An articulated hauler, articulated dump truck (ADT), or sometimes a dump hauler, is a very large heavy-duty type of dump truck used to transport loads over rough terrain, and occasionally on public roads. The vehicle usually has all-wheel drive and consists of two basic units: the front section, generally called the tractor, and the rear section that contains the dump body, called the hauler or trailer section. Steering is made by pivoting the front in relation to the back by hydraulic rams. This way, all wheels follow the same path, making it an excellent off-road vehicle.
Manufacturers include Volvo CE, Caterpillar, Terex, John Deere/Bell Equipment,[1] Moxy/Doosan, Astra and Komatsu Limited.[2] With half of the global sales, Volvo is the market leader in the segment, and is also the prime pioneer of the vehicle, enabling its introduction to the markets in 1966.
Although first envisioned as a soil and aggregate transporter (dumper), the chassis have since been used for many other applications including agriculture, mining, construction and highway maintenance. Ranging from concrete mixer, water tanker and container truck, over to upsize off-road semi-trailer hauler (on-road applications), hook loader or crane, as well as used to transport timber and as a woodchipper platform. Its chassis have also been used for military purposes given that it only is surpassed by tracked vehicles in off-road capabilities. An example is the Archer Artillery System.
- ^ "Articulated Dump Trucks". John Deere US. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "HM300-5 - Articulated Trucks". Komatsu America Corp. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.