Exercises Modernization

PLA Daily Reporter at the Grassroots | The Plateau Motor Soldiers' 'Roadbook' Has Grown Thicker

军报记者基层行丨高原汽车兵的“路书”变厚了

PLA Daily (解放军报) 30 May 2026

Summary

The Special Transport Battalion of a brigade under the Army's Qinghai-Tibet Garrison Station Department has expanded its heavy-duty transport operations across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, shifting from fixed logistics routes serving rear-area units to variable, combat-unit support missions across high-altitude, multi-terrain environments, with the battalion's route reconnaissance booklet—the 'roadbook'—growing from two handwritten pages to a standardized, illustrated volume now slated for UAV-assisted electronic conversion. The article documents a concrete logistics adaptation problem: as PLA combat-realistic training pushes into higher altitudes and unfamiliar terrain, plateau transport units have had to rebuild their route knowledge infrastructure from scratch, replacing institutional memory of fixed routes with systematic pre-mission reconnaissance and standardized documentation. The planned UAV route survey and electronic roadbook extends this pattern of incremental capability formalization and raises the question of how broadly the Qinghai-Tibet Garrison is standardizing logistics support procedures across its subordinate transport units.

Translation

Wherever the troops exercise and train, equipment is delivered there——

The Plateau Motor Soldiers' 'Roadbook' Has Grown Thicker

■ PLA Daily Reporter He Yishu

The mighty Kunlun Mountains, biting cold winds. On the road to heaven, military vehicles follow one after another, winding forward, like a flowing silver ribbon.

At the very front of the convoy, the command vehicle nimbly rounds a bend. Inside, Company Commander Xu of the 2nd Company, Special Transport Battalion, a certain brigade under the Army's Qinghai-Tibet Garrison Station Department, carefully observes road conditions while making marks in a palm-sized booklet.

The booklet records in detail mileage, road conditions, lunch stops, rest stops, and other information. For the road section just passed, Company Commander Xu has added a notation for "guardrails." "This is the 'roadbook' (路书)," Company Commander Xu told the reporter. The "roadbook" is like a paper navigation map; every time they go out to execute a mission, he and his comrades update this "map" according to the latest road conditions.

Last year, Company Commander Xu, who had not long been assigned to the company, led a team on a mission for the first time. Faced with unfamiliar and complex road conditions, he repeatedly consulted the company's veteran squad leaders and other battalion and company commanders for details about road conditions and mission essentials. Before the mission began, he received the "roadbook" issued by the battalion. This practical booklet, which recorded altitude and road conditions in detail, gave Company Commander Xu peace of mind and helped him lead the convoy to successfully complete the mission. From then on, he always brings the "roadbook" when leading teams on missions.

The convoy crossed a mountain peak and stopped to rest at a service area. The cab door opened and an agile figure jumped out. The one operating this military vehicle was the battalion's Deputy Political Instructor Deng. He stretched his body while walking around the vehicle to inspect it.

"Actually, the 'roadbook' has only been in use for the past few years," said Deputy Political Instructor Deng. In the first years after he arrived, the battalion had nothing but general-purpose transport vehicles. They drove these "iron oxen," loaded with fuel and supplies, rushing back and forth on several fixed transport routes. After a few years, the routes were thoroughly memorized and there was simply no need for a "roadbook."

With the adjustment and reform of the forces, the brigade accelerated its transformation. New heavy-duty transport vehicles were continuously fielded, the mission of the plateau motor soldiers changed, and the units they supported changed accordingly. "Before, the units we interfaced with were all logistics units; now they are mostly combat units," said Deputy Political Instructor Deng.

The convoy continued moving. For this stretch of road, the reporter rode in the cab of a heavy-duty transport vehicle. As the wheels rolled over the rough road surface, the windows rattled loudly. The rattling of the windows, the roar of the engine, and the static from the walkie-talkies all mixed together, forcing everyone to raise their voices to be heard.

