The introduction of the latest Cat MineStar™ Command model for autonomous hauling at Luck Stone’s Bull Run plant in Chantilly, Virginia, USA, represents a pivotal step in Caterpillar’s mission to provide an autonomous hauling solution tailored to the quarry and aggregates industry.
This deployment showcases the progress of Caterpillar’s partnership with Luck Stone, the largest family-owned and operated producer of crushed stone, sand, and gravel in the United States. In December 2022, Luck Stone and Caterpillar signed an agreement aimed at accelerating the development of autonomous solutions specifically for quarry and aggregate applications. This marks Caterpillar’s inaugural use of autonomous technology in the aggregates sector and expands its autonomous truck fleet to include the 100-ton Cat 777.
Caterpillar has established itself as a leader in autonomous technology, with autonomous trucks operating on three continents, covering over 325 million kilometers and autonomously moving more than 8.62 billion tons. Currently, Caterpillar’s autonomous fleet hauls more tonnage per year globally than the total annual US production of crushed stone. Some of the world’s largest mines leverage Cat Command technology to achieve improved performance. For two years, Caterpillar has worked closely with Luck Stone to develop in-depth expertise in quarry operations, aiming to build a scalable and cost-effective system that enhances safety and productivity for the quarry industry.
“Congratulations to both the Luck Stone and Caterpillar teams on this remarkable achievement,” said Denise Johnson, Group President of Caterpillar’s Resource Industries. “This is a significant accomplishment not only for Bull Run operations but for our customers across the quarry, aggregates, and construction sectors. This collaboration has accelerated our ability to scale proven mining solutions to meet the needs of the quarry and aggregates industry.”
The successful deployment at Bull Run marks an important milestone in Caterpillar and Luck Stone’s partnership, setting the stage for continued testing and validation of technology before broader commercial rollout in the aggregates market.
“The implementation of autonomous hauling at our Bull Run Plant is a proud achievement for Luck Stone, Caterpillar, and the entire industry. Our mission is to ignite human potential and make a positive impact, and this project furthers that by providing our team with valuable learning experiences. Caterpillar’s cutting-edge technology also improves safety and attracts the next generation of mining professionals. We look forward to what the future holds for autonomy and are grateful for our ongoing collaboration with Caterpillar,” said Charlie Luck, Chairman and CEO of Luck Companies.
