Rigid dump truck (off-highway mining truck)

01

Match payload and body volume to the material

SANY's SRT95C rigid off-highway mining truck page lists a 95 t load weight, 65 t net weight, a body of 42 m³ struck and 60 m³ heaped, a Cummins QST30 engine of 783 kW with 4,629 N·m torque, an Allison H8610AR automatic transmission, 27.00R49 tyres, 30% maximum gradeability and a 12,000 mm minimum turning radius. Its smaller SRT55D lists 55 t, 40 t net, 26/35 m³, 565 kW and 24.00R35 tyres; the SET150S diesel-electric truck lists 136 t, 105 t net, 60/78 m³ and at least 1,400 kW. [1]

Editorial calculation: the SRT95C's 95 t payload in a 60 m³ heaped body corresponds to 95 / 60 ≈ 1.58 t/m³; for denser loose material the payload, not the body volume, is the limit, and for lighter material the body fills before the payload is reached. Its gross weight is about 65 + 95 = 160 t (about 353,000 lb). [1]

Komatsu's specifications for its HD785-8 mechanical truck give a nominal payload of 92.2 t (101.6 short tons) with the standard body, an empty weight of 73,880 kg including an 80 kg operator and a gross vehicle weight of 166,080 kg (365,967 lb); the body holds 40 m³ struck and 60 m³ heaped (2:1 SAE) with 12 mm front, 19 mm bottom and 9 mm side plate. Axle load shifts from 51.5% front / 48.5% rear empty to 33.2% / 66.8% loaded. The SAA12V140E-7 engine (EPA Tier 4 Final, 30.48 L, 12 cylinders) is rated 895 kW gross (SAE J1995) and 879 kW net (ISO 9249 / SAE J1349) at 1,900 rpm, driving a seven-speed full-automatic planetary transmission to a 65 km/h top speed; the hoist relief pressure is 20.6 MPa, the hoist time 11.5 s and the fuel tank 1,322 L. [4]

Editorial calculation: 92.2 t in a 60 m³ heaped body is about 1.54 t/m³, close to the 1.58 t/m³ worked out for the SRT95C; and 73,880 + 92,200 = 166,080 kg, so Komatsu's gross weight equals empty weight plus nominal payload. [4] [1]

Editorial note: match truck size to the loading tool so that a whole number of passes fills the body, and ask the supplier for body options (rock, coal, lined) and the rated gross weight, not only payload.

Give the supplier the material and loose density, loading tool and bucket size, haul profile (distance, grades, rolling resistance), road width and turning space, altitude and climate, operating hours, fuel or electric drive preference, emission standard, tyre preference, and the safety rules that apply at the site.

02

Check brakes, ROPS and haul-road protection

US MSHA's surface metal and nonmetal mine rule 30 CFR 56.14101 requires self-propelled mobile equipment to have a service brake system capable of stopping and holding the equipment with its typical load on the maximum grade it travels, and parking brakes, if fitted, to hold it there. Its Table M-1 sets maximum service-brake stopping distances by gross weight and speed: for 250,000–400,000 lb, 59 ft from 10 mph to 141 ft from 20 mph; over 400,000 lb, 63 ft to 148 ft. The distances assume a constant 9.66 ft/s² deceleration, system response times rising with weight, and a one-second operator response. [2]

The same part requires roll-over protective structures and seat belts on wheel loaders, graders and the tractor portion of dumpers and rear-dump wagons, among other machines (30 CFR 56.14130), and berms or guardrails "at least mid-axle height of the largest self-propelled mobile equipment which usually travels the roadway" wherever a drop-off could overturn a vehicle (30 CFR 56.9300). [2]

Komatsu lists HD785-8 brakes to ISO 3450, with fully hydraulic, oil-cooled multiple-disc brakes on all four wheels (39,195 cm² front and 71,858 cm² rear brake surface) that also act as the retarder, a spring-applied multiple-disc parking brake, and a secondary brake that applies the parking brake automatically when hydraulic pressure falls below the rated level; its page states 1,770 HP of retarder-absorption capacity. [4]

Editorial calculation: a loaded SRT95C at about 353,000 lb falls in MSHA's 250,000–400,000 lb class, so a service-brake test at 15 mph would need it to stop within 97 ft; berms for a truck with 27.00R49 tyres must reach mid-axle height, which the supplier can give from the axle centre height. [2] [1]

03

Compare what suppliers offer

Suppliers linked to this page list rigid off-highway trucks; each card links to the page reviewed.

The supplier reviewed lists mechanical-drive and diesel-electric rigid mining trucks; ask for payload and gross weight, body volumes, engine and transmission, brake and retarder system, ROPS/FOPS certification, tyres, gradeability and turning radius.

04

Hold a payload policy and read the retarding chart conditions

Caterpillar's 2025 technical specification for its 777 truck shows how body choice moves rated payload. With the X body (flat floor), target gross machine weight stays at 164 654 kg (363,000 lb), but target payload falls from 96.6 t without liner to 91.7 t with liner, 90.2 t with HD liner and 89.4 t with rubber liner, because each liner adds body weight. Caterpillar defines target payload as target gross machine weight less empty machine operating weight, and maximum payload as target payload × 1.10. Its 10/10/20 policy asks that the mean of all payloads stays at or below the rated target payload, that no more than 10% of loads exceed 10% of the target payload, and that no load is above 20% of the target payload. [3]

The same sheet lists brakes to ISO 3450:2011, steering to ISO 5010:2019, a cab ROPS meeting ISO 3471:2008 and FOPS meeting ISO 3449:2005 Level II for the operator. Its retarding charts assume 32° C (90° F) ambient temperature, sea level and 27.00R49 (E4) tires, take effective grade as actual grade minus 1% for each 10 kg/t (20 lb/ton) of rolling resistance, and read off the maximum descent speed the brakes can handle without exceeding cooling capacity. [3]

Editorial calculation: on an assumed 8% downgrade with 20 kg/t rolling resistance, effective grade is 8 − 2 = 6%. Ask each supplier for retarding charts at your own ambient temperature and altitude, the payload policy it applies to warranty, and the target payload with the body liner you will order.

05

Trace the truck components

This is a functional reference built from the sources cited; it is not one maker's design.

06

Fill the specification fields with values for your mine

A rigid dump truck quotation needs values for your haul. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to obtain from the supplier.

07

Send the material, haul and site data together

Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.

Material: [type; loose density]
Loading: [tool; bucket size]
Haul: [distance; grades; road width]
Truck: [payload; GVW; body]
Drive: [mechanical or diesel-electric; retarder]
Safety: [brakes; ROPS/FOPS; berms]
Site: [altitude; climate; hours]

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