Articulated dump trucks are the workhorses of many quarrying and aggregates operations, and their importance is growing through new innovations.
As third-generation aggregate businesses, Boden Sand & Gravel and its sister company Road to Rail Construction Group have come to rely on three factors in their operations: simplicity, reliability and trust.
These factors influence everything from their daily operations to purchasing decisions for both companies.
It is also why their Edberg pit in Camrose County, Alberta, Canada, features three Rokbak RA40 articulated dump trucks (ADTs), which diligently move thousands of tonnes of material, including overburden, gravel, and sand, each week.
“In this business, uptime is everything. You need equipment that just works, plain and simple,” Boden S&G owner Brandon Boden said.
“The Rokbak haulers are no-nonsense trucks. They’re robust, they’re easy on fuel, and they don’t give us headaches. We run them hard and they just keep going. That reliability is exactly what we need to keep our promises to our customers.”
The site initially started with one RA40, which Road to Rail Construction Group purchased in August 2023. The performance of the RA40 quickly led to another one being added to Road to Rail’s operations, as well as one for Boden S&G.
Boden S&G has played a pivotal role in the central Alberta aggregate sector since the 1950s, currently producing around 500,000 tonnes of material annually. Boden, who is a third-generation owner of the family business, has seen firsthand how much care Rokbak takes when designing and manufacturing its RA40s at its factory in Motherwell, Scotland.
“When you walk the factory floor in Scotland, you see the pride the team takes in building these trucks,” he said.
“It’s a clean, professional and people-focused environment. It reminded me a lot of our own company values. Seeing that commitment to quality, and meeting the people behind the machine, confirmed we made the right choice.”
Boden S&G and Road to Rail have a long-standing partnership with Headwater Equipment. The well-regarded dealer has five full-service locations across Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, which supply everything from new and used equipment to parts, service and rentals.
Headwater Equipment salesperson Scott Letkeman said the dealer’s partnership with Boden S&G and Road to Rail demonstrated its approach to business.
“We don’t sell a customer a machine and walk away; we sell them a solution and stick with them,” he said.
“Brandon and his team knew us and trusted us. When we recommended the Rokbak, they knew it was because we believed it was the right fit for their operation. It’s a tough, reliable truck that we could stand behind.”
Each of the RA40s for Boden S&G and Road to Rail has accumulated more than 3000 operational hours since its purchase. The Canadian operation has been impressed by the haulers’ traction and rimpull as the operator works from a comfortable cabin.
“It’s a straightforward and comfortable truck to operate all day,” Boden S&G operator Ryan Skjonsberg said.
“Everything is where you expect it to be. The visibility is great, and it feels stable and secure, even with a full 42-tonne load. You can just get in, turn the key, and have confidence it’s going to get the job done.”
The operational performance of the RA40s is packed by comprehensive after-sales support from Headwater Equipment’s Edmonton branch.
“The beauty of the Rokbak design is its serviceability. Our technicians can access service points easily, which means routine maintenance is faster and troubleshooting is simpler,” Headwater Equipment service manager Henk Coetzer said.
“This keeps downtime to an absolute minimum. We work with the Boden crew to schedule service proactively, so these trucks stay where they belong – out in the pit, earning their keep.”
Cat goes automatic
Caterpillar has unveiled a suite of built-in automatic features will be included in its next-generation Cat articulated trucks.
The manufacturer has upgraded the interior features, placing more control at the operator’s fingertips with a sleek touchscreen and responsive keypad, which opens up new levels of performance, safety and efficiency.
The new, smarter articulated truck design with built-in automatic features will be included in the next-generation Cat 725, 730, 730 EJ and 735 models. These features are headlined by the auto wait brake function, the dynamic rollover protection feature and the new push-to-start with operator ID.
“Caterpillar’s latest machine design makes operating our next-gen articulated trucks feel more comfortable, responsive, and user-friendly than ever,” Caterpillar global product application specialist Sherrie Williams said.
“With the introduction of the Cat C13B engine on the 725, the improved power-to-weight ratio means it is up to 14 per cent more efficient on our Tier 4 Final [and equivalent] machines.”
The new push-to-start feature protects against unauthorised use, with the system able to store up to 50 operator IDs. The dynamic rollover protection monitors high lateral acceleration to help prevent high-speed cornering and can visually and audibly warn operators about potential rollover risks, which increases safe operation. In addition, Caterpillar’s stability assist software reports information via VisionLink to increase awareness of when an event has occurred.
The auto wait brake provides the operator with more control during operation. It automatically applies service brakes when the shift lever is in any position other than park and ground speed reaches 0 kilometres per hour. Operators can apply the throttle to re-engage the transmission and release the service brakes. According to Caterpillar, the new feature saves fuel when shifting to neutral.
Beyond the new features, Caterpillar has redesigned the dump body on the Cat 725, 730 and 735 models in favour of a configuration that prioritises easy loading and increased payload. The new design features a rerouted exhaust heat system that helps minimise material carryback. Operators can also benefit from the on-board payload technology, which shows the load weights in real-time on the integrated display with alerts given when the operator approaches the rated payload and when the payload is reached.
The 725, 730 and 735 models feature a new dump body height limit that allows the bed raise height to be set to meet on-site conditions. Operators will be able to set the raise height via a button on the integrated keypad or through the display service mode. The feature is designed to ensure the dump body does not come into contact with overhead objects, making the job site safer.
Caterpillar has confirmed production of the next generation Cat articulated trucks, starting with the 730 model, is scheduled for January 2026. AB
