Truck donations fuel driver training in Zambia

27th May 2025

Three heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) donated by corporate partners of Transaid have entered service at the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) in Lusaka. Collectively, they will be used to train hundreds of new and existing professional drivers in Zambia. The three vehicles were formally transferred to the ITC during a handover ceremony in April 2025.

This contributes to an ongoing partnership between Transaid and the ITC which was formed to improve road safety across the country, having first teamed up in 2008 and together trained more than 25,000 drivers during the 17-year period.

Previously operated in the UK, the vehicles comprise two Scania R450 tractor units donated by longstanding corporate partner The Malcolm Group. Asset Alliance Group, which became a corporate partner in January 2024, supplied a DAF CF rigid, and covered the cost of shipping.

To ensure these new assets were ready to hit the ground running, they were fully serviced prior to transportation. All three have been fitted with the latest cameras and telematics systems, donated by Transaid corporate partners Brigade Electronics and Microlise.

 

Willie Paterson, Chief Executive of Asset Alliance Group, says: “Hearing that new duties on imported vehicles would cause a potential problem for donations, we saw an opportunity to step up and help. The work Transaid does is incredible and shouldn’t be limited by shipping costs.”

Andrew Malcolm, Chief Executive of The Malcolm Group, says: “Transaid is an organisation very close to our hearts and we take a huge sense of pride in knowing that these two vehicles, which have worked so hard for our business, can now enjoy a second life helping to make the roads safer in Zambia alongside our previously donated vehicles.”

Brigade Electronics installed two analogue high-definition side cameras, along with a seven-inch colour monitor in each vehicle’s cab. The cameras activate when the indicators are switched on and are designed to eliminate blind spots and improve a driver’s view of both sides of the vehicle. Microlise supplied access to its Fleet Performance and Driver Safety software solutions, together with telematics equipment.

Caroline Barber, Chief Executive of Transaid, says: “We are so fortunate to have such wonderful corporate partners that truly believe in the work that we are doing and genuinely want to get involved in any way they can. As we have seen with previous vehicle donations, these three trucks will be very useful additions to the ITC fleet.”