with tarpaulin are fine for metal parts, not for cartons during the northeast monsoon.
Can the tempo come into Sowcarpet?
Not into most lanes. The driver waits on the nearest main road and your goods come out by handcart. Share that point on the callback.
Is Chennai to Pondicherry same day?
It can be. Pondicherry is about 150 km, so same-day delivery is possible if the tempo loads in the morning. A late loading means next-morning delivery.
Do I need an e-way bill for Chennai to Nellore?
Yes, if the goods are worth more than Rs.50,000, since the trip crosses into Andhra Pradesh. The consignor or consignee generates it.
Is the rate fixed?
No. Rates are not fixed. Each trip is quoted at booking with toll included, and it moves with the lane, date and vehicle availability.
Who loads the drums?
You arrange loading and unloading labour at both ends. The driver helps secure the load.
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 book a tempo to take my home goods to another city?
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.
Will I be able to see the tempo on the way?
Yes. Every vehicle is GPS tracked from dispatch to delivery, on the app or through our team on call.
