Eighteen soldiers from the 343rd Quartermaster Company declined orders on 13 October to drive seven fuel trucks from Tallil, in southern Iraq, to Taji, a route through insurgent-held areas near Baghdad. Brigadier General James Chambers of the 13th Corps Support Command confirmed the incident and said an inquiry was underway.
The unit had not previously run the 330-kilometer route, and its trucks carried only partial armor. Because Tallil was a relatively quiet posting, the company had not been prioritized for the Army's extra protection program. Early findings from the investigation indicated the soldiers had raised concerns about vehicle maintenance and safety before declining the order.
All 18 were questioned and returned to their unit. The 343rd suspended all missions while its vehicles are inspected, troops receive refresher training, and commanders evaluate whether fuel truck cabins need additional steel plating. Chambers estimated the pause would last 10 to 14 days without affecting resupply operations.
Chambers called truck driving "the most dangerous job in Iraq." Since February his command had completed 75,000 missions, losing 26 soldiers to ambushes and other attacks. Each day, roughly 5,000 to 7,000 troops man fuel tankers or escort vehicles, with about 250 convoys comprising some 2,500 to 3,000 vehicles circulating across the country.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in October 2004, in its own words.