Safety, driver comfort and ease of operation are proving just as important in specialist transport as they are in large commercial fleets, with amateur show jumper Peter Carcary choosing an IVECO S-Way AS 550 to move valuable horses around Australia.
Carcary travels to around 25 equestrian events each year, towing a 48-foot Premier horse float from his Brisbane base to competitions across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. For a driver who describes himself as an “amateur truck driver”, the priority was finding a prime mover that was easy and reassuring to operate over long distances.
The S-Way replaced another European prime mover that came with the horse float, with Carcary saying a test drive convinced him to make the change.
“The ease of operation of the S-Way, the comfort, the quietness and the intuitive cabin layout means that I actually look forward to getting in and driving long distances,” he said.
The application highlights how technology commonly associated with professional transport fleets can also reduce workload and fatigue for occasional or lower-mileage heavy vehicle drivers.
Carcary has been particularly impressed with the truck’s automated manual transmission and adaptive cruise control, while safety features including Lane Departure Warning, Driver Attention Support and Driver Style Evaluation provide additional assistance on longer journeys.
Powered by a 550hp engine producing 2,500Nm of torque, the S-Way also provides considerably more performance than Carcary says is strictly required for the task. That additional capacity was a deliberate choice, giving him confidence that the truck could comfortably handle the combination across varying road and operating conditions.
“I probably could have chosen a smaller truck, but test driving the S-Way filled me with confidence,” Carcary said.
Fuel efficiency has also been a pleasant surprise, with Carcary reporting strong consumption figures despite the size of the combination and the distances travelled.
The truck is paired with a Premier horse float capable of carrying up to eight horses, although Carcary normally travels with two competition horses. The trailer is designed to make extended trips self-contained, featuring a generator, inverters, kitchen, bathroom, sleeping berths and storage, while the S-Way itself adds a microwave and fridge/freezer.
While driver comfort is important, Carcary says the quality of the ride also has a direct impact on the passengers that matter most.
Internal cameras allow him to monitor the horses while travelling, and he says the smooth and stable combination helps them arrive relaxed and ready to compete.
For fleet operators, the application is a useful reminder that vehicle selection is not simply about matching payload and power requirements. Driver confidence, fatigue reduction, safety technology, ride quality and ease of operation can all influence the suitability of a vehicle — particularly where drivers may not spend every working day behind the wheel.
Carcary says the S-Way and horse float combination attracts plenty of attention at events, and his experience has left him comfortable recommending the truck to others.
For a specialist transport operation where both driver and cargo need to arrive in good condition, the IVECO S-Way is proving to be a comfortable fit.
