Greetings from Lusaka. I'm Elias Chanda, 45, and I've spent the last 25 years in the transport business here in Zambia. Started as a loader in the markets, worked my way up to owning a small fleet of six trucks for long-haul jobs – mostly ferrying fresh produce from farms in Southern Province to the Copperbelt mines, or building materials from Lusaka to Livingstone. The roads aren't kind: dusty tracks in dry season, mudslides in the rains, and always those overloaded trailers testing every bolt.

In November 2024, I needed a new rig after my old Japanese truck finally gave up on a run to Ndola – gearbox seized halfway. I heard about the Foton Auman EST from a supplier in Kitwe who'd imported a few for mining ops. The 6x4 model with 380HP caught my eye: built for Africa, right-hand drive like we need, and priced at around $50,000 before taxes. I thought, why not? Chinese trucks have come a long way, and with the Cummins ISG engine inside, it felt like a safe bet. Took delivery in June, and now, a year later with over 135,000 km logged, I can say it's exceeded what I hoped for.

Let me start with the power under the hood. That 11.8L diesel engine delivers 380 horses and a whopping 2000 Nm of torque – it pulls like a mule even when I've got 50 tons of maize or cement stacked high. On the Great North Road from Lusaka to Kapiri Mposhi, where the hills get steep, I barely drop below 7th gear in the 12-speed Fast manual transmission. The 5.26 axle ratio keeps it efficient too; I'm averaging about 28-32 liters per 100 km loaded, which saves me a bundle with diesel prices fluctuating. The 350L aluminum fuel tank means I can do a full round trip without stopping at those dodgy roadside pumps.

The chassis is solid – 9T front axle, 16T rears, with leaf springs that handle our pothole-ridden highways without complaint. Frame's beefy at 320x90mm, no warping even after some rough overloads (we all do it sometimes to meet deadlines). Tires are 12.00R20s, tough enough for the gravel detours around Kafue; I've only had three flats, and the spares are easy to source locally now that Foton's got a presence in Lusaka.

Cab life's important when you're clocking 12-14 hours a day. The flat-roof design keeps it low for under bridges in town, but inside it's roomy for me and my co-driver. Manual AC blasts cold in our scorching summers, power windows and central locking are handy, and the airbag seat absorbs the bumps better than my old truck's. We've got MP3 radio with USB – keeps us entertained with some Zambian tunes on long nights. Heated mirrors clear up quick in the misty mornings near Victoria Falls runs.

Not without its quirks, though. The drum brakes (no ABS) require a firm foot in the wet season slop – had a close call sliding on mud near Mazabuka once, but the exhaust brake helped slow it down. At around 85,000 km, the air filter needed replacing earlier than expected due to all the red dust; cost me about ZMW 5,000 at the workshop. But warranty covered a minor clutch adjustment, and overall maintenance has been cheaper than my previous rigs – services every 20,000 km run ZMW 15,000-20,000.

This Auman EST has kept my business rolling through tough times – more reliable hauls mean happier clients and steady income for my family. If you're in Zambia's logistics scene, battling the same roads and loads, I'd say give this one a serious look. It's not the flashiest, but in our world, tough and affordable wins every time.

Elias Chanda

Lusaka, Zambia

july 19, 2025