Caterpillar has launched its latest model of the Cat MineStar™ Command for hauling at Luck Stone’s Bull Run plant in Chantilly, Virginia, marking a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to provide autonomous hauling solutions for the quarry and aggregates industry.
This successful deployment of autonomous machinery underscores the growing partnership between Caterpillar and Luck Stone, the largest family-owned producer of crushed stone, sand, and gravel in the U.S. In December 2022, the two companies announced an agreement to accelerate the development of autonomous solutions for quarry operations. The deployment at Bull Run is Caterpillar’s first use of autonomous technology in the aggregates sector, adding the 100-ton Cat 777 truck to its growing autonomous fleet.
Caterpillar is a recognized leader in autonomy, with autonomous trucks already operating on three continents, having traveled over 325 million km and moved more than 8.62 billion tons of material. The company’s fleet of autonomous trucks moves more material annually than the total U.S. crushed stone production. Several of the world’s largest mines are utilizing Cat Command technology to enhance performance. Over the past two years, Caterpillar has worked closely with Luck Stone to build expertise in quarry operations and develop an autonomous system that is scalable, cost-effective, and capable of improving safety and productivity.
Denise Johnson, Group President of Caterpillar’s Resource Industries, praised the collaboration: “Congratulations to both the Luck Stone and Caterpillar teams for this outstanding achievement. It’s meaningful not just for Bull Run, but for all our customers as we continue to develop technologies for the quarry, aggregates, and construction industries.”
The success at Bull Run is just the beginning of the Caterpillar-Luck Stone collaboration. The project sets the stage for further testing and validation of autonomous hauling solutions, with the goal of bringing this technology to market for the aggregates industry.
Charlie Luck, Chairman and CEO of Luck Companies, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s impact: “This achievement is a major milestone for our associates, Caterpillar, and our industry. It provides opportunities for growth, improves safety, and will help attract the next generation of mining professionals. We are excited for the future of autonomy and grateful for our ongoing partnership with Caterpillar.”
