Editor’s pick
Volvo Construction Equipment
Volvo A40G
- Power
- 469 hp
- Rated payload
- 39,000 kg
- Body volume (heaped)
- 24 m³
Hauling
Articulated dump trucks: off-road haulers for any ground
Articulated dump trucks haul soil and rock where rigid trucks would get stuck. Learn how ADTs work, how they are sized by payload and what separates the leading models.
Model guides
Popular articulated dump trucks reviewed
Editor’s pick
Articulated Dump Trucks compared
7 models · click a column to sort
| Volvo A40G | Volvo Construction Equipment | — | 350 kW / 469 hp |
| Bell B30E | Bell Equipment | — | 260 kW / 349 hp |
| Bell B45E | Bell Equipment | — | 390 kW / 523 hp |
| Bell B60E | Bell Equipment | — | 450 kW / 603 hp |
| Caterpillar 745 | Caterpillar | — | 380 kW / 510 hp |
| Develon DA45-7 | Develon | — | — |
| Komatsu HM400-5 | Komatsu | — | 350 kW / 469 hp |
An articulated dump truck (ADT), also called an articulated hauler, is an off-road truck with a hinge between the tractor unit (cab and engine) and the trailer (dump body). The hinge lets the truck steer by bending, and an oscillating joint lets the front and rear twist independently so all six wheels stay on uneven ground. With 6×6 all-wheel drive and differential locks, ADTs keep moving through mud, soft clay and steep haul roads that would stop a rigid truck.
Volvo (then Volvo BM) is widely credited with launching the first articulated hauler, the DR631, in 1966.
Payload classes
| Class | Rated payload | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 25–30 t (28–33 US tons) | Road construction, utilities, tight sites |
| Medium | 30–40 t (33–44 US tons) | Earthmoving, quarries, infrastructure |
| Large | 40–60 t (44–66 US tons) | Bulk earthworks, mining pre-strip |
The 40-tonne class is the global best-seller.
ADT vs rigid haul truck
Articulated trucks excel on soft, wet, steep or poorly maintained haul roads and on short-to-medium hauls. Rigid haul trucks carry more for less cost per tonne on well-built haul roads in quarries and mines.
Key features
- Automatic traction control and differential locks.
- Hydraulic retarders and engine brakes for controlled descents.
- On-board weighing to avoid overloading and underloading.
- Hill-start assist and automatic transmission.
- Tailgates for wet or sticky material.
Matching to a loader
An excavator or wheel loader should fill an ADT in three to five passes. A 40-tonne ADT pairs well with a 40–50-tonne excavator or a large wheel loader.
Frequently asked questions
How much can an articulated dump truck carry?
Most ADTs carry 25 to 45 tonnes; the largest models carry around 60 tonnes.
Can articulated dump trucks drive on public roads?
Generally no. ADTs are off-highway machines; on-road use usually requires special permits and may not be allowed at all.
Hauling