"Before, I always thought of myself as a logistics soldier, but gradually I came to feel that logistics is not 'in the rear' (后勤不'后')," said Political Instructor Wang, who was riding in the same vehicle. That year, they received a mission to transport equipment to a certain high-altitude training ground. They were completely unfamiliar with this route. The battalion and company commanders still operated with old thinking, believing they could eat and stay at garrison stations along the route as before, and did not make adequate preparations. The mission was completed, but only with considerable difficulty.

This experience served as a wake-up call, making the battalion and company commanders see reality clearly: as equipment iterates and missions expand, thinking and concepts must be updated in step. From that point on, every time they went out for training or to execute a mission, the commander would ride the command vehicle ahead to scout the route and open the way for the convoy. Where is suitable for rest? Where is convenient for meals? Where might there be traffic jams? Before the entire convoy arrived, the commander already had his decisions made. "These rest stops and lunch stops in the 'roadbook' were all added after we had reconnoitered the situation," said Political Instructor Wang, pointing to the "roadbook."

"The 'roadbook' in our hands has gotten thicker and thicker!" Staff Sergeant First Class Wang Jianfeng, seated behind the driver, pulled out his well-worn, dog-eared "roadbook" and reflected with deep feeling: "At first it was really just two handwritten pages. As the mission area expanded, the 'roadbook' kept growing, until it became what it is today." Last year, the Army's Qinghai-Tibet Garrison Station Department uniformly issued a new "roadbook." The new booklet is richly illustrated and has become a valuable aid for many new drivers. "I heard from the operations and training section that this year they plan to bring unmanned aerial vehicles, survey a new route in conjunction with missions, and then produce an electronic version of the 'roadbook,'" said Wang Jianfeng, his eyes full of anticipation. "The electronic 'roadbook' will definitely be easier to use."

The "roadbook" has grown thicker, the mileage longer, and the destinations more numerous. In recent years, the smoke of combat-realistic training (实战化训练) has continued to extend to higher altitudes, greater depths, and more complex and unfamiliar terrain. When Wang Jianfeng first enlisted, he thought the washboard-like mountain passes (达坂) were the hardest roads to travel. Over the past few years, he has driven heavy-duty transport vehicles over even more difficult roads—frozen ground on the plateau, yellow sand on the Gobi, rivers thawing as ice and snow melt...

"Wherever the troops exercise and train, equipment is delivered there. We might have been maneuvering on the snowline last month and threading through the depths of the Gobi this month." Wang Jianfeng's words were filled with pride. "All-domain, rapid, precise, reliable (全域、快速、精准、可靠)—these eight characters are not a slogan; they are the hard capability our motor soldiers have 'ground out' with our tires!"

Pointing to the camouflage pack beneath his seat, Wang Jianfeng told the reporter that as soon as a mission is issued, he and his comrades can shoulder their packs and set out. Over the years, they have endured wind and weather, and no matter how harsh the conditions, they have always delivered equipment on time.

Last spring, the battalion received an equipment transport mission. During the mission, a heavy-duty transport vehicle stalled at an altitude approaching 5,000 meters. Deputy Political Instructor Deng led two key personnel in emergency repairs through an entire night before they could continue on their way. Unexpectedly, one day later, another vehicle broke down, and he again led personnel in emergency repairs. In the end, all equipment was delivered to the destination within the specified time.

"Some people say we 'dare to go anywhere and dare to haul anything'—that is the greatest commendation we could receive," said Wang Jianfeng.

