UMS and Renault Trucks: a decade of partnership supporting mining operations in Guinea

For the past ten years, UMS United Mining Supply, a specialist in mining, industrial and oil-sector transport and logistics services in West Africa, has relied on Renault Trucks to keep its operations running in particularly challenging environments.

Renault Trucks and UMS have developed a long-term partnership encompassing vehicles, services, expertise and operational support. Today, a fleet of 350 Renault Trucks K vehicles plays a central role in UMS's mining activities in Guinea, the world's leading exporter of bauxite, ensuring the continuous transport of ore from extraction sites to port facilities.

A fleet designed for large-scale operations

In the Boké region, where several of Guinea's largest mining operations are located, Renault Trucks K vehicles haul bauxite from the mines to port infrastructure.

Operating 24/7, the trucks navigate challenging terrain while carrying exceptionally heavy loads. Every vehicle travels in excess of 190,000 kilometres annually, bringing the fleet's total distance covered to more than 66 million kilometres.

A partnership built on continuous improvement

Launched in 2016 with the support of local distributor TGH Plus, the partnership between Renault Trucks and UMS has grown steadily over the years. Over the past decade, 600 Renault Trucks vehicles have been delivered to support the company's mining and logistics activities.

Beyond vehicle supply, Renault Trucks works hand in hand with UMS teams to continuously enhance fleet performance. Telematics data is analysed jointly every month to optimise fuel efficiency and operational cycles.

Insights gathered from day-to-day operations in the field also help drive vehicle development. Several adaptations originally developed to address UMS's specific requirements have since been incorporated into Renault Trucks' solutions for the most challenging environments.

Support designed to maximise fleet availability

In mining operations, every hour of vehicle downtime can directly affect production. To ensure fleet availability, UMS relies on its in-house maintenance facilities, where more than 150 mechanics are continuously on call, working in three rotating shifts.

Meanwhile, to minimise repair times, Renault Trucks works closely with UMS to determine the appropriate level of on-site spare-parts inventory and ensure its effective management. This approach helps maintain high levels of vehicle availability despite the demanding nature of mining operations.

The development of skills and expertise is another cornerstone of the partnership. Every year, Renault Trucks delivers training sessions for UMS mechanics, drivers and in-house trainers. Twice a year, a specialist trainer visits the mining sites to work directly with local teams on eco-driving practices and safety.

These efforts are part of a wider continuous improvement approach focused on enhancing operational safety, including through the analysis of transport routes and vehicle operating conditions.