Operated by specialist haulier Xpression Event Solutions, based in North Oxfordshire, the Actros L 1853 works with a mobile laboratory trailer owned by sports science contractor Ai.io.
Xpression Event Solutions runs a fleet of 18 trucks to transport hospitality and display trailers to roadshows, exhibitions and sports venues throughout the UK.
The Actros L 1853 was supplied with funding support via Daimler Truck Financial Services by Dealer Sparshatt Truck and Van, who will also maintain the truck under the terms of a Mercedes-Benz Service Contract.
The vehicle visits sports organisations to provide a range of services that help teams and individuals to measure, understand and improve their capabilities across a range of metrics.
Although owned by Ai.io and staffed by its scientists and technicians, the trailer is maintained and transported by Xpression Event Solutions.
Xpression managing director Jonathan Hill said: “This is a premium service and aiLabs’s customers are some of the biggest names in sport, so obviously when choosing a truck to haul their trailer, quality was of paramount importance.”
“The Actros L fits the bill perfectly. It has all the presence and brand image we could wish for, backed up with renowned Mercedes-Benz reliability and performance.”
Xpression’s new truck is powered by a 390 kW (530 hp), 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder engine. It includes MirrorCam rear-facing cameras, in place of traditional side mirrors, which relay their images to screens inside the cab, as well as safety equipment including Active Brake Assist 5 autonomous braking with pedestrian recognition, as well as Attention Assist, Traffic Sign Assist and Proximity Control Assist systems.
“This was our first Mercedes-Benz truck from Sparshatt and we’ve been very impressed with the service,” continued Hill.
“Meanwhile the truck itself is everything we hoped for. Before setting up Xpression, my fellow director Paul Mitchell and I both drove for top motorsport teams which used Mercedes-Benz tractors to haul their race transporters and hospitality trailers. We know the Actros is a great vehicle to drive and the roomy GigaSpace cab provides a real home from home.”
The AiLabs trailer is equipped to offer sports analytics solutions to teams and clubs across a variety of disciplines, with testing methods and metrics that can be adjusted to meet specific requirements.
The advanced biometric and cognitive analysis data gathered can help individual and team performance development, as well as supporting recruitment, scouting, tactical planning, management of injury recovery and even engagement with fans and supporters.