MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION ON BULGARIAN TRUCKS, TRACTORS AND TRANSPORTATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004401100012-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2007
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: July 12, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT Miscellaneous Information on
Bulgarian Trucks, Tractors and
Transportation
PLACE ACQUIRED
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE OENNITIVE.
TJEJ APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TRJTATIVE.
(FOR KEY so RWERU)
1. The 8TZ tractor has the following specifications:
a, pour cylinders; ,.-
b. Weight- about five toa;
o. ifty-five horsepower;
d. Size of piston -'105 me-.; 7
e. Si* cast iron pistons;; and
f. Crankshaft lies on five-composition main bearings. i
2. Connecting rod (bielnite) bearings are of composition c struction. !the motor
is ignited at first with bens4ne. After being warmed ui, it uses gas as a fuel.
The motor is equipped with magneto ignition which causes frequent and considerable
trouble. The entire tractor has been constructed c*nde;ly and=heavily.
However, it is very sturdy when operating in poor, heavy, and clay soil.
3, The so-called factory defects usually consisted of broken.,connecting rod
bearings, since the piston with its connecting rod was, very heavy and its
composition construction could not withstand the shock and the heat during the
operation of the motor.
4. The heads of the motors often crack. The motor becomes unserviceable after the
second or third cracking of the head and therefore more ,bh ti two thirds of the
imported tractors can not be used.
STATE X ARMY Y NAVY $ AIR X FBI j jAEC
This Document contains Information .meeting the M.-
Uonai Defense of the United States, within the mean-
Ins of 77W It eeotiaoa 7IS and IN. of the O.e. Code. a.
amended. DO tranamlmloh at raveIatian of Its eontanta
to or swept by an unautho la d .coon I. prohibited
by law. The reproduatlcn at this farm Is Prohibited.
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 12 July 1954
NO. OF PAGES 6
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES 10
ter
 The tractor has one reverse and four forward speeds. The third_ speed forward is
most frequently used for ordinary work. The flywheel is heavy and often breaks
its bolts. The differential is connected directly to the main drive. On heavy
soil, the teeth of the gears break and fall into the differential and pinion
gears. The ball bearings of the gears wear rapidly.
DT - 54 Tractor
6. This tractor is similar to the STZ except that it is fueled with oil. A single
cylinder small motor (German model DSV-250 cubic centimeters) is used to start
the motor of the tractor. The bearings usually wear out in two seasons, and the
crankshaft axles are very soft and become elliptical quickly.
7. The fuel pump is defective and therefore the tractors rarely operate on all four
cylinders. This causes the heads of the motors to crack. The fuel nozzles also
become defective very often. This tractor is not as sturdy as the STZ tractor and
lasts for a shorter operating period. It pulls five 22-centimeter plows in soft
earth and three 25-centimeter plows in dry earth.
ZIS-105 Trucks
8. This 80 horsepower truck is a poor imitation of the old Studebaker model. It
has the following specifications:
a. Capacity of load - three tons;
b. 55-60 per 100 consumption;1
c. Piston size - 100 millimeters.
The motor block is constructed very crudely. The truck requires a major over-
haul after 45,000 to 50,000 kilometers. Practically none of the ZIS-105 trucks
are ignited with electric motors. This is because the electric motors are weak
and the motor is of a heavy construction. Electrical installation in this truck
causes the most frequent trouble. The sparkplugs on a new truck with only 30,000
kilometers become dirty, and the Delco distribution system and the water pump
wear rapidly.
After 70,000 - 80,000 kilometers, the bevel pinion of the main axle breaks during
fast speeds. The universal joint has two drives which are crude and heavy, and
the truck has no rollers in the bushings. The differential has small and large
gears, and the teeth of the small gears and pinions break very often. The truck
is equipped with mechanical brakes on the rear wheels only. These breaks are
adjusted when the vehicle is empty, and therefore, when the truck is loaded the
breaks do not hold,
The ZIS-105 ordinarily doss not have any brakes. The poor and crudely constructed
driver's cab deteriorates rapidly. However, the old ZIS-105 modal is more
durable than the ZIS-150 model.
ZIS,-150 Truck
11. Although this track is an improved model of the ZIS-105 truck, the drivers do
not like it. Although the heavy motor in the truck is built of low quality
materials, it is sturdy. It has 85-90 horsepower, and a piston size of 100.5
millimeters. After 45,000 - 50,000 kilometers, the motor requires a general
overhaul. The universal has two heavy dry drives. On level ground, gas con-
sumption is 55-60 per 100, and.on hilly terrain, up to 70 per 100. The front
support, on which the motor and the radiator are mounted, breaks down very
frequently. The motor is difficult to start.
