A British transport company, NRT Horse Transport Ltd, has acquired two new Actros transporters as its flagship vehicles to do just that.
One is a 26-tonne Actros 2536, powered by a 10.7-litre, 360hp in-line six-cylinder engine; the other is an 18-tonne 1830 model, with a smaller 7.7-litre powerplant, which produces 300hp.
Both have 2.3-metre ClassicSpace cabs and 320 mm engine humps, improving visibility and ease of access for drivers.
Both have bodies made by leading equine transport specialist Oakley Horseboxes, with individual stalls for nine horses and space for seven.
Anderson said NRT is on a fleet replacement programme.
Cameras and remote temperature control systems mean the stall areas can be monitored and kept at the ideal temperature from the cab. The bodies can be accessed via loading ramps to the sides and rears, and both trucks feature underfloor lockers.
NRT operations manager Jason Anderson said the new trucks represent the latest stage in a five-year programme to replace all 15 vehicles with new Mercedes-Benz chassis. The trucks will ensure the highest standards of comfort and safety for horses, passengers, and staff.
Although the transporters are designed to provide first-class accommodation for horses, human passengers are not ignored.
The cabs have optional, upgraded interactive versions of the Mercedes-Benz Multimedia Cockpit, while the bodies boast comfortably furnished groom areas with seating as well as washing and toilet facilities, and roof-mounted sleeping pods.
