The 922C’s cab sits high on the dump truck body and has an inclined narrow hood, giving the operator all-around visibility. The 922C also features broad mirrors for added visibility when in reverse or while tipping. Hydrema also offers an optional back-up camera. “We had the camera added to the 922C,” says Nolan. “We are constantly backing up at our project.  The camera helps us see what’s going on in blind spots, thereby eliminating incidents.” 

The 922C’s cab also offers a climate control system and user-friendly steering and joystick controls. The suspended seat, along with electronic suspension and level control, provide a smooth and stable ride on uneven terrain.  “The operators love the way it drives in the pit,” continues Nolan. “We put in some very long days and the operators have very little fatigue after operating the 922C.”

Hopkins has also found that the 922C eliminates the need to build roads on certain projects that they would have otherwise had to with their gravel trucks. “The gravel trucks we have are best suited for on-road applications, which means certain off-road projects require us to build and maintain construction roads to complete our work,” says Nolan. “The 922C allows us to get right to work when we arrive on site, eliminating both the time and cost of roadbuidling.”

The Western Canadian terrain and weather also comes into play for Hopkins. “We work in both dry and wet pit environments,” says Nolan. “The on-road gravel trucks create up to 2 feet deep ruts in a wet pit environment. The Hydrema reduces these large ruts and easily handles the wet pit conditions with its 6-wheel drive and low ground pressure, helping to minimize road maintenance issues.”

The 922C is made of high tensile Hardox steel, providing the strength needed for various work conditions. Its low ground pressure of 11.3 psi and low weight of 31,500 lbs enables it to operate in both hard and soft soil conditions, as well as snow. The 922C is equipped with a 15.7 cubic-yard capacity and is powered by a 6.7 liter, Cummins QSB, 24 Valve Tier III engine, rated at 264 horsepower.

“The 922C has plenty of power.  Its 20 to 25 ton capacity surpasses what we can haul with our current gravel trucks. However, my favorite feature on the Hydrema is the automated compensation dumping system,” says Nolan. “Dump tucks could flip over while dumping a load on uneven ground. The auto compensation system reduces the chances of this happening.”