Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/240655
DRIVER REPORT eep in the mineshaft, the machines move about like mechanical ants, persistent and indefatigable. There is a distant noise of engines. Outside the mine, the mist has recently lifted to reveal the forest-clad mountains. Down in the mine, there is a powerful roar. The sound of stone scraping against steel when load after load of coal and soil are shoveled onto the flat body of the truck. Andreas Wahyudi waits with his hand on the gear lever for the few minutes it takes his colleague to give him a heavy load. He then puts his foot on the accelerator and once again climbs to the top. "The most important things are to focus, be careful and communicate with one another," he says. The Susubang Mine is a nearly 35-square-mile open-cast mine in East Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. This is where the hardest and most expensive coal, anthracite, is mined. The exposed coal looks like black, vertical stripes in the excavated soil. Blasting, followed by the removal of the rock-filled soil between the seams of coal, is required to access it. Every day, 31-year-old Andreas removes soil in a Volvo FMX, from the area of the mine to a dumping site about a mile away. The rough road surface and the heavy load, as much as 27 tons, require not only resilient construction vehicles but also skilled drivers. Deep wheel tracks, stones and large clay potholes make the roads in the area of the mine D difficult to navigate. The soil that is removed quickly changes the landscape, as do landslides and downpours. "The terrain is the greatest challenge. The condition of the roads has a decisive impact on safety," says Andreas. Fully laden trucks thunder past and Andreas keeps a watchful eye. He then reaches a water-filled hole in the road and grips the steering wheel with both hands. The engine revs as the truck approaches a steep hill and the truck climbs upwards. "No problems. This engine is powerful." Constant instructions on where the load is to be dumped, questions about Andreas' position and warnings of obstacles on the road issue from the communication radio. At the mine, communication is the most important thing. "We never know what lies further ahead. The ground moves, and what looks one way at one moment can quickly change the next. However, I know my colleagues will keep me informed so I stay calm," says Andreas. During a shift, Andreas never leaves his truck, but the constant communication via the radio, the honking of horns and friendly greetings from oncoming drivers mean that he never feels alone. "The best thing about this job is the new friends I have made," Andreas explains. He comes from Longkali in eastern Kalimantan and, like many drivers, he is a long way from The demand for coal, especially from China, has created a huge demand for drivers. Andreas Wahyudi lives together with 20 other drivers at workers' accommodations close to the mine. "The best thing about the job is the new friends I have made," he says. 10 DRIVER 'S DIGEST #1/2014