Akhil Gujarat Truck Transport Asso.

Our office is located at Sahjanand Shopping Centre, right on Shahibaug Road. It’s a busy spot, especially being right across from the Swaminarayan Temple. You can always hear the traffic and the bells from the temple throughout the day. We spend a lot of time dealing with truck owners and drivers who come in with paperwork or problems that need sorting out. The walls are covered in old calendars and maps that haven't been changed in years. There is usually a pile of registers on the desk that we’re trying to get through. It’s not a corporate environment; it’s more like a place where people drop in to complain about diesel prices or road conditions over a cup of tea. We have a few chairs for visitors, but they’re usually occupied by someone waiting for a signature or a phone call. The fan wobbles a bit when it’s on high, but it keeps the air moving. We’ve been part of this community for quite a while now. The office furniture is a bit mismatched, with an old wooden desk and some plastic chairs that have seen better days. We keep a stash of biscuits in the drawer for when the meetings go on too long. It’s funny how much you learn about the state of the country just by listening to the drivers who have been across five different states in a week. We’ve seen kids grow up and take over their fathers’ trucks while we’ve been sitting in this same building.