Joachim Schneider is a specialist in XXL transport

After 35 years of being a driver, there came a huge surprise from the boss: in June, Joachim Schneider got a brand-new, yellow Actros 1848. "I didn't anticipate that," says the 62-year-old. "My previous truck was only ten years old, was in good condition and is still being used."

30,000 kilometres are now on the clock of Joachim's new Actros. And despite having already covered that distance, he still can't decide which feature of it he likes the best. "The suspension sits nicely on the road, the Mercedes-Benz PowerShift transmission with Predictive Powertrain Control or the really relaxing seating position. It's all spot-on," enthuses the trucker.

Behind the wheel in the direction of Matterhorn.

When he's relaxing, Joachim likes to go on "little head holidays". That's what he calls the cycling tours he does in his spare time. For 15 years now, he's been taking his mountain bike along on the trailer with him. He particularly enjoyed his bike ride around northern England which took him, among other places, to Liverpool and Blackpool. "In these truly British towns, you'd almost think that time has stood still." He will also never forget a journey on the Matterhorn mountain which took him into the snow at an altitude of 2200 metres.

He even once succumbed to the magic of winter in the northern Swedish town of Luleå with its temperatures down to minus 30 degrees. "My wife came with me that time," explains Joachim. "We went for a walk on the frozen lake and watched an ice skating race. The locals had even set up BBQs and beer tables." Even today, he still has fond memories of this day: "At the delivery location, the parking facilities were great, as were the social rooms with their sauna. It was almost like being on holiday."

In his "real" holidays, he happily lets his wife take the wheel: "I've driven so much that when I'm on holiday, I just want to peacefully look out of the windows."