Trucking Milestones: 1982 – two 608 D trucks in use for foreign aid

Trucking Milestones series

Tough.

Two 608 Ds helping to fight hunger and poverty in Rwanda.


Rwanda's varied topography gives it the name "Land of a thousand hills". However, its past is less poetic: the consequences of the 1994 civil war can still be felt today.

But this landlocked state in East Africa is back on the right track. The economy is thriving and Rwanda is regarded as Africa’s pioneer in matters of environmental protection, digitalisation and gender equality. Of course, the country knew nothing of what was to come back in 1982 when Transport magazine published an article concerning the region.


The truck bed is slowly filled up with milk churns that the 608 D takes to the dairy.


Back then, two Mercedes‑Benz 608 D vehicles were put into service for a development project of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) agency. One had a daily fixed route, partly over rutted tracks, from Kigali to the most remote milk collection points. Its job was to transport the perishable goods to the state-run dairy in Nyabisindu as quickly as possible. On the way back, it carried finished products, like fermented milk, yogurt, butter or cheese, to supermarkets. 

The second Mercedes‑Benz 608 D was sent on its travels to improve the food and farming yield situation in this desperately poor country. It transported seeds, young plants and harvested crops.

The two trucks had tough jobs: the dirt tracks were mainly in poor condition, more footpaths than roads. But even the steep trails through the mountains were no trouble for a genuine Mercedes, as Transport magazine attested at the time: "Both 608 D trucks are outstanding, especially considering how extreme the deployment conditions are for vehicles of this class." 



Photos: Daimler AG

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