How to Track a Lorry in India Without GPS — 4 Methods Compared
Your lorry left two days ago. The driver is not picking up. The party keeps calling. You do not need expensive GPS hardware to know where the truck is — here are all four ways, with real costs.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Government systems, third-party services and pricing change from time to time — always verify current details with official sources.
The 4 Ways to Track a Lorry in India
1. GPS Device
Hardware: Rs.3,000-8,000 per truck, plus monthly fees around Rs.400-800.
Continuous live location on a map. But it only works on your own trucks — you cannot install a GPS box in a market-hired lorry.
2. SIM-Based Driver Tracking
Hardware: none. Cost: low.
Tracks the location of the driver mobile SIM. Needs the driver to cooperate, keep the phone on and stay in network coverage — the moment the phone is off, tracking stops.
3. FASTag Toll Tracking
Hardware: none. Cost: 1 credit (about Rs.1) per check on LorryCare.
Shows every toll plaza the vehicle crossed, with location and time. Works for any commercial vehicle with an active FASTag — including trucks you have hired.
4. E-Way Bill Tracking
Hardware: none. Cost: 2 credits per check on LorryCare.
For active shipments — enter the E-Way Bill number and see which vehicle is carrying the goods, then follow that vehicle through its toll crossings.
Tracking a Lorry by Number Plate — How FASTag Tracking Works
Every time a vehicle with a FASTag crosses a toll plaza, that crossing is recorded. LorryCare fetches this data from ULIP — the official Government of India logistics data platform — and shows you the recent toll crossings of the vehicle on one screen. All you need is the vehicle registration number.
To be honest about what this is and is not: FASTag tracking shows crossing events, not a continuously moving dot on a map. For the questions that matter most — has my lorry left, is it on the right route, is it on time, where was it this morning — crossing data answers them at a fraction of the cost of GPS.
Want the full comparison? Read FASTag Data vs GPS Tracking, or see the complete feature overview on our lorry tracking page.
The Hired-Lorry Problem — When GPS Cannot Help At All
Most goods in India move on market-hired lorries. The truck is not yours, so you cannot install a GPS device in it. The driver works for the lorry owner, not for you. Yet your goods are inside that vehicle for the next three days.
This is exactly where FASTag and E-Way Bill tracking shine: nothing needs to be installed in the vehicle, and the driver does not need any app. Traders, consignors, consignees, brokers and transporters can all follow a hired vehicle using just its number plate or the E-Way Bill number of the shipment.
New: Automatic Daily Tracking on WhatsApp
Searching for a vehicle twice a day works — but LorryCare can now do it for you. Set up automatic tracking once, and the location arrives on your WhatsApp or email, once or twice daily, morning and evening.
How it works
✓ Search any vehicle by its registration number
✓ Choose updates once or twice daily, and for how many days
✓ Optionally add a destination — every update then includes the distance remaining
✓ Each update costs 3 credits, and the full price is shown before you confirm
✓ Stop anytime — credits for unsent updates are refunded automatically
No hardware, no installation, no depending on anyone to call back — the movement of the truck reaches your phone on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I track a lorry with just the number plate?
Yes. Enter the vehicle registration number on LorryCare and see its recent FASTag toll crossings — the location and time of each crossing.
Where does the data come from?
From ULIP, the official Government of India unified logistics data platform — the same government source used across the logistics industry.
Which vehicles can be tracked?
LorryCare is built for commercial vehicles — trucks, trailers, tankers and buses. Any commercial vehicle that crosses toll plazas with an active FASTag generates crossing data.
How current is the location?
A crossing appears after the vehicle passes a toll plaza. With automatic tracking, updates arrive morning and evening without you searching each time.
Do I need to install anything in the vehicle?
No. Nothing is installed in the vehicle and the driver does not need any app — the data comes from FASTag toll crossings recorded on government systems.
Written by the LorryCare Team — lorrycare.com
Tracking data sourced from ULIP — the Government of India unified logistics data platform. Third-party service costs mentioned are indicative and change over time.
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