The two biggest mining companies in Australia are expanding their driverless trucks fleet to protect their profits from the volatility of commodity prices in the international market.

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has been using autonomous trucks in three of its mines to boost its competitiveness and operations efficiency.

It has 10 driverless trucks at its Yamdicoogina open-pit mine and 5 more at the Nammuldi mines. At its Hope Downs 4 mine, Rio has 16 such trucks. The company will add 5 more at the Nammuldi and three more at the Hope Downs, part of the 150 autonomous truck that the second biggest miner ordered from Japan in 2012 that will be delivered over a four-year period.

"Autonomous haulage is an important component in our Mine of the Future programme. These new trucks will work with our pioneering Operations Centre that integrates and manages the logistics of 14 mines, three ports and two railways. They will be a critical part of our drive to outstanding safety and productive efficiency as we grow our business towards 353 million tonnes a year," then Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Sam Walsh said in a statement in July.

BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP), the largest miners, just finished the trial of an autonomous Caterpillar truck at is New Mexico mine and plans to begin the use of 12 such vehicles in 2013 at the Jimblebar iron mine in the Pilbara region.

A third miner, Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) also has plans in the future for similar operations at its Solomon mine in Western Australia.

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