MUMBAI: Transporters on Monday said the four recent fuel hikes, a cumulative increase of nearly Rs 8 per litre, have posed a serious survival challenge to the industry.Fuel alone accounts for about 55% of truck operating costs. Coupled with rising costs of tyres, insurance, tolls, maintenance, finance costs and statutory compliance, the viability of transport operations is under severe pressure.Bal Malkit Singh of All India Motor Transport Congress said, “The impact is now going beyond transporters and is becoming a national supply chain issue. Reports from some areas across the country indicate that a large number of vehicles are lying idle due to rising operating costs and operational challenges, with losses estimated at around Rs 3,500 per vehicle per day in some areas.” “The cascading impact is already visible through disruption in vehicular movement, pressure on supply chains, delays in deliveries and increased stress on manufacturing, import-export activities and movement of essential commodities,” he said.Transporters said that instead of frequent small hikes every few days that create uncertainty, a one-time transparent fuel pricing decision will allow transporters and customers to work on sustainable operational strategies, freight structures and business feasibility.