At night on 14-15 December 2003 a KAMAZ-5460003 line haulage prime mover crossed the border between Poland and Germany and headed towards Jackobsdorf.

That historical moment has been expected for several months. A year ago there was developed a project on operation of KAMAZ trucks powered with Euro-2 engines on European roads. The project was certainly a daring one and it was hard to believe that it would ever be materialized, as vehicles’ engines operating in European countries have to meet very strict international standards on environment protection. Nevertheless, KAMAZ designers and manufacturers, and also end-users from “MosOblAutoTrans” JV, that took a lease of several KAMAZ heavy-duty trucks, were quite optimistic about the project.

“KAMAZ-5460003 truck for European roads has been thoroughly tested by “KamaTransService” company, - said Khamza Ghabdrakhmanov, Deputy Chief Engineer of the Automobile plant of KAMAZ Inc. - Upon completion of each test stage, KAMAZ R&D designers refined the vehicle’s design and the Plant’s experts introduced the new ideas into production lines immediately. To meet European standards successfully, it was necessary to modify the truck’s frames, to lower its fifth-wheel device for a train, and to equip it with another type of tires. The vehicle was powered with a 360 h.p. engine with a turbocharger. Besides, the problem of air suspension had to be solved too. There were introduced new pneumatic elements to adjust a rear bogie’s height, and also adjusting washers under the torque rods. All in all, while testing procedures there have been input over 50 changes and modifications into the design of the truck.

Two first-class drivers from “MosOblAutoTrans” company have been specially trained at “KAMAZ” while preparing for the vehicle’s acceptance. “Training as if they are going into outer space” - the drivers heard sometimes.

In September 2003, after running tests and pre-sale preparation the truck was let on lease to “MosOblAutoTrans” JV. After passing all required procedures on registration and inspection, there started visas issuing formalities. And meanwhile, KAMAZ prime mover has been successfully “training” in Khzakhstan, where it transported goods made in Turkey.

On December 1 there was granted a visa to Germany, where KAMAZ-5460003 was to arrive unloaded and pick up a German manufactured semi-trailer in Jackobsdorf.

On December 5 the vehicle piloted by Andrey Marvin, a first-class driver from “MosOblAutoTrans”, left Moscow. His mobile phone has been always switched on.

The routes run through Poland. Christmas was quite close, that’s why there were long queues at customs clearance offices at the border checkpoints between Belorussia and Poland. Besides, the weather was not favorable, - said Sergey Dmitriev, Head of Transportation Department of “MosOblAutoTrans” OJSC. After the truck has passed the Poland-Germany border and was running in Germany, it was stopped because its mud wings didn’t meet European standards. They were replaced at one of Polish service stations, and now KAMAZ truck is running from Jackobsdorf to Stuttgart. There, on Wednesday it will pick up its load and will be back. The consignee is located in Togliatti. We think the truck to be quite good and hope that in future it will be used for haulage in Europe.

It should be mentioned that since beginning of July 2003, this truck modification has been manufactured at KAMAZ Inc. by small batches.

Olga Erashova