Truck drivers ask PM to build more parking, service sites at roads

AMUR HIGHWAY, Khabarovsk Ter, Amur Reg, August 29 (Itar-Tass) --
Premier Vladimir Putin made a stopover at the 791st kilometre of the Amur
highway when he returned from the Eastern cosmodrome construction site.
There is one of few large parking places with a cafe and technical
service for large trucks at the site. Eight lorries, seven American trucks
and one Kamaz, were on the parking ground.
One of the drivers, Alexander Sakharov, asked the premier to show the
car he drove, a Lada Kalina. Alexander sat at the wheel, started the
engine and drove around on the ground.
The drivers told Putin that three years ago they would not have
believed they would be so happy to drive calmly on the new highway.
Formely it was an awful road. "You are lucky you drive the car now, but
not before," they added.
Putin invited the drivers to the cafe to have tea and talk. They
advised much to the prime minister and Transport Minister Igor Levitin,
who accompanied Putin on the trip as a passenger.
The first problem the drivers said about was the lack of communication
and the lack of large equipped parking grounds for trucks. However, even
under such conditions, more vehicles arrive from western countries as the
road is opened.
Putin asked the transport minister to pay attention to the problem,
noting that there were no parking places when there was no road. "We pay
attention to it," he said. The premier assured that together with the
transport minister and governors he would address the issue.
Putin noticed that mainly American vehicles were used for
long-distance routes. The drivers answered that a Kamaz was not able to
compete. American trucks are easier to operate and have wide sleeping
places and even refrigerators. A Kamaz does not have anything of these,
but costs much. It is easier to buy a used American truck, than a new
Kamaz, they believe.
The premier noted when he was at the Kamaz plant he was said that a
joint company was set up with Americans and they would make engines at the
plant. The drivers were glad to hear it, as they were not satisfied with
Kamaz engines either.
They also noted foreign trucks were rather large, but roads were
narrow. Putin advised them to drive domestic vehicles as they would fit.
"We build roads for our vehicles," he said, and the drivers noted: "But
roads must be built for us." The remark was followed by laugh at the table.
They also talked about the extending of the road from Khabarovsk to
Vladivostok. Putin said the road was in bad condition there so far.
When a driver from Yakutsk asked when a good road would be laid to
Yakutsk and farther, the premier said at first a railroad would be laid
there, and then a bridge would be built for the railroad and for a
highway. Most likely, it will be built at federal budget expense, since
private companies would not be interested in the construction.
Putin also wondered what Western drivers said. "They say it is good a
highway has appeared, but they do not understand why there is no technical
servicing at the road," the drivers noted. "You should answer them that a
road has appeared, and then servicing will appear," Putin said.