Automated material transporter simplifies solar field pile shakeout

Solar field pile shakeout is repetitive work, and precise pile placement is vital on these expansive job sites. Typically, the process requires that crews operate skid steers or telehandlers to move pile bundles where they're needed on the solar field. This is time-consuming, challenging, labour-intensive work that must be done accurately for ground-mount, utility scale solar farms. A new innovation from Vermeer reduces the time, equipment, and labour needed for solar field pile shakeout.

Automated solar pile placement needs minimal operator intervention

The MT500 material transporter joins Vermeer's lineup of equipment solutions for renewable energy infrastructure projects. Using point-to-point and row-to-row automation, the MT500 accurately places 10-foot to 25-foot W-beam piles across the solar field with minimal operator intervention. The material transporter's adjustable pile rack is easily configured on site to work with different pile sizes, carrying a total payload of up to 5,000 pounds. The automated arm picks each pile, which can weigh up to 400 pounds, and places it according to the site plan. GPS ensures total accuracy, and the MT500 is compatible with third-party systems.

This push-button process is supervised by one operator via full-function wireless remote control, and because most of the process is automated, training to operate the MT500 is simple.

Designed to operate safely in a variety of conditions 

Vermeer has integrated several safety systems into the material transporter. When the machine is in operation via remote control or in automation mode, an amber beacon activates. An emergency stop button is standard, and the material transporter is outfitted with an object detection system and bump bars that slow or stop the machine if there is an obstruction in its travel zone.

Wet conditions and uneven terrain are no problem for the rubber-tracked MT500. Ground pressure of 6.4 psi reduces disturbance on soft ground, and a high clearance of 12 inches ensures that the MT500 can work on a variety of job sites.

Simple transportation and equipment set-up are vital for solar field construction projects. Vermeer has ensured that the material transporter is easy to move between job sites without time-consuming disassembly. With the pile rack and arm stowed, the MT500 measures just 88 inches wide and 187 inches long.

On-rig troubleshooting streamlines maintenance 

Powered by a Tier 4 Final 74-hp Rehlko engine with 132-litre fuel capacity, the MT500 does not require DEF, minimizing maintenance needs. Maintenance is further streamlined with on-rig diagnostics. Crews familiar with Vermeer's PD25R pile driver will appreciate that the MT500 material transporter has a similar display, and the new machine shares many common parts with Vermeer's pile drivers. Vermeer says that its on-rig diagnostics provide clear descriptive explanations and prescriptive troubleshooting. The VermeerOne telematics platform provides real-time machine data to help fleet managers manage maintenance and performance.

Solar pile shakeout is the perfect application to automate

Improving productivity of the precise, repetitive manual work of solar pile shakeout while contending with a shortage of skilled labour is a challenge for solar contractors, but it's the ideal application for automated equipment.

"Solar contractors are looking for ways to do more with the crews they have, and accuracy matters on every pile," says Ed Savage, product manager, Vermeer. "The MT500 brings a level of consistency to the layout process that is hard to achieve manually, and it does it with minimal user inputs and one person running the machine."

This article originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of Heavy Equipment Guide.