Trucks break down or get stuck
Category: Seek Advice | April 19, 2007 By ModeratorThis happens quite frequently. So what happens now, how did the crew cope and if it was serious how did the company cope with it. Were you left stranded or did you have to take alternative transport. Tell us your experience!
We were heading down towards ushauia in the middle of nowhere on a dragoman truck when something ripped through one of the diesel tanks. The crew managed to patch things up enought to get to civilisation - they did a fantastic job.
We came across a kumuka truck that just about made it across the pass from Bolivia to Chile. It got repaired in a factory high in the altiplaino, middle of nowhere and manged to get to San Pedro de Atacma. Not sure what happened to it afterwards.
We travelled for several months on a truck that our driver agreed needed some repairs, but they wanted to wait til we got to a garage they knew to get it fixed properly. We nearly made it all the way there, but the last couple of weeks were a bit messy with several breakdowns…
I think part of the problem is that the drivers aren’t given enough downtime between trips to get things like that sorted out. Its a tough job, but the decision makers back in the office seem to be too concerned with their budgets. Or maybe that was just the company I chose, which I think was one of the more expensive ones!
Read this story sent in to us by Deborah regarding an overlanding trip in the Sahara Desert.
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