Original Chinese

部队演训到哪，装备就投送到哪—— 高原汽车兵的“路书”变厚了 ■解放军报记者贺逸舒巍巍昆仑，凛凛寒风。天路上，一辆辆军车首尾相接，蜿蜒前行，宛如一道流动的银练。车队最前方，指挥车灵活拐过一个弯道。车内，陆军青藏兵站部某旅特种运输营二连徐连长一边仔细观察路况，一边在一个巴掌大的手册上勾勾画画。这个手册上，详细记录着里程、路况、午饭点、休息点等情况。手册上刚刚经过的那个路段，被徐连长添加了“护栏”的标记。“这是‘路书’。”徐连长告诉记者，“路书”就像一份纸质版导航地图，每次出来执行任务，他和战友都会根据最新路况更新这份“地图”。去年，到连队任职不久的徐连长首次带队执行任务。面对陌生复杂路况，他反复向连队老班长和其他营连主官请教路况细节和任务要领。任务开始前，他收到营里下发的“路书”。这本详细记录着海拔和路况的实用手册，让徐连长吃下“定心丸”，也帮助他带领车队圆满完成任务。此后，他带队执行任务时，必带“路书”。车队翻过一座山峰，在一处服务区停下休整。驾驶室门打开，一个矫健的身影跳了下来。操纵这辆军车的，是该营邓副教导员。他一边活动着身体，一边绕车检查。 “其实‘路书’是这几年才用上的。”邓副教导员说。他刚来那几年，营里是清一色的通用运输车。他们驾驶着这些“铁牛”，装载上油料和物资，奔忙在几条固定的运输线上。几年下来，路线早已烂熟于心，根本不需要“路书”。随着部队调整改革，该旅加速转型。新型重装运输车不断列装，高原汽车兵的使命任务发生变化，保障对象也随之变化。“原来和我们对接的都是后勤单位，现在多是作战部队。”邓副教导员说。车队继续行进。这一段路，记者坐进重装运输车驾驶室。车轮驶过粗糙的路面，车窗“咣咣”直响。窗户的振动声、发动机的轰鸣声、对讲机的电流声交织在一起，大家说话时不得不提高音量。 “原先总认为自己是后勤兵，后来渐渐感觉后勤不‘后’。”同车的汪教导员说。那一年，他们接到任务，要将装备运输到某高原训练场。这条路线，他们十分陌生。营连主官还带着老思路，认为可以像之前一样在沿线兵站定点吃住，没有做足准备，结果虽然完成任务，但也颇费周折。这次经历，如同一记警钟，让营连主官们看清现实：装备迭代、任务拓展，思维理念必须同步更新。从那时起，他们每次出去训练或执行任务，指挥员都会坐上指挥车在前方探路，为车队开辟通路。哪里适合休整？哪里方便吃饭？哪里可能堵车？在整个车队到达之前，指挥员的心里已经有了决断。“‘路书’上这些休息点、午饭点，都是我们摸清情况后加上的。”汪教导员指着“路书”说。 “手里的‘路书’越来越厚了！”驾驶员后方的座位上，三级军士长王建锋掏出那本翻得有些卷页的“路书”感慨不已，“一开始其实就是手写的两页纸，随着任务地域扩展，‘路书’不断扩容，才有了今天的模样。”去年，陆军青藏兵站部统一下发新的“路书”。新手册图文并茂，成为很多新驾驶员的好助手。“听作训科说，今年他们准备带上无人机，结合任务勘察一条新路线，然后制作成电子版‘路书’。”王建锋的眼里满是憧憬，“电子版‘路书’肯定更好用。” “路书”厚了，里程长了，目的地多了。近年来，实战化训练的硝烟持续向更高海拔、更广纵深、更复杂生疏地域延伸。刚当兵时，王建锋觉得搓衣板一样的达坂是最难走的。这几年，他驾驶重装运输车走过更多更难走的路——高原上的冻土、戈壁上的黄沙、冰消雪融的河流…… “部队演训到哪，装备就投送到哪。我们可能上个月还在雪线上机动，这个月就在戈壁深处穿插。”王建锋的话语充满自豪，“全域、快速、精准、可靠，这8个字不是口号，是我们汽车兵用轮胎‘碾’出来的硬实力！” 指着座位下方的迷彩行囊，王建锋告诉记者，只要任务下达，他和战友背起行囊就能出发。这些年，他们风餐露宿，不管条件有多恶劣，都一定能按时送达装备。去年春天，该营接到一项装备运输任务。任务途中，一辆重装运输车在接近5000米海拔的地方熄火。邓副教导员带着两名骨干抢修了整整一夜，才继续赶路。不料一天后，又一辆车出了故障，他继续带人抢修。最终，所有装备在规定时间内运抵目的地。 “有人说我们‘哪儿都敢跑，什么都敢拉’，这是对我们最大的褒奖。”王建锋说。