Corporate News

How Do You Haul the World’s Largest Machines

Words Jim Davis | April 29, 2014
Mercedes-Benz Vehicles can do it all, including transporting the world’s largest vehicles
Words Jim Davis April 29, 2014

Mining trucks, those giant, building-sized dump trucks that make the human beings operating them look like Lego minifigs, can weigh hundreds of tons—the mighty Caterpillar 797B tips the scale at a mind-blowing 308 tons—and many of its contemporaries weigh anywhere from 180 tons to 240 tons. For comparison’s sake, a GE Evolution diesel locomotive weighs in at 208 tons.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz

Diesel Power magazine, in a 2008 article on the world’s 10 largest dump trucks, points out that these vehicles’ massive dimensions generally call for them to be shipped to work locations in pieces and then assembled on site, as they’re nigh impossible to transport over the road in one piece.

But evidently, there are exceptions. And the tool for the job? A Mercedes-Benz Actros semi tractor, which, in heavy-duty trim, has a max capacity of up to 250 tons. This photo was tweeted by the official MBUSA account on Twitter last week.

Via: Road & Track