A Rokbak RA40 articulated hauler has been proving vital in the excavation and haul of millions of cubic yards of fill material at the world’s biggest industrial park in Nevada, USA.
The state of Nevada may be famous for its Las Vegas casinos, but Rokbak said it was ‘far from a gamble’ when Reno-Tahoe Construction (RTC) added the RA40 to its fleet of machinery for the project.
RTC approached Rokbak dealer Shafer Equipment Company when it was tasked with an excavation project at a site within the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. Measuring 107,000 acres, it is described as the largest industrial park in the world.
The RA40 is helping to create individual building pads within the commercial complex. Required to transport a mix of dirt and rocks – including shot rock – the hauler has a maximum payload of 38 tonnes and has been customised with a tailgate to maximise payloads and load retention.
RTC entered the site in mid-2021 and has already excavated, hauled and placed over three million cubic yards, with another 2.8 million cubic yards yet to go, over 230 acres.
“I’ve been driving the RA40 since delivery and have seen first-hand the first-class performance and the hauler’s ability to navigate all site conditions effortlessly,” said RTC operator Renee Maas-Thoyre. “It provides excellent visibility and it’s easy to see around you while backing up – thanks to the combination of the large mirrors, rear-view camera and monitor.
“Though our site may be busy, with vehicles moving around all day, my cab is quiet and comfortable. I can adjust the seat for my ride when other drivers have taken the wheel and, with our extreme weather and excessive heat warnings, the HVAC and temperature control has been a blessing!”
The RA40 cab has pressurised capabilities and a HVAC and air flow system. Other features, Rokbak added, include ‘great traction and an effective power-to-weight ratio’, which ensures material is moved as quickly as possible in all conditions.
Shafer Equipment Company has been providing RTC with heavy construction equipment for over a decade, and the RA40 works alongside eight Shafer-supplied Gen10 Terex Trucks TA400 haulers, plus a TA300 being deployed as a 6,000-gallon water tanker.
Less than two years after rebranding, Rokbak haulers can now be found across the US. Approximately 60% of the machines that leave the Motherwell factory currently head across the Atlantic.
