Niger - Meet a camión from Bilma in the Ténéré Desert

The Ténéré is one of the least populated regions in the world, except here on the “salt route” from Bilma to Agadez (Niger), where loud trucks have replaced the steady, serene pace of the camel caravans.

Adventure in sight - In the Sahara, buses and trucks for passenger transport are rare and fares are expensive. Between Bilma and Agadez, they follow the traditional path of salt caravans. - Niger / Ténéré / 2002

Public transport
No, it's not a photographic montage, but a tribute to public transport. On top of the 15 tons of cargo, 53 passengers crowded as best they could to travel the hundreds of kilometers separating Sebha, Libya, from Bilma, Niger.
Libya - Fezzan - 1964

Beginning on Vancouver Island as early as 1840, the timber industry has been British Columbia's most important economic base. Indians have worked in the lumber mills since 1856; in later years they also worked as lumberjacks and on log rafts. Today Indian people drive the massive lumber trucks (77) that deliver felled logs directly to the mills or they take them to the coast, from where the logs are floated to the pulp mills.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Le camion demeure souvent le seul moyen de transport des habitants de la montagne. On y entasse passagers et marchandises dans un équilibre instable qui ne va pas sans offrir de sérieux dangers. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Les bananes de la forêt tropicale sont chargées sur des camions qui doivent ensuite franchir la Cordillère des Andes. Les fruits sont vendus dans la plupart des villes du pays. Río Aguaytía, Région Ucayali - 1969

You do not need a bus to go to the market. This truck in Calca in the Urubamba Valley will be filled with Indians to the last place, including their merchandise, of course. - 1969

On the Panamericana, between Arequipa and Ica, the gate on the back wall of a truck has opened and a load of oranges has been poured onto the road. - 1969

A cistern truck and a car are travelling on National Road 3 in Patagonia. - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

The dusty track of National Road 3 between Puerto San Julián and Puerto Santa Cruz - Patagonia - Santa Cruz Province - 1973

Travelling flea market in Commodoro Rivadavia - Chubut Province - 1973

In southern Patagonia and especially on Tierra del Fuego and in southern Chile, the climate and vegetation only allow sheep farming. The flocks graze scattered over thousands of hectares of stony wasteland. They are only herded together for three occasions: Disinfection bath, shearing and slaughter. But then the ovejeros, the shepherd gauchos, are often on the move for days with their powerful dogs, keeping in touch with each other with high altitude fires and smoke signals. - Near Estancia Los Luises, Santa Cruz Province - 1973

This strange photograph is not a montage. It is a "public transport" in honour of the truck's manufacturer. On top of 15 tonnes of cargo, 53 passengers crammed themselves as best they could to make the hundreds of kilometres from Sebha, Libya, to Bilma, Niger. - Libya - 1964

To the east of the Aïr Mountains lies the Ténéré Desert. One part of this desert is the Erg Brousset with the Adrar Madet, a small mountain range. On the way there, you may encounter the lorries that connect Bilma to Agadez. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

To the east of the Aïr Mountains lies the Ténéré Desert. One part of this desert is the Erg Brousset with the Adrar Madet, a small mountain range. On the way there, you may encounter the lorries that connect Bilma to Agadez. The lorries are packed with goods and a large number of passengers on top. - Adrar Madet - Niger - 2002

Toy truck made with a lot of imagination - Iberkom - Niger - Aïr - 2001

A fascinating moment capturing the coexistence of tradition and modernity in India. It depicts a street scene typical of the country’s rural regions or smaller towns, where old and new modes of transport share the same space. The yellow lorry is a classic model from Tata Motors, recognisable by its distinctive logo. These vehicles are often artistically decorated with colourful patterns or religious symbols. In direct contrast to this is the traditional cart in the foreground. The driver sits calmly amongst his cargo, whilst the heavily laden oxen plough their way forward – a sight that has scarcely changed for centuries. - Kollam (Quilon) - Near Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) - 1990

This historic, ornately decorated truck (often known as the “Nissan One Ton” or Nissan 4W73) was photographed in the desert region around Jaisalmer. These rugged four-wheel-drive vehicles were originally developed for military use and later adapted for civilian use. The body and the wooden superstructure above the cab are decorated with detailed floral patterns, ornaments, and inscriptions in Hindi and Sanskrit. A large eye is painted on the hood. This widespread symbol traditionally serves as protection against the “evil eye” (Nazar) and is said to protect the vehicle and its crew on long journeys. A curtain made of fine metal chains hangs in front of the front bumper. These fringes swing back and forth while driving, producing a rattling sound that is also believed to contribute to the ritual warding off of evil spirits. An image of a deity is affixed to the top of the front panel, a feature typical of Indian trucks, to invoke divine blessings for the journey. – 1990

This truck is a classic example of the colorful and artistic truck decoration that is a tradition in India and Pakistan. Indian script (Devanagari) can also be seen above the windshield. The license plate displays the letters “RNM.” In the old Indian license plate system (in use until the late 1980s), the combination “RN” specifically stood for the state of Rajasthan. On the left side, a camel pulls a transport cart—a common mode of transportation in Rajasthan. - The vehicle and scenery shown bear a striking resemblance to the famous truck from the Indian film “Road, Movie” (2009/2010), starring Abhay Deol, which was also filmed in the distinctive desert landscapes of Rajasthan. – 1990

A Sunday outing by lorry in the Colombian province of Huila. In the Andes, lorries largely replace buses. - Book: Picture 40 - Colombia - 1977

An old lorry loaded to the brim with freshly harvested sugar cane. The scene is typical of sugar cane transport in the agricultural regions along the Pan-American Highway in northern Peru. – Northern Peru – 1976

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