Together, for the Long Haul

In a world where single-use items, disposable packaging and mass consumption is the order of the day, Cat® mining trucks offer a refreshing approach to longevity — they’re built to be rebuilt and here for the long haul.

July 22, 2021

For a company that’s been trading on the New York Stock Exchange for more than 90 years and whose stock has been part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) more than 30 years, focusing on the long haul is only natural. Cat mining trucks have been around for generations, and each new class brings cutting-edge technology built on a foundation of industry leadership. The longevity of Cat mining trucks is no mystery — it’s a product of purpose-driven engineering, intense customer focus and technology that meets today’s industry requirements.

These massive yellow machines are the heavy haulers of the mining industry. Their sheer size is hard to imagine. And the idea that these trucks are able to get the job done without an operator in the cab is an innovative approach to mining operations of the future.

Our commitment to the long haul — through collaboration and valued partnerships

“For more than 35 years, Caterpillar has been a valuable partner in helping mines around the world achieve their goals, explains Denise Johnson, Group President for Resource Industries. And even though today’s challenges may look different — our partnership and commitment remain the same.”

Together with our dealers and customers, Caterpillar has developed a comprehensive portfolio of technologies and solutions to help meet a variety of customer needs — from options to address greenhouse gas reduction, to finding an optimized solution to meet local regulations.

Cat Dynamic Gas Blending™ (DGB™) and Cat Trolley Assist are examples of how Cat trucks can help deliver the same level of performance, while reducing emissions. Oil life extensions lower fluid consumption, and multilife rebuilds help reduce waste.

Working together, we are committed to identifying the right solutions to maximize productivity, match flexibility requirements and minimize environmental impact. As mines go deeper, the haul roads grow longer and sustainability challenges become even greater, Caterpillar will be there with our customers, collaborating on ways to succeed.

Staying power

In a world where it’s common to trade automobiles every few years, and a 12-month-old cell phone is considered old technology, there are Cat mining trucks that have been working in mines across the globe for more than 20 years. With nearly 15,000 trucks in operation worldwide, Caterpillar is a powerful industry leader and here to stay.

Built to be rebuilt

Whether it’s a Cat® dealer rebuild or Cat Reman component, Cat mining trucks are designed with rebuild in mind. To keep Cat trucks operational for decades, they must be built for the long haul. These machines are engineered to have multiple lives — with planned rebuild cycles and major component overhauls.

Being built for the future means having a New Product Introduction (NPI) process with a lifecycle strategy focused on physically reusing raw materials by rebuilding and remanufacturing. Reusing and recycling materials otherwise destined for landfills benefits customers and the environment, driving down total cost of ownership while helping meet sustainability goals.

As a bonus, Cat Reman parts often include critical engineering upgrades, benefitting both the replaced component and the total machine operation — and they’re available at a fraction of the new price.

Technology evolves, so do we

In a data-driven world, new advances happen quickly. Caterpillar keeps an eye on industry trends and partners closely with our customers to develop cutting-edge technology for some of the most remote areas in the world.

Our engineering teams look to the future when developing onboard technology for our machines. We continue to offer new upgrades and retrofits as they become available to enhance an existing truck or an older fleet. Caterpillar continues to invest in advanced technologies that deliver quality data and analytics in real-time, positively impacting every aspect of a customer’s operation.

Today’s next-generation machines come standard with cellular connectivity using Product Link™ Elite, enabling assets to collect and transmit information into locally hosted or cloud-hosted applications. We also offer a dual-mode option, using cellular, satellite or Wi-Fi communications for flexibility at any site.

We’re giving customers information they need to make decisions in real-time, troubleshoot maintenance issues and prevent machine failures. Our machines are built with adaptable platforms and architecture, designed for future updates and ongoing innovation. The result is improved efficiency and productivity with lower operating costs for a single machine or across an entire fleet — no matter how new or old the operation.

We are committed to working with customers to find the right level of technology to suit their needs.

Autonomy and Automation

Autonomy and Automation isn’t new at Caterpillar — we’ve been investing in autonomous development for more than 30 years. And Cat® MineStar™ Command is the star of the show, increasing safety and productivity on jobsites.

With the world’s largest autonomous fleet of haul trucks, it’s not surprising that Cat equipment leads the industry in automation. At year-end 2020, customers using Cat Command trucks had safely hauled nearly 3 billion tonnes and traveled over 100 million kilometers autonomously — significantly more than our competitors. Cat autonomous trucks are fleets of the future because of increased safety and productivity.

Origins of Cat® mining trucks

Cat mining trucks have been amazing since their inception. Perhaps their most notable feature is longevity — both in terms of an individual truck’s durability and in the Cat brand itself. Designed to outperform, out-haul and outlast the competition, Cat mining trucks have a legacy rooted in excellence and a future fueled by innovative technology.

Fast forward to today’s next generation machines, a culmination of experience that comes from years of deep customer relationships combined with cutting-edge technology. The result is game-changing safety, efficiency and reliability in a package that helps meet the most aggressive sustainability goals.

1890 - More than 130 years ago, Caterpillar's predecessor companies - the Holt Manufacturing Company and the C.L. Best Gas Traction Company - each independently produced steam tractors that hauled wagons on mine sites throughout the U.S.

1925 - Caterpillar track-type tractors haul material-pulling wagons on mine sites across the globe.

1963 - The first Cat 769 Off-Highway Truck rolled off the line in our Decatur, Illinois, plant. Since that time, each generation of Cat mining truck has grown in stature and innovation, enabling mining customers to meet the world's seemingly insatiable demand for mined materials.

1967 - The first Cat 779 Off-Highway Truck was sold in 1967; It was first designed and built alongside two experimental prototype hauler concepts that utilized electric drive.

1968 - Caterpillar developed and built two radio remote-controlled Cat® 977K Track Loaders for slag removal.

1974 - One of our most popular Off-Highway haulers, the Cat 777 Off-Highway Truck introduced.

1985 - The Cat 785 Off-Highway Truck introduced. Caterpillar begins autonomy program with early R&D investment.

1986 - The Cat 789 Off-Highway Truck was introduced.

1992 - Our first Cat quarry trucks, the 771C and 775D, were introduced.

1995 - Caterpillar forms the Mining and Construction Division.

1996 - Caterpillar and Trimble announce an agreement to develop global position system technology for machine control. The first autonomous mining truck was unveiled in Las Vegas, Nevada, at MINEXPO.