#highalps #unique #busy – that’s the Zermatt I know. Traffic is steadily increasing here as a result. On some days, the 5,430 residents rub shoulders with up to 30,000 tourists, with 500 electric vehicles carrying goods and tourists. The local authorities have therefore tightened traffic regulations considerably: between midday and 7:00 pm, all distribution services are prohibited on Bahnhofstrasse – even for residents.
This is great for walking about the village, but for the logistics of supplying its many shops, boutiques, restaurants and pubs, it is a nightmare. That’s where I come in. As the driving force behind the parcel service of Planzer subsidiary Alpin Cargo, I have been delivering small parcels weighing up to 30 kg in Bahnhofstrasse three days a week since Christmas 2019. This makes me the first and, so far, the one and only shod four-legged colleague in the Planzer family business.
To provide high-quality and sustainable city logistics in the middle of the Swiss High Alps, you not only need strength and stamina but, above all, a cool head. As an 800 kg Polish coldblood, I am made for this. From Monday to Wednesday, I pull the parcel carriage through the busy shopping precinct of Zermatt under the guidance of carriage driver Tereza. I don’t mind that I’m photographed dozens of times a day at work. After all, I get a tasty treat every now and then for standing there and acting cool.
At the weekends, I take guests and Zermatt fans for a walk. Tereza harnesses me to an elegant Victoria carriage, named after Queen Victoria of England. It offers up to six seats, two of which can be covered on request, and was once used on festive occasions. The curved mudguards positioned over the wheels at the sides protected guests’ luxurious clothes from splashes.
I can tell you a lot about my tours in and around Zermatt, but then we’d be here for a long time. That’s why Planzer has recorded my experiences in two seasons of short video episodes. Here’s a little sneak peak: in season one, you can find out what else keeps me busy besides parcels and guests. Season two portrays my romance with mule Lina, who has the longest, most beautiful ears in the world. By the way, my buddies from Planzer Marketing managed to get the Valais musician and songwriter Stefanie Heinzmann on board to record the voice-over for Lina. We haven’t made it onto Netflix yet, but you can watch all the Benny episodes here.
You an even book me for a carriage ride, from a leisurely trip that ends with a fondue in a lodge, to a joyride for newlyweds or a romantic outing by the light of the full moon under a canopy of stars. For these and any other equine enterprises, I can count on the support of my working buddy Charles. You can find out more on my website.
And now, back to the matter at hand – logistics. Of course, I’m not just a tourist highlight, but a viable alternative for carbon-neutral parcel delivery in car-free cities. This makes me an ambassador for sustainable urban logistics, so to speak. Because one thing is certain for us at Planzer: making city logistics fit for the future means always putting your best hoof forward.
Yours, Benny, the Zermatt carriage horse
