How large are the trucks used in major open-pit mines?

In major open-pit mines, the size of trucks is strategically matched to the capacity of the loading shovels, typically following a rule of thumb that a truck should be filled in four to six swings of the shovel.1

While capacities vary based on the specific operation, the largest trucks used in these mines have capacities exceeding 350 tons. These massive vehicles are equipped with engines producing more than 3,500 horsepower, and their tire diameters often exceed 3 metres (10 feet). In other large-scale surface mining operations, such as coal mining, off-highway, end-dumping trucks commonly range in capacity from 35 to 250 tons.12