A new mining dump truck typically costs between $1 million and $8 million, depending on its size and payload capacity. The smallest rigid-frame haul trucks used in mining start around $500,000 to $1.5 million, while the largest ultra-class trucks capable of carrying 400 tons can exceed $5 million per unit. Used trucks sell for dramatically less, sometimes under $250,000 for models with high operating hours.
Price Ranges by Truck Size
Mining trucks are categorized by payload capacity, and the price scales steeply as trucks get bigger. Small to mid-size haul trucks in the 40- to 100-ton range, like the Cat 773 or Komatsu HD325, generally cost between $500,000 and $2 million new. These are common in quarries, smaller open-pit mines, and construction projects where the full scale of ultra-class equipment isn’t needed.
Large haul trucks in the 150- to 250-ton range, such as the Cat 789 or Komatsu 830E, typically run $3 million to $5 million. These are the workhorses of most large-scale mining operations. At the top end, ultra-class trucks like the Cat 797F, Komatsu 980E, and Liebherr T 284, which carry 300 to 400 tons per load, range from $5 million to $8 million or more depending on configuration. These are among the largest vehicles ever built, standing two to three stories tall.
Manufacturers rarely publish list prices because nearly every sale involves custom configurations, volume discounts, and bundled service agreements. The figures above reflect industry estimates and reported transaction values rather than official price sheets.
What Used Mining Trucks Sell For
The used market offers significant savings, though prices vary widely based on age, hours, and condition. Listings on equipment resale platforms like Ritchie Bros. give a useful snapshot. A set of 2016 Komatsu HD1500-7 haul trucks (roughly 150-ton class) with 50,000 to 58,000 operating hours were recently listed between $229,000 and $243,000 each. A 2020 Komatsu HD325 with about 20,000 hours was listed at roughly $200,000, while the same model from 2006 with over 33,000 hours dropped to around $72,000.
At the low end, a pair of 1996 Komatsu 330M trucks with over 40,000 hours were listed at just $14,400 each. These older, high-hour machines are suitable for operations willing to invest in rebuilds or needing trucks for less demanding duty cycles. A 2010 Komatsu HD325-7 with around 13,000 hours, by contrast, held its value much better at roughly $144,000. Operating hours matter more than model year in this market. A newer truck with extremely high hours can be worth less than an older truck that’s been lightly used.
Costs Beyond the Purchase Price
The sticker price is only part of what you’ll spend. Getting a mining truck to a job site adds substantial cost. These machines are far too large to drive on public roads, so they’re disassembled into major components, shipped on multiple oversize trailers, and reassembled on-site. Oversize loads require multi-axle trailers, state permits for each jurisdiction the shipment crosses, and escort vehicles. Route surveys may be necessary to measure bridge clearances and road widths. If the mine site lacks crane capacity for unloading and assembly, that equipment and rigging crews must be arranged separately.
For the largest ultra-class trucks, the assembly process alone can take weeks and requires specialized technicians, often from the manufacturer. Shipping and assembly costs can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the total depending on the distance from the factory and site accessibility.
Fuel and Operating Costs
Fuel is one of the largest ongoing expenses for any mining haul truck, and it often exceeds the purchase price over the truck’s lifetime. A large diesel-electric haul truck can burn 50 to 80 gallons of diesel per hour under load. At typical diesel prices, that translates to hundreds of dollars per hour just in fuel. Over a year of continuous mining operations, a single ultra-class truck can consume well over $1 million in fuel.
This is why the industry has invested heavily in electric drive systems. Most large mining trucks already use a diesel-electric configuration, where a diesel engine powers electric motors at the wheels. This improves efficiency compared to a purely mechanical drivetrain. Some operations are now exploring fully electric or trolley-assist systems, where trucks draw power from overhead lines on uphill segments, cutting fuel consumption significantly on the most energy-intensive part of the haul cycle.
Autonomous Truck Premiums
Adding autonomous capability to a mining truck increases the per-unit cost. The sensors, cameras, vehicle-to-vehicle communication hardware, and decision-making software required for driverless operation add roughly 15% to the acquisition price, based on published cost analyses. For a $5 million truck, that’s an additional $750,000 per unit.
The economics can still work in the operator’s favor. Autonomous trucks run longer shifts without fatigue-related downtime, follow more consistent haul routes that reduce tire wear, and eliminate the cost of employing drivers in remote locations. However, autonomous fleets require remote monitoring infrastructure, which adds a fleet-wide cost. The breakeven point depends on fleet size, labor costs in the region, and how many operating hours the trucks run per year.
What Drives the Price Variation
Several factors explain why two trucks of similar size can differ by a million dollars or more in price. Engine configuration is a major variable: trucks designed for high-altitude operations need different engine tuning, and those spec’d for extreme cold or heat carry additional systems. Tire packages matter too. A set of six tires for a large mining truck can cost $40,000 to $100,000 or more, and some configurations include upgraded rubber for abrasive rock conditions.
Service and warranty agreements bundled into the sale also shift the effective price. Many mines purchase trucks as part of long-term maintenance contracts with the manufacturer, where the OEM provides on-site technicians, guaranteed parts supply, and rebuild services at scheduled intervals. These contracts can add 10% to 20% to the upfront cost but reduce unplanned downtime, which in a large mine can cost tens of thousands of dollars per hour in lost production. Volume purchases of five or more trucks typically come with meaningful discounts, making per-unit cost highly dependent on fleet size.