Haul trucks are off-road, heavy-duty dump trucks specifically engineered for use in high-production mining and exceptionally demanding construction environments. Most are dual axle; at least two examples of tri-axles were made in the 1970s. Haul trucks are denominated by their payload weight capacity.
Description
Most haul trucks have a two-axle design, but two well-known models from the 1970s, the 350T Terex Titan and 235T WABCO 3200/B, had three axles. [1] Haul truck capacities range from 40 short tons (36.3 t; 35.7 long tons) to nearly 500 short tons (454 t; 446 long tons).
An example on the smaller end is the Caterpillar 775 (rated at 70 short tons [63 long tons]).[2] Quarry operations (which produce payloads that have value) typically employ smaller trucks[why?] than mining operations (such as removing undesirable overburden, an expense).[citation needed]
Haul trucks can generally be distinguished from standard dump trucks by:
- Being far too large to travel legally on public roads
- Having a dump body made of exceptionally strong steel plate that extends over the cab to protect it, angled upright at its end (or entirely) to aid in dumping; some are heated by exhaust gases to prevent loads from sticking or freezing to the bed;
- Having a driver's cab narrower than its body;
- No axle suspension;
- Limited speed and operating range;
- Special off-road only tires;
- A ratio of dead weight to payload not exceeding 1:1.6[citation needed]
Most large haul trucks use some form of traction motors coupled to regenerative braking for power, braking, or both.
Haul trucks are classified by:
- Type of unloading (dump or rear-eject);
- Direction of discharge (side, rear);
- Type of body (hopper, platform, sliding hopper, sliding platform).
Ultra class
The largest haul trucks, with a payload capacity of 300 short tons (270 long tons) or greater, are referred to as ultra class trucks.[3] As of 2025, the BelAZ 75710 is the truck with the highest payload capacity, 450 tonnes (440 long tons; 500 short tons).[4]
Notable examples
| image | model | manufacturer | first model | number built | capacity | propulsion type | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BelAZ 75710 | BelAZ | 2013 | 496 short tons (443 long tons) | diesel-electric | Employs 8 tires, on two axles, with all-wheel drive, and all-wheel steering. | ||
| Liebherr T 282B | Liebherr | 2004 | 400 short tons (360 long tons) | diesel-electric | |||
| Bucyrus MT6300AC | Bucyrus International | 2008 | 400 short tons (360 long tons) | diesel-electric | Firm was acquired by Caterpillar in 2010. | ||
| Caterpillar 797 | Caterpillar | 1997 | 360 short tons (320 long tons) | diesel-mechanical | The 797F model has an increased capacity of 400 short tons. | ||
| Komatsu 960E-1 | Komatsu | 2008 | 360 short tons (320 long tons) | diesel-electric | |||
| Belaz 75600 | BelAZ | 2005 | 350 short tons (310 long tons) | diesel-electric | |||
| Terex 33-19 "Titan" | General Motors Diesel Division | 1973 | 1 | 350 short tons (310 long tons) | diesel-electric | Prototype, only 1 built | |
| Komatsu 930E | Komatsu | 1995 | 2,100 | 320 short tons (290 long tons) | diesel-electric | Number built as of September, 2018 |
See also
Notes
- ^ Off-Highway Trucks from Caterpillar 2009.
- ^ "CATERPILLAR 775G OFF-HIGHWAY TRUCK". ConstructionEquipment.com. May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
- ^ Orleman 2000, p. 15.
- ^ Taweel, Waddah (10 October 2025). "Top 10 Biggest Dump Trucks in the World". Almarwan Machinery.
References
- Orleman, Eric C. (2000-11-10). Building Giant Earthmovers. Motorbooks Colortech. Johnson, Paul (ed.). United States of America: MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-7603-0640-6. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
The ultra-hauler class includes trucks with a capacity rating of 300 tons and above.
- "Off-Highway Trucks from Caterpillar". Caterpillar Website. Caterpillar Inc. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
Developed specifically for high production mining and heavy-duty construction applications ...