Truck transportation in Ghana’s mining areas has always been a “tough test” for vehicles – transporting 30-tonne ore back and forth on steep, muddy roads every day requires not only withstanding high-intensity operations but also balancing efficiency and costs. In 2021, a Ghanaian customer was looking for a suitable used dump truck and finally chose the used Howo TX400 horsepower 6×4 U-shaped cargo box dump truck provided by Mulincan. Three years later, this truck has traveled over 280,000 km in total. It has not only never had a major breakdown but also become the “core workhorse” for the customer’s mining transportation. Behind this lies Mulincan’s full-process professional services, from understanding needs to vehicle optimization – it is not just selling a truck, but truly solving practical problems in mining transportation.

When connecting with the Ghanaian customer to understand their needs, Mulincan did not rush to recommend vehicles. Instead, it first clarified the specific working conditions of the mining area: high daily transportation frequency, roads covered with gravel and mud, and a continuous 5-km steep slope with a 15-degree gradient. Ordinary dump trucks easily “break down” under such conditions. Based on these needs, Mulincan selected the used Howo TX400 from its existing vehicle inventory – this truck had only previously been used for short-distance infrastructure projects in China, with no long-term operation in harsh environments, resulting in low wear on core components. Its 400-horsepower engine and 6×4 drive system are perfectly suited to handle the climbing and muddy roads in the mining area.

To reassure the customer, Mulincan also conducted 12 special inspections on the core components of the truck: disassembling the engine to check power output (ensuring it could stably haul 32 tonnes of ore at 1,700 rpm), testing gearbox shifting (to avoid jamming under heavy loads), and inspecting the anti-slip components of the drive system (replacing worn parts). Mulincan also showed the customer every step of the inspection process and results, transparently presenting details from the condition of engine parts to chassis wear, allowing the customer to clearly understand the truck’s performance. Later, the customer reported that this truck could drive steadily through muddy roads during the rainy season by engaging low-speed four-wheel drive – much more reliable than other used dump trucks they had used before. Now, it can stably complete 10 trips a day, 2 more than expected, increasing the monthly transportation volume by 25% directly.

Another major pain point in mining transportation is that ore has high hardness and slight corrosiveness. Ordinary cargo boxes wear out quickly and are prone to ore sticking to the walls, making cleaning time-consuming. After learning about this issue, Mulincan specially made customized optimizations to the U-shaped cargo box of the Howo TX. The U-shaped cargo box has no protruding corners, allowing it to be fully filled with ore. Compared with traditional rectangular cargo boxes, the 8-cubic-meter U-shaped box can hold an extra 3-4 tonnes of ore per trip. Calculated based on 10 trips a day, it can transport an additional 30-40 tonnes of ore daily – translating to nearly 2,000 US dollars in extra daily income for the customer.

Considering the corrosiveness of Ghana’s ore, Mulincan also sprayed a professional anti-corrosion and wear-resistant coating on the inner wall of the cargo box. Tests showed this could extend the cargo box’s service life by at least 2 years, eliminating the need for frequent and costly replacements. In addition, Mulincan inspected and maintained the truck’s lifting system: replacing the seals of the dual-cylinder lifting pump and adjusting the lifting angle to 60 degrees. Combined with the smooth inner wall of the U-shaped cargo box, ore is almost completely unloaded without residue. The driver only needs to rinse it with a high-pressure water gun for 10 minutes – saving 30 minutes compared to the previous method of cleaning with shovels. Once, the mining area urgently needed to transport a batch of ore to the port; it was precisely because this truck completed 2 extra trips that the customer managed to deliver the goods before the deadline. Later, the customer specifically commented, “This cargo box modification is extremely practical – efficiency is much higher than before.”

For used dump trucks, fuel consumption and maintenance costs are key concerns for customers. Before delivery, Mulincan adjusted the engine working condition of the Howo TX and maintained the lubrication of the transmission system, ensuring the truck’s comprehensive fuel consumption under full load remained stable at 32-34 L/100 km – 2 L lower than that of new trucks with the same horsepower. Based on Ghana’s local diesel price of 1.2 US dollars per liter, the customer saves nearly 500 US dollars in fuel costs per month, amounting to 6,000 US dollars a year – roughly one-fifth of the initial truck purchase cost.

In terms of maintenance, Mulincan also established an exclusive operation file for the customer. Based on the intensity of mining operations, it regularly reminds the customer when maintenance is due and provides a list of procurement channels for original accessories, specifying models and reference prices to help the customer avoid the risk of “inferior quality” accessories. The customer stated that each regular maintenance only costs about 800 US dollars, 30% cheaper than accessories of imported brands – no more wasting money on unnecessary maintenance expenses.

Mulincan also proactively addressed special needs arising from the African mining environment, which the customer did not initially mention. For example, gas stations are scarce in remote areas of Ghana – the Howo TX selected by Mulincan is equipped with dual fuel tanks (350 L main tank + 200 L auxiliary tank), which can support a driving range of over 1,200 km when full. This covers the 1,000-km one-way trip from the mining area to the port without the need for refueling midway. In summer, Ghana’s temperature often exceeds 40°C; the truck’s cab is equipped with a sun protection and heat insulation layer, which can lower the internal temperature to 26°C within 10 minutes, ensuring drivers do not suffer from heat during long hours of driving. Additionally, the tire pressure monitoring system is crucial – gravel is abundant in mining areas, making tires prone to punctures. Once, the tire pressure alarm went off, and the customer replaced the spare tire in time, avoiding a roadside tire burst.

The customer did not mention these details initially, but Mulincan proactively adapted to them based on years of experience in serving cross-border mining customers. Today, this Howo TX, which has traveled 280,000 km, remains the “core asset” in the customer’s fleet. When the customer later expanded their fleet, they ordered 2 more trucks from Mulincan. For Mulincan, the key to providing used dump truck services is not just maximizing sales volume, but ensuring each truck is adapted to the customer’s working conditions and truly solves their problems – this is why this Howo TX has been able to operate stably in Ghana’s mining areas for so long and become a trusted “profit partner” for the customer.