Middle Eastern Magic

In April 2024, International Truck Stop•1 Minute•By NZ Trucking magazine•20 May 2024

This fairly tidy Dubai-registered FH Volvo was fixing a flat tyre next to the Qatar- Saudi border crossing at Abu Samra. The orange Saudi Transit sign means the truck can exit Qatar and be checked by border control, then exit Saudi Arabia into Kuwait or one of the other Arab member countries without a second check, signifying the truck is only transiting through Saudi.

Grant Schofield is back with another gallery from his global travels. This month, a rare glimpse into Middle Eastern trucking.

An old Volvo F12 from Kuwait, awaiting its next load in a parking area in Doha.

This is a typical Middle Eastern spec drop-side trailer, similar in principle to what we have in New Zealand, just without the bulk tipping function. Note the 24in wheels on the Volvo and the driver sleeping on a rack next to the landing legs – quite a different scene.

There aren’t as many of these old Mercedes-Benz trucks still at work in this part of the world as you might hope – probably a good thing if you’re the one driving!

Volvo is the most popular truck in many Arab countries. Of the old shape FH Volvos in the background are one from Kuwait (on the left) and four from Oman. The more modern one in front is from Saudi Arabia.

As with many parts of the world, there are many nationalities driving trucks in the Middle East, especially people from India, Pakistan and the Philippines. This driver was from Afghanistan and was working for an Omani company, seen here passing time by his kitchen toolbox while waiting for his Monday unload in Doha.

MAN is not a popular brand in these parts, but this TGX features the common Middle Eastern heavy-duty tow hitch used for towing through sandy desert areas, especially across Yemen.

Mercedes-Benz makes up 90% of the local fleet within Qatar, including this MP1 Actros Megaspace cab.

Despite being only 5am, it was already 39°C. Many drivers who don’t have functioning air conditioning choose to sleep outside, like this driver from Saudi Arabia making the most of his toolbox lid.

As with the big advances in infrastructure in the Middle East, the trucks are quickly updating, too. Most are European imports like this, complete with a fridge trailer that had a previous life in Belgium.

Middle Eastern Magic

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