Wheel Loader in the Construction Zone

About this drawing

A wheel loader's job is to scoop up material and move it somewhere else. With its big front bucket it grabs dirt, sand or gravel, lifts it high and dumps it into a truck or onto a pile.

Unlike a bulldozer, which pushes, a loader lifts. And unlike an excavator, it does not dig deep; it picks up material that is already loose. That is why they often team up: one digs, the loader loads and a truck hauls everything away.

Many wheel loaders have a neat trick: they bend in the middle. A joint in the center lets the front and back halves angle toward each other when turning. That way the loader can spin around in tight spaces and zip across the site on its big tires.

The signs around a construction zone keep everyone safe. They warn that machines are working, that the ground may be bumpy or that hard hats are required. When you see one, stay back and always respect the fences and barriers. Before starting each day, the operator walks around the loader to check tires, lights and fluids, and honks the horn before moving so everyone nearby knows it is about to roll.

• wheel loader
• construction
• machines
• signs
• job site