Vehicle design is a critical but often overlooked determinant of animal welfare during transport - poorly designed vehicles cause injury, thermal stress, and fear.
Transport vehicles mediate the welfare of billions of livestock animals annually, yet vehicle design standards have historically lagged behind what animal welfare science indicates is needed. Animals cannot choose their transport conditions or communicate distress to drivers in ways that prompt immediate response. Good vehicle design - appropriate ventilation, non-slip flooring, appropriate space allowances, and monitoring systems - reduces the welfare harms that are otherwise inevitable in long-distance livestock transport.