6-ounce hamster steers 33,000-pound truck

Charlie the hamster steers a truck.

(Credit: Volvo)

Charlie the hamster has truly blazed new ground for his species. He has steered a massive truck weighing more than 16 tons, which is about 33,000 pounds more than he weighs. The 6-ounce rodent was drafted by Volvo to show the world just how easy it is to steer the new FMX construction truck.

The trial took place in a quarry in Spain. A specialized hamster cage/wheel was attached to the truck’s steering wheel. Charlie was led around with a carrot for motivation, making him perhaps the cheapest chauffeur in history.

The stunt was captured on video, though the video is labeled as “Live Test 2.” There’s no word on whether or not Charlie ran the truck into a wall on his first attempt. He was assisted by human precision-driver Seon Rogers. Rogers controlled the accelerator and brakes.