Asset ownership is often sold as a quality signal. It is really a trade-off. An owned truck gives the carrier direct control of maintenance, driver and schedule, and it lets the carrier dedicate specialist equipment. It also ties capital to lanes that may not return a load.
Hired capacity gives reach and elasticity: the whole market is the fleet. The carrier’s job then becomes vetting, placement, tracking and payment discipline. SSL runs both, which is why our figures show a group fleet alongside tens of thousands of hired trucks in a year.
Side by side
| Aspect | Asset-heavy (own fleet) | Asset-light (hired fleet) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity in a peak | Limited to its own trucks | Draws on the open market and partner fleets |
| Control of driver and truck | Direct | Through vetting, contracts and tracking |
| Unbalanced lanes | Carries the cost of the empty return | Pays the market rate each way |
| Specialist equipment (reefers, trailers) | Can dedicate it | Depends on partner availability |
| Capital | Tied up in vehicles | Free for network, technology and working capital |
When a single model fits
- Choose a pure asset-heavy carrier when one lane, one product and steady volume justify dedicated trucks and drivers.
- Choose a pure asset-light platform when you need occasional trucks on many lanes and will manage quality yourself.
When a hybrid fits
- Choose a hybrid when you need dedicated or reefer trucks on core lanes and the market’s reach everywhere else, under one accountable desk.
SSL, in figures
- SSL runs both: a group fleet for dedicated and reefer work, and hired trucks for reach
- 600+ vehicles in our fleet
- 21,000+ distinct trucks mobilised through 76,000+ hires in twelve months (Sep 2025 to Aug 2026)
Sources: SSL's own booking register and hire records (how we count) and the SSL Research Library.
What named companies publish
Facts below are taken from each company's own filings, results or website, or from reporting on them, as available on 29 September 2026. They describe business models, not quality of service. Corrections: tell us and we will fix them.
- Safexpress. Its managing director said in 2023: “We are asset-light and don’t own a single one of the 10,000+ trucks”; the trucks are vendor-owned and dedicated. Motor India, Safexpress interview (Oct 2023)
- Delhivery. Its FTL business runs as a freight exchange (Orion) rather than an owned fleet; the owned/partner split of its truck base is not disclosed. Delhivery Annual Report FY25
- Shiprocket. Owns no line-haul and resells capacity from its logistics partners. Medianama, Shiprocket IPO financial takeaways (Aug 2026)
- Blue Dart. Owns its air network: 8 freighters through a wholly owned airline subsidiary. Blue Dart factsheet