Sohaj, Egypt. A project for Shell looking into truckers' lives and truck stop culture.
The truck stop we spent a week in was set up by local businessman, Gamal Al Azizi, over a decade ago. It now holds a very good nationwide reputation, in an industry where where safety and trust are in demand. The arterial roads running down the Nile, connecting the countries urban centres, are often fraught with danger for full time drivers. They work incredibly long hours, to reach a salary equivalent to Egypt's minimum wage (approximately $250 pm). So many rely on drugs to stay awake, causing danger to themselves and other drivers on the road.
There's also the fear of being hijacked along the long desert roads. They often carry expensive payloads between factories in the north and south. So trucks often drive in convoy, for security and especially when the loads are valuable. So, the desert stop provides an oasis for this disparate community. They welcome the respite, and use the time to catch up on passing stories, sharing a Shisha, praying, sleeping, eating and drinking.