 Approved For Release 2007/08/16: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004401100012-1
12. The truck has five speeds forward and one reverse speed. After about 20,000
kilometers, the fifth speed begins to make a noise. The speed gear box is
very heavy and is secured to the motor with four bolts. This causes the cover
(hood) of the motor to break. The speed axle wears out after 30,000 to
40,000 kilometers.
13. The differential assembly is better than that of the ZIS-105 truck. However,
since the rear springs do not have a central bolt and whenever the brackets of the
springs do not hold, the springs wind and the differential unit wears rapidly.
14. The truck has good air brakes with double cylinder air-compressors which do not
hold more than seven atmospheres and which, do no v a , ng screw$,
GAS-51 Molotov Truck
15. Informant heard that this truck is light and better than the ZIS-150 and the
ZIS-105 trucks but that it does not have a long life of service. All of the
Molotov trucks, which had been issued to state enterprises and cooperatives, were
requisitioned by the Army in exchange for various models of the ZIS trucks.
Moskva Motor Bike
16. The Moskva Motor Bike is an exact copy of the German DK11-125 (cubic centimeters).
It is built of very poor quality materials and does not last for more than 5,000
to 10,000 kilometers. after which it is so completely worn that is not worthwhile
to have it repaired.
17. Many of these motor bikes were imported during the years 1949 to 1952. Now,
most of these motorbikes have been stored in the "Otpadutsi" State Commercial
Enterprise warehouse in Sofia and are sold by the kilogram (sic). The blocks
f the motors are used for oasts pistons.
18. A small number of the IZhS motorcycles has been imported for the TKZS'^ and
XTS's in Bulgaria. These motorcycles are exact copies of the German DKV-250
motorcycles. They are sturdier than the Moskva motorbikes.
Transportation Courts
19. Informant states that the transportation courts in the large cities together
with the Trade Union of Transport Workers handle offences related solely to
transportation and to trade union members.
20. The transportation court has a public prosecutor, court jurists. and several
w o are the re resentatives of the trade union.
E non-Jurists.
21. Transportation workers charged with violations were arrested by the militia
and were interrogated. Then, they were sent to the transportation court, where
without much ado, they were sentenced within two weeks after the Crime. The
sentences could be appealed,
here is a special law, since the transportation cour hanCIO
down sentences for those who were accused of disobedience to the KAT
(Automobile Transportation Control) organs, of slow repair of vehicles, and of
negligence resulting in damages. 25X1
 Approved For Release 2007/08/16: CIA-RDP80-0081OA004401100012-1
Automobile Transportation in Bulearis
23. All Bulgarian private trucks (of which there are about 3.500) of various
capacities and models are organized into one BOAT (S4uz na Obshtiya Avtomobilen
Transport; General Auto Transportation Union) which has its branch offices in
the larger cities. These branch offices plan transportation and dispatch
vehicles to the required places.
24. Each month, truck owners receive a plan to be fulfilled. Truck owners and
drivers are not permitted to dispose of the trucks or to haul freight for their
personal benefit. Freight owners pay the cost of transportation to BOAT branches
who, after making deduction for taxes and administrative expenses, pay their
drivers on a monthly basis.
25. If a truck is damaged, its owner applies to the SORT branch administrator, a
Communist, for a letter stating the place and the date on which the truck must be
repaired. Both the owner of the truck and the mechanic are responsible if the
truck is not repaired within the specified time.
26. SCAT has organized its own assembly (repair) shops. However, some of the
trucks are still repaired by automobile repair cooperatives or by private
mechanics.
27. The truck owners who did not fulfill the plan are sent before the transportation
court or else their trucks are sent to places with difficult and heavy roads.
This wears the trucks rapidly without bringing any income to the owners.
28. If a truck remains in repair or if it does not operate for six months, it is
confiscated by the state and its owner is sent before the transportation court
for not taking care of state pr erty.
29. All BOAT trucks are extremely worn and lack spare parts. The tires on the tracks
are of a poor quality. Tires, recently manufactured by the "Georgi Dimitrov'
(formerly Bakish) Plant, crack in many instances after 300-400 kilometers of
service, and the breaks usually occur near the rim of the wheel. The average
life of a tire on a Bulgarian.vehicle is from 4,000 to 8,000 kilometers,
Informant had heard that Bulgarian tires had lasted as long as 15,000 kilometers.
