Bagdad Autonomous Haulage Passes 50-million-Ton Mark

May 13, 2026 - Bagdad’s driverless fleet has surpassed 50 million tons of material moved, marking a major milestone for the company’s first full-scale autonomous haulage operation.

The achievement culminates an effort that began in 2023 when the project was announced. Bagdad teams worked through real-world operational challenges, refined processes and adapted systems as autonomy became part of daily production. All 33 autonomous haul trucks were fully in production by October, and the 50-million-ton mark was passed this spring.

“This milestone belongs to the people who made autonomy part of how we operate every day,” said Jeff Monteith, General Manager-Bagdad. “Integrating new technology at this scale requires adaptability, coordination and trust across teams and our employees have delivered.”

Reaching 50 million tons was not simply a matter of flipping on a technological switch. It required coordination across the operation. Processes were adjusted. Workflows evolved. New capabilities were developed. Lessons were learned in real time as the fleet expanded.

“Success with autonomous haulage depends on more than the technology; it depends on the people behind it,” said Zach Maughan, Superintendent Mine-Autonomous. “Roles like pit techs, builders and controllers are critical to keeping the system running, adapting in real time and ensuring everything works together safely and effectively.”

Bagdad now operates the only autonomous haulage fleet in the company and the largest autonomous fleet in North America. More importantly, the site has built practical knowledge and operational insight that will help inform future decisions across Freeport operations.