Loader (equipment)
A loader, also called a front loader, is a type of tractor, usually wheeled, that uses a wide square tilting bucket on the end of movable arms to lift and move material.
An orange loader clearing a landslide.
A front loader with articulated steering.
The loader assembly may be a removable attachment or permenantly mounted. Often the bucket can be replaced with other devices or tools.
Large loaders, such as the Caterpillar 950G or Caterpillar 966G, usually have only a front bucket and are called Front Loaders, whereas small loader tractors are often equipped with a small backhoe and are called backhoe loaderss or loader backhoes.
Loaders are used mainly for uploading sand, dirt and mud into trucks, clearing rubbles and digging. Their deep bucket can store about 3-5 cubic meters (exact number varies with the model) of earth. The front loader's bucket capacity is much bigger than a bucket capacity of a backhoe loader.
In construction areas, mainly when fixing a road in a middle of a city, loaders are also used to transport building materials - such as bricks, metal bars and digging tools - to short distances.
Unlike bulldozers, most loaders are wheeled and not tracked. Wheels provide better mobility (and speed) and don't damage asphalt roads.
Engineering vehicles: bulldozer - front loader - backhoe loader - excavator - tractor - skid loader - crane - grader.External links
See also