Wheel loaders, also known as front end or bucket loaders, are used primarily for material handling, digging, road building, site preparation and load-and-carry. Starting as small agricultural tractors outfitted with a loader bucket to transport light materials, 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.
Volvo Construction Equipment showcased its mid-size L120 electric wheel loader and updated 23-ton EC230 electric excavator for the first time in the United States at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Anaheim, Calif.
Volvo CE announced the introduction of a new series of wheel loaders. The first five models to launch are the L150, L180, L200 High Lift, L220 and L260.
The second Celebration of Construction on the National Mall will take place May 14-16, 2025, in Washington, D.C., highlighting the industry's latest machine innovations, workforce development opportunitie and sustainability initiatives.
Bobcat Company is expanding its product lineup with four new large wheel loaders and two new large excavators that will be available at select North American Bobcat dealerships in mid-Q2 2025.
Liebherr will display multiple machines at its booth, including the L 566 Z XPower wheel loader and the LH 22 M material handler.
Liebherr will display multiple machines at their booth including the LH 40 M Industry material handler, L 550 XPower wheel loader, and R 922 powerhand crawler excavator.
Komatsu has introduced the new WA475-11 and WA485-11 wheel loader models. These versatile machines are designed to move material efficiently and effectively, increasing productivity while also providing improved operator comfort and maintenance ease.
John Deere introduced SmartDetect Digital for select mid-size and large-size loaders. Building on the success of SmartDetect, available as an option on select loaders, SmartDetect Digital — the digital license component — provides insights that job site managers can incorporate into their safety programs.
Asphalt paving and aggregates professionals can get an up-close look at three DEVELON machines during World of Asphalt 2025: a dozer, a compact track loader and a wheel loader.
The DEVELON DL280-7 wheel loader is a versatile and high-performing earthmoving machine. It is an ideal size for many of today's bustling construction job sites.