Wheel loaders, also known as front end loaders or bucket loaders,are used primarily for material handling, digging, road building, site preparation and load-and-carry. The earliest versions were actually small agricultural tractors outfitted with a loader bucket to transport light materials. Over time these machines evolved, first as rigid frame wheel loaders in the late 1930s, then to articulated wheel loaders in the 1940s.
Wheel loaders, also known as front end loaders or bucket loaders,are used primarily for material handling, digging, road building, site preparation and load-and-carry. The earliest versions were actually small agricultural tractors outfitted with a loader bucket to transport light materials. Over time these machines evolved, first as rigid frame wheel loaders in the late 1930s, then to articulated wheel loaders in the 1940s.
As wheel loaders increased in size, safety concerns arose, particularly concerning the positioning of the loader pivot arm. These concerns ledto the adoption of a front mounted pivot in the late 1950s. Hough was one of the first manufacturers to produce a wheel loader with a safer design, followed quickly by Caterpillar, Case and Allis-Chalmers.
Today's wheel loaders are comprised of a pivoted frame with the engine mounted over the rear wheels. A cab or canopy rests over the frame. The machine's pivot arrangement gives the wheel loader the ability to work in small turning circles.
Construction Equipment Guide's Used Wheel Loaders for Sale page includes links from more than 50 manufacturers, including Case, Caterpillar, Hyundai, John Deere, Kawasaki, Komatsu, Liebherr, Volvo and many more.
Wheel Loaders News and New Products
Fri September 01, 2017
Strategy Improves Total Operation for Britton Industries
Family-owned and operated Britton Industries, a producer of natural and dyed mulches, screened topsoil, leaf compost and aggregate products, has been servicing the landscaping and construction markets of central New Jersey and southern Pennsylvania for more than 28 years....
Mon April 29, 2019
Liebherr to Display Powerful Wheel Loader, High-Precision Wheeled Excavator at Waste Expo 2019
Liebherr USA Co. Construction Equipment is displaying the high performance L 556 XPower wheel loader and the A 914 Litronic wheeled excavator at Waste Expo in Las Vegas from May 6 through 9, 2019. The Liebherr-XPower driveline on the L 556 XPower wheel loader offers reduced operating costs, lower fuel consumption and increased working efficiency that allows the machine to maneuver in the toughest waste industry conditions, according to the manufacturer....
Tue April 09, 2019
Doosan Infracore North America to Offer Trimble's New Generation of Loader Onboard Scales
Trimble and Doosan Infracore North America LLC announced the availability of Trimble LOADRITE L3180 SmartScale as an option on Doosan wheel loaders. The LOADRITE L3180 SmartScale uses weighing intelligence and solid state sensors for more accurate, precise and faster loading....
Mon April 08, 2019
Case Unveils ProjectTETRA: Methane-Powered Wheel Loader Concept
Case Construction Equipment, a brand of CNH Industrial N.V. gave the public an insight into a sustainable, connected and technologically advanced future of construction at the bauma trade show in Munich, Germany, with the unveiling of its methane-powered wheel loader concept – ProjectTETRA....
Wed April 03, 2019
John Deere to Display Equipment for the First Time at bauma at Wirtgen Group Booth
John Deere will be exhibiting a selection of its construction equipment – including motor graders that will be sold via the Wirtgen Group's German sales and service companies and via the French sales and service company Wirtgen France SAS – at bauma from April 8-14, 2019....
Tue April 02, 2019
ZW550-6 Puts Hitachi in the Top Ranks of Wheel Loaders
With the release of the ZW550-6 loader, Hitachi Construction Machinery Loader America Inc. (HCMA) has established a flagship machine worthy of the firm's goal of delivering on the needs of America's most demanding buyers of heavy equipment....
Mon April 01, 2019
Liebherr Features Material Handling Machines, L 550 XPower Wheel Loader at ISRI 2019
Liebherr USA Co. Construction Equipment division is displaying two high performing material handlers and the L 550 XPower wheel loader at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries 2019 convention and exposition in Los Angeles, Calif....
Thu March 28, 2019
Hitachi Announces Bobcat of Connecticut as New Compact Wheel Loader Dealer
Hitachi Construction Machinery Loaders America Inc. (HCMA) has announced Bobcat of Connecticut Inc. as a new compact wheel loader dealer. Based in Hartford, Conn., Bobcat of Connecticut will be serving the Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts region with the full lineup of Hitachi compact wheel loaders in addition to offering parts and full maintenance packages....
Mon March 11, 2019
Telia, Ericsson and Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) have launched Sweden's first 5G network for industrial use at Volvo CE's facility in Eskilstuna. Volvo CE will then become one of the first in the world to use 5G technology to test remote-controlled machines and autonomous solutions....
Mon February 18, 2019
Deere Hybrid Loaders Surpass One Million Field Hours
The John Deere 644K and 944K hybrid wheel loaders have collectively logged more than 1 million operating hours in the field. This level of real-world experience is key as more OEMs look to John Deere Power Systems for technologies to reduce emissions, improve fuel economy, and enhance machine performance and reliability....
Wed February 13, 2019
Cat Updates M Series Wheel Loaders
The 2019 product update package for Cat M Series Medium Wheel Loaders (950M – 982M) includes technology advances that provide: lower operating costs via extended service intervals; enhanced operator comfort with new seats and suspensions; emissions control strategies to meet EU Stage V standards (EU only); added machine configurations (982M Forestry Machine and 982M High Lift); expanded productivity measurement tools; remote software update capability; and refinements in ground engaging tool and coupler systems....
