Mack Defense receives order for 103 trucks for U.S. military construction

The U.S. military has ordered 103 Mack Defense M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks (HDTs). The HDTs will play a vital role in construction and upkeep of infrastructure assets, including airfields, roadways, landing strips, supply facilities, and motor pools.

The new vehicles are part of a seven-year, $296 million contract awarded to Mack Defense, which allows for up to 683 trucks. For this new order, 74 HDTs will be purchased from the presidential budget and 29 are being purchased by the National Guard.

"Our military continues to field Mack HDTs into various operations around the world, so these vehicles have been put to the test and continue to meet demanding requirements," says Dave Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. "For that reason, the Army, Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard continue to invest in these modern HDTs to ensure our soldiers have the right truck with the highest level of capabilities needed to ensure mission success."

Specialized for military use

The Army previously had ordered 446 HDTs, which are based on the commercially available Mack Granite model but specialized with heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive, increased suspension ride height, and other features to meet the unique requirements of the U.S. military.

The Mack Granite HDT model features advanced technology including ABS, modern control interfaces for user-friendly operation, and active safety systems. Compared to older Army HDT models, these modern features and improved sustainability were key factors in the Army's investment in these new HDTs, according to Hartzell. 

Production of the HDTs at the MEC began in Q1 2021, following an investment of $6.5 million to create a dedicated HDT production line at the facility. The production line helps fulfill the M917A3 contract, while allowing Mack Defense to produce other vehicle variants.