Gillette in Campbell County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Unit Rig Truck

— Energy Equipment Exhibit —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2022

1. Unit Rig Truck Marker

Inscription.
Model BD30HD
Truck weight 235,000 lbs.
Height 18 ft.
Horsepower 1600
Width 23 ft.
Year built 1978
Length 65 ft.
Load capacity 170 tons

This truck was assembled at the Jacobs Ranch Mine to haul coal. It has logged 20,000 operating hours to haul 10 million tons of coal. It consumed 560,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The engine generates its own electricity to power 2 electric wheel motors.

Donated by: Kerr-McGee Coal Company
Supported by: Powder Basin Power Wash

Erected by Energy Equipment Exhibit of the High Plains Technology Center at Cam-Plex.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1978.

Location. 44° 17.041′ N, 105° 26.797′ W. Marker is in Gillette, Wyoming, in Campbell County. It can be reached from the intersection of South Garner Lake Road and Martingale Drive, on the left when traveling south. The marker and giant truck are in the Cam-Plex Energy Equipment Exhibit at Gillette Energy Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 891 South Garner Lake Road, Gillette WY 82718, United States of

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America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

on the Great Plains,

on the Northern Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pulling Unit (within shouting distance of this marker); Industrial Tires (within shouting distance of this marker); Sundial and Time Capsule (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Coal Shovel Bucket (about 300 feet away); Rotary Drill (about 400 feet away); Engine 5802 (about 500 feet away); Worthington Generator Units (about 600 feet away); Caterpillar (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gillette.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Unit Rig (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: Unit Rig was founded in 1935 by Hugh S. Chancey and two partners,
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2022

2. Unit Rig Lectra Haul Bottom Dump Truck
Jerry R. Underwood and William C. Guier, who formed a partnership to build a rotary drill rig for oil field work that was more mobile than existing designs. The group based the company in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Guier eventually took control of Unit Rig and in 1951 sold it to Kenneth W. Davis, who already had several oil-field related businesses under the parent company name of Kendavis Industries International.
During the 1950s, Unit Rig began to diversify its products away from the limited oil-field products and looked towards mining products to utilize their manufacturing facilities. By 1960, the M-64 prototype truck was completed using General Electric drive systems and featuring special Goodyear low-pressure tires for the suspension. This truck was not a success; however, Unit Rig went on to be a very successful maker of off-highway dump trucks sold under the brand name of Lectra Haul (due to their electric drive system). Unit Rig trucks enjoyed a reputation for a simplified customer friendly design with very little requirement of parts during operation.

(Submitted on July 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Unit Rig <i>Lectra Haul</i> Bottom Dump Truck image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2022

3. Unit Rig Lectra Haul Bottom Dump Truck

Unit Rig <i>Lectra Haul</i> Bottom Dump Truck and marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 29, 2022

4. Unit Rig Lectra Haul Bottom Dump Truck and marker

The marker is mounted on a concrete pedestal overlooking the giant truck.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 25, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.