Soviet tires, manufactured by the 'Yaroslav" Rubber Combine have lasted from
15,000 to 20,000 kilometers. The SCAT vehicles are still in use only because
of the personal interest, initiative, and their maintenance by the owners. 25X1
30. Up to April 1952, the state withheld '30 percent of the turnover for taxes,
but after 1 May 1952, the state retained 54 percent. This caused great
indignation among the drivers who, as a result of this, formed transportation
strikes in Velingrad, Sofia, Plovdiv, and several other BOAT branches. quick
action of the militia and the regime prevented the extension of this dissatis-
faction of the drivers. The workers were paid normal wages without delay.
31. Since some of the administrators of the BOAT branches had sympathized with the
drivers against the increase of taxes, they were dismissed, and Party members
were assigned to their positions. The drivers were extremely dissatisfied with
SCAT and especially with SORT branch administrators who protected the interests
of the state and not those of the owners. Much favoritism was shown, and Party
chauffeurs were sent on easy jobs and received spare parts, tires, etc. without
delay. A truck owner in the SORT can not sell his vehicle to the TKZS or to
any other state enterprise, but only to another chauffeur in the BOAT. All
the vehicles must be insured.
32. All the vehicles must pass an annual inspection conducted by military and
militia organs. Despite this, every branch office has militia organs which
maintain inspection on the maintenance of the vehicle and on the observance
of the militia regulations for driving. The SORT Central Administration
is located in Sofia.
 33. The UAT (Upravlenie na Avtomobilniya Transport; Auto Transportation Management)
has its main offices in Sofia. Its branch offices are located in the larger
cities and on projects requiring permanent motor transportation, such as timber,
mining, and other projects.
34. UAT vehicles were imported b the state after 1947.
are In UAT possession:
a. Skoda - 120 horsepower, 7-ton;
b. Praha - 3-ton;
c. Chapel - 4-ton (probably Hungarian);
d. ZIS-105 - 80 horsepower, 3-ton;
e. SIA-150 - 90 horsepower, 4-ton; and
f. A small number of Soviet diesel MAS vehicles.
These vehicles are driven by employed drivers. The large projects use two
drivers for each vehicle which operates in two shifts.
35. Since the drivers are paid according to the number of kilometer-tons transported,
they try to cover many kilometers and work from 12 to 16 hours daily. As soon
as one driver stops the other one gets into the truck. Thus, the truck motor
wears very rapidly. The trucks are transferred from one project to another with
their drivers. Normally, a new truck requires motor repair every 3-4 months.
36. Minor repairs of trucks are made in the UAT branch repair workshops and major
repairs are made in the automobile repair plants in Sofia and Plovdiv. The
automobile repair plants do not give good quality repairs, because they lack the
necessary spare parts. Since the spare parts are not imported from the USSR for
the Soviet trucks, they must be made in Bulgaria. The automobile plants do not
have good skilled specialists because they do not pay the necessary wages.
37. The automobile repair plants repair only the ZIS-105, ZIS-150, and GAS trucks.
Recently it was said that Praha trucks were repaired also.
38. The UAT branches repair passenger vehicles in places which do not have any
railroad transportation. Since there are not many passenger vehicles, trucks
are used for transporting passengers. There are very few passenger vehicles and
they are used only for transportation between the villages.
39. Generally speaking, there are not enough UAT trucks for the needs of the state.
Therefore, they have to be used for double duty, for frequent transfers from
project to project, and they are usually overloaded. These conditions and poor
maintenance have greatly shortened the life of the imported trucks.
40. labor discipline in the UAT is not on a sufficiently high 25X1
level because of poor wages, small possibility of controlling the drivers, and
threats from the transportation court. Many of the UAT drivers who formerly
were truck owners or who had worked under better conditions as private drivers
have become anti-Communists.
Internal City Transportation
41. All SOAT and UAT small trucks were left in the cities for the hauling of goods,
vegetables, etc. These trucks are under the supervision of the militia which has
the authority to use all state and private vehicles at any time anywhere as it
may deem necessary. Each driver who operates these trucks must give his name and
address to the militia, and if he wants to leave the city, he must receive
permission for this from the nearest militia post.
CONFIDENTIAL
 Automobile Transportation Control
42. The YAT (Automobile Transportation Control), an entirely independent section of
the militia, is charged with the administration and the control of automobile
transportation in Bulgaria.
43. Uniformed militia junior or senior lieutenants who drive motorcycles or
automobiles on the highways, inspect documents, the condition of motor vehicles
including tires, motor, brakes, etc., and the observance of militia traffic
rules.
44, The Sofia UT branch office has a special group of civilian controllers who
are assigned to work projects in Bulgaria.
Very probably what is intended is that the US-105 truck 25X1
consumed 55-60 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (approximately four miles
to the gallon).