The drive for efficiency

摘要

Crystal ball gazing into the future trends of the dumptruck market is one of the easier tasks for design engineers. Every customer will ask for greater efficiency, such as increased pay-load to vehicle weight, lower fuel consumption, higher speeds coupled to better suspension, improved reliability and longer life. And, just for good measure, lower owning and operating costs. History records that Reg Le Tourneau built the first 10t towed dumptrucks for his own use on the Hoover Dam in the 1930's. Primitive yes, but before the contract was finished, prototype units with a steering axle and petrol engine drive line were beyond the drawing board stage.