June 22, 2021: Apollo Tyres and Ashok Leyland have joined hands to launch a COVID helpline for truck driver community across India. Telerad Foundation is the technical partner for the helpline services.
The COVID helpline - ‘Saarthi’ will help truck drivers, helpers and their family members, will provide COVID consultation, vaccination guidance and non-COVID consultation (for other diseases). 
According to the companies, the pan-India helpline service will be available in 5 languages -- Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Assamese.
To avail the services, members of the trucking community can call on 7028105333, between 1000 to 1700 hours from Monday to Saturday.
According to the helpline organisers, the members of the trucking community, who have tested COVID positive, and are in home quarantine, can get Doctor Consultation by calling on the helpline. They can also get guidance on nutrition during the infection period. For non-COVID patients, Doctor consultation and prescription would be provided as a part of the ‘Saarthi’ initiative.
Beneficiaries from the trucking community seeking guidance on Vaccination, will be provided with counselling to clear their doubts regarding the vaccine, help with registration on COWIN/ Arogya Setu portal, scheduling of appointment at the nearest government hospital, help with downloading of vaccination certificate and post vaccination medical assistance, if required.
Ashok Leyland has been educating the driving community on good driving practices through the establishment of the Driver Training Institutes. Currently the company has 11 Driver Training Institutes operational across the country. According to the company, close to 15 lakh drivers have been educated since its inception.
Apollo Tyres launched its healthcare initiative in 2000 and has since reached out to nearly 50 lakh people with its HIV-AIDS Awareness and Prevention, Vision Care, Tuberculosis, and other healthcare services in 31 centres across the country.
