What challenges do drivers face in West Africa?

Dusty tracks, rainy season difficulties, and road safety concerns.

What goods are commonly transported in lorries in Mali?

Onions, dried fish, and millet are frequently transported.

Prioritizing safe driving, securing loads, and thorough maintenance.

Seeking alternatives like old lorries and distant suppliers.

Night driving, cooling down lorries, and quick meals in the savannah.

Drivers in West Africa like Abdullah Donbelle prioritize passenger safety on challenging dirt tracks during the rainy season, showcasing a commitment to ensuring safe transportation despite difficult conditions.
Market days in Mali's bushland are bustling, with drivers such as Siku offering essential transportation services for villagers, highlighting the crucial role lorries play in connecting people to markets and goods in areas with limited road infrastructure.

What challenges do drivers face in West Africa?
Dusty tracks, rainy season difficulties, and road safety concerns.
What goods are commonly transported in lorries in Mali?
Onions, dried fish, and millet are frequently transported.
How do drivers ensure the safety of passengers on challenging paths?
Prioritizing safe driving, securing loads, and thorough maintenance.
How do drivers handle the lack of spare parts in remote areas?
Seeking alternatives like old lorries and distant suppliers.
How do drivers optimize their journeys in West Africa?
Night driving, cooling down lorries, and quick meals in the savannah.

00:00

West Africa has dusty dirt tracks that are challenging to navigate, especially during the rainy season.
Mali's bushland lacks developed roads, with most people relying on minibuses, pickups, and lorries for transportation.
Abdullah Donbelle, a focused driver, ensures passenger safety on unpredictable dirt tracks prone to accidents.
The region experiences a dry season from October to May, ideal for land transport, while heavy rains flood the area.
Loading lorries with goods like onions, dried fish, and millet is strenuous, requiring proper distribution to prevent tipping.
Drivers like Siku and Daiye navigate dangerous roads carefully, avoiding accidents with increased traffic.
Passengers board lorries with their goods, securing the load with ropes, cords, and straps for the journey.
Market days bring hustle and bustle to Mali's dirt tracks, with competition between minibuses and horse-drawn carts.
Drivers like Abdullah prioritize safe driving on challenging paths, where petrol stations are scarce and journeys are long.
Despite the hardships caused by bad roads, traders rely on markets for business opportunities and essential supplies.

25:45

Diege needs replacement ball bearings for his prop shaft, but there are no suppliers for such parts, so he checks Seku's old belly lorries.
The men are skeptical about the ball bearings in Seku's truck, preferring to buy new ones, but Diege's apprentice confirms the center ball bearing is unusable.
Diege asks Abdullahi to get a new ball bearing from Jenny, 150 kilometers away, as going to the bigger town for spare parts would take days and result in significant losses.
Cleaning day involves washing the lorries thoroughly, especially the engine, to prevent overheating and ensure proper maintenance.
Driving at night allows the lorries to cool down, go faster, and navigate potholes better, with drivers camping in the savannah and enjoying a quick meal before continuing their journey.
Siku ensures passengers pay a fare of about 50 cents for an hour-long trip to the market, providing essential transportation for villagers who rely on the lorry for access to markets and goods.