Mack Defense marks production of 500th military Heavy Dump Truck for U.S. Army

Since 2018, Mack Defense, a subsidiary of Mack Trucks, has been developing and producing the specialised military dump trucks. These vehicles, based on the commercial Granite model, are designed to meet the U.S. Army’s demanding performance and durability standards.

“In 2018-2019 we were responsible for building non-armoured test assets and then also armoured test assets that we had to deliver to the U.S. Army,” said David Hartzell, President and CEO of Mack Defense. Following successful testing, the company began full-scale production and has maintained a steady output of around 120 trucks per year.

Over 400 of the produced trucks have already been deployed and are in active use across 30 U.S. states and various overseas locations. “Guam, in Iraq, in Jordan, in Germany and other areas around the world supporting our U.S. military operations abroad,” Hartzell explained.

The trucks play a vital role in military logistics and infrastructure support, helping the Army transport heavy loads in rugged conditions. The M917A3 HDTs are available in both armoured and non-armoured variants, tailored for different mission requirements.

Mack Defense takes pride in continuing a legacy of military support that dates back over a century. “Especially knowing that’s part of Mack’s heritage, our bulldog corporate symbol was derived out of our service in World War I when Mack Truck provided thousands of vehicles to our U.S. soldiers,” Hartzell said.

The company plans to maintain its commitment to the U.S. Army through at least 2030, continuing production and delivery of these essential vehicles. This milestone underscores Mack Defense’s role as a reliable defence partner and its contribution to military readiness worldwide.