What is a crawler loader?
A crawler loader is an earthmoving machine on tracks, with a loading bucket at the front that is raised and lowered on two arms. The machine scoops, moves and loads soil, sand, rubble and other bulk material. The difference from a wheel loader lies in the undercarriage: the tracks spread the weight over a much larger area, so ground pressure stays low and the machine has a great deal of traction and stability.
Types
- Large crawler loaders: heavy machines for earthmoving, demolition work and loading lorries on sites where a wheel loader would sink.
- Compact track loaders: small, manoeuvrable machines, related to the skid steer loader. They turn on the spot by running the tracks in opposite directions and are popular for landscaping, paving and preparing plots for building.
Many compact track loaders also take other attachments: pallet forks, a soil tiller, a sweeper, a trencher or a grab bucket.
Applications
- Site preparation: levelling, bringing in and spreading sand, removing building rubble.
- Working on soft ground: clay and peat areas, wet building sites, embankments.
- Garden and paving work: bringing in and screeding a sand bed, removing soil.
What to watch out for when hiring or using one
- Tracks damage hard surfaces. Steel tracks can break up asphalt and clay pavers; on existing paving, choose rubber tracks or lay down track mats.
- Turning on the spot tears up grass and soil. Turn in wide curves instead.
- Check the access. Measure gates and passages; even compact machines are often wider than you think.
- Cables and pipes: always check for underground cables and pipes before digging (in the Netherlands via a KLIC notification).
- Licence and transport: when hiring, check which driving licence or which trailer you need to transport the machine.
Related terms
- Excavator
- Site preparation
- Remediation in construction
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