@mkimwa, you are a guru in this business. I operate one which has been okay. Been lucky to get consistent jobs mainly 40ft containers from MSA to nrb where I get paid directly.

My biggest challenge is the crew. Apart from tracking technology, how else do you manage these guys?

Thanks...

Any word on Advance Tax?

I did the business and can tell you it is not for the faint of heart.
For anyone who is new to the business here is my two cents worth:

My suggestion is if you are not available to go to the truck at short notice or lack a trusted surrogate for the same purpose, think twice.

Common pitfalls and things to watch out for:
Siphoning of fuel by crew and topping up with substandard stuff. Your engine pistons will have a very short life. Also don't fuel at non-descript petrol stations no matter how much cheaper the fuel is. Find a branded petrol station you like and stick to them to create a relationship. Getting fuel on credit would be a great boost to this cashflow intensive business.

Being told tyres burst (imechapa) along the way. You need to mark your tyres or get the serial number and demand that the pieces of the blown one are brought to you.

The truck owner was almost always the last person to get paid. Everyone else has a superceding claim. Your crew will demand mileage allowance before they leave the port, cops on the way demand their usual fifty - and there are many road blocks every few kilometers for the sole purpose of that ka fifty, insurance gets paid whether you make money or not etc. Brokers demand "jembe" before you "pakia". Fuel is paid upfront. There's no workaround around for this if you are just starting off. With time you can bypass the broker and get fuel on credit but the cops and other expenses require you to have a good working capital.

Broker theft; make sure you know who the eventual owner of the mzigo is. I have had brokers make me transport stuff and then go and collect the final fee in my name and never hear from them again. Almost broke the sixth commandment over one such goon.

Service your vehicle after the required mileage. Don't take shortcuts on this- it will cost you more in the long run.

If you have a trusted crew put new tyres all round. Most people prefer retreads which are cheaper but the crew will always have an excuse of mguu imechapa. On the downside if you don't trust your crew don't dare put new tyres. At a cost of between 40 to 80k a piece 18 tires would have a value of close to 1 m. This is unnecessarily tempting the poor guys.

Find a good mechanic and develop a relationship with him. Do not trust your vehicle to many people. A mechanic was able to point out when a turbo charger from one of the newer units was swapped for an old one. Would never have known until a few months later when the old turbo charger conked out. I have heard of fellows losing gearboxes, clutch plates, etc.

Take a ride in each truck at least once every month if the fleet is manageable. You will be able to tell if somethings not right and to observe the drivers habits. Some of them stop at each town for drinks and women of the night. You do not want a party monster on your hands.

As a general rule I found older drivers to be more reliable than the younger ones.

Even if you are starting out seek to get full payment upfornt (very hard) or at least insist to have the truck fuelled and the mileage allowance paid to driver and turn boy. Your money at risk is minimised.

Seek to get contracts with reputable companies. This is the only way you can survive long term. Short term jobs are very unpredictable. Sometimes you have too many, sometimes you have none. Sometimes they pay well, sometimes not.

Prefer short routes to longer ones. Nairobi Mombassa was my ideal route although supply for this was limited for me. Kampala MSA was my next favourite route. Good roads and easy to sort out any issues.

Insure comprehensive if you can afford. A lot of agents can arrange insurance premium financing such that you pay your premiums on a monthly basis. Its very easy for a sleepy driver to tip over your truck.

If you have more than one truck and have a contract, try and have the trucks travel together. There is more security against thieves especially hapo kiima kimwe (among many other places) - kina Kalembe and his brethren are still at it cutting locks and stealing goods while your truck is climbing steep hills.

Trust nobody. Everyone is out to get you. Approach the business this way and take the necessary precautions.

Pray. There's so much that can go wrong and ultimately some things are out of your hands. Entrust them to the one who can foresee them.

Know its a long post but wish Id had someone who told me some of this things before I started. Hope it helps someone out there.

@ Mkimwa/Rankaz/Guru me/GGK

Am told the speed governors do not apply to all trucks is this true and which ones are affected?

Kindly avoid MAN!

Sorry I do not have info on this @Kratos. How about you contact your nearest motor-vehicle inspection unit?