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July 20, 2026 - At the company’s site in Bagdad, Arizona, a new generation of haul truck beds is rolling into service, bringing a wide range of operational benefits – and a timely nod to the country the site helps power.
Just ahead of the Fourth of July and America’s 250th anniversary, Bagdad began deploying new Schlam haul truck beds featuring a full American flag design. The first of these beds marks the transition from validation trials to full-scale implementation, as the site continues improvements to its autonomous haulage fleet.
“At our operations, every ton matters,” said Nura Woolley, Senior Mine Engineer-FM Technical Services. “This first post-trial bed represents the shift from validation to implementation, driving safer and more efficient performance across the fleet.”
Schlam haul truck beds are lighter and more durable than traditional designs, allowing trucks to carry larger payloads, reduce maintenance, shorten dump-cycle times and improve the efficiency of autonomous haulage operations. Bagdad currently targets a 260-ton payload for autonomous, and the new Schlam beds provide roughly four additional tons of capacity. Still, Woolley said the need to support Bagdad’s transition to autonomous haulage was the primary reason for adopting the alternative design there.
Bagdad is the first to receive the new painted beds, with 17 units planned for the operation’s initial rollout. Additional deployment is planned across Freeport’s North America sites. Morenci is scheduled to receive 15 beds featuring a variation that incorporates both the U.S. and Arizona state flag, with bed designs for the company’s Colorado and New Mexico operations also in development.
While the safety and production benefits drove the decision, the timing of the rollout shaped how the beds would look. With deliveries beginning in the lead-up to the America 250 celebrations, the site saw an opportunity to pair a major equipment upgrade with a visible tribute, said Benny Corbell, Mine Manager-Bagdad.
“Make no mistake, these beds are about improving how we operate,” Corbell said. “They’re safer, more efficient and better for the long-term, but the timing made it clear which way we had to go. The people here have a lot of pride in the work they do and the country they do it for, so every time those trucks run, they’ll carry both with them.”
Photo: The new haul truck beds being deployed at Bagdad provide several benefits, including increased payload capacity and reduced maintenance requirements.