Common Types of Construction Equipment

Construction equipment refers to the machines and vehicles used for the creation of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure projects. There are many different types of models, which are used for different projects and worksites. Read on to discover some common types of construction equipment and their uses.

Excavator

The Design:

• The operator sits in the cab, which is built on a rotating platform.
• Connected to the cab is a long arm, which has a bucket at the end.
• The machine moves around the worksite using either wheels or tracks.

Common Variations:

• A compact excavator, also known as a mini excavator, is much smaller than the standard model size. It usually weighs 7.5 tons or less.
• A hydraulic excavator uses the transfer of hydraulic fluid to power its movements.
• A skid steer excavator has a bucket that reaches over the operator cab instead of around it.

Common Uses:

• Excavating.
• Demolishing.
• Hauling debris or other materials.

Articulated Dump Truck

The Design:

• The operator sits in the cab, which is a permanent fixture on the vehicle.
• A dump box is connected to the equipment’s frame.
• The cab and dump box are connected with a pivoting hinge, which gives the construction equipment great mobility around tight turns.
• The machine moves using wheels.

Common Uses:

• Navigating difficult terrains such as steep slopes, slippery surfaces, and unpaved trails.
• Hauling materials at mining, recycling, construction, and other such work sites.

Backhoe Loader

The Design:

• A tractor that is fitted with a bucket on the front and a backhoe on the back.
• This construction equipment tends to be small in size, which leads to impressive maneuverability in small spaces.

Common Uses:

• Smaller urban engineering and construction projects, such as fixing urban roads or placing pipes.
• Smaller landscaping and farming projects, such as digging holes or hauling fertilizer.

Bulldozer

The Design:

• A blade at the machine’s front pushes the topsoil layer up to a given depth. The blade is raised and lowered using hydraulic pistons.
• The bulldozer is either on a four-wheel-drive tractor or mounted on continuous metal treads.

Common Variations:

• There are different bulldozer blade options, such as an edgeless straight blade, curved universal blade, and semi-universal combination blade.

Common Uses:

• Land clearing.
• Demolition projects.
• Home renovation projects.

Motor Grader

The Design:

• A long horizontal blade is used to create a flat surface. The blade width usually is between 2.5 meters and 7.3 meters.
• The operating cabin is on top of the rear axle arrangement.

Common Uses:

• Create and maintain dirt and gravel roads.
• Create a flat surface for asphalt to be placed upon.
• Remove snow from roads.
• Remove unnecessary soil from the ground.

Ready to shop for construction equipment for sale? Stribling Equipment carries a wide range of models and our expert staff can help you find the best match for your needs. Reach out or stop by one of our dealerships. We proudly serve those throughout Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee.