Some time ago there was given a start to a train of vehicles to run from Lisbon to Moscow under aegis of Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and Association of International Vehicle Transport Agents. Two months of a «half-around the world» tour is strictly scheduled. A KAMAZ-5460003 truck in this column is the only road-train representing Russian vehicle manufacturers. It’s worth mentioning that this is exactly this vehicle that has made a breakthrough to Europe at the end of 2003. A VOLVO road train with a «Tonnar» trailer and a MERSEDES BENZ AKTROS with a «Novotruck» semi-trailer are participating in this test run too along with KAMAZ. A registered finish will be in Vladivostok.

KAMAZ crew consists of three reliable experienced drivers — Zagfar Khabibullin, Nickolai Tchumakov and Leonid Ozhegov, a team leader and director of Service Department of Trade-and-Finance Company of KAMAZ Inc. (TFC).

Earlier, a KAMAZ-5460003 truck was first tested while running to Stavropol, and for this purpose this haulage truck was equipped with a specially designed semi-trailer with an air suspension. After the prime mover has made 5500 km all its drivers have unanimously indicated that the truck was very well assembled and there were no failures, nor oil loss. A 600 liter fuel tank was enough to cover 2 000 km. Due to air suspension there were no road shocks. The truck was powered with a 360hp EURO-2 engine, its tyres came from Yaroslavl, transmission — from ZAENRAD FABRIC and ABS — from WABKO company.

Aims and targets set by KAMAZ for this test run are to present a new perspective prime mover to international transport agencies and to prove that this truck can be a real alternative to imported western manufactured vehicles in Russia. Another task is to demonstrate the vehicle’s technical capacities in Europe and Asia, to promote two-axle prime movers into the market, and to advance KAMAZ brand in general. From technical point of view this test run has to demonstrate a well arranged service net along the whole route and to find out the best locations for possible new service stations. As in February there was opened a new «Amur» high way connecting the Far East cities Chita and Khabarovsk, it is planned to test this new road too as it is providing for a direct through transportation from Western Europe to South-Eastern Asia. In such a way the test trucks will have to pass various road and climatic conditions.

By 12 June, Russia’s Independence Day, a column of the test trucks will arrive to Moscow leaving Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Poland and CIS behind.

© www.kamaz.net, 2004