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Applications & Innovations: Wheeled or tracked?

Applications Applications & Innovations by Lauren Heartsill Dowdle Wheels or Tracks? Let the jobsite be the judge I n the battle between choosing tires or tracks, buyers should let their projects cast the determining vote on which would be the best ﬁt for their ﬂeet. “The most important consideration for a contractor is going to be the primary type of work he does,” says Mike Fitzgerald, loader product specialist, Bobcat. The compact track loader market gained ground in the past decade – with many roadbuilders valuing productivity over initial cost – but there’s been a shift back toward skidsteer loaders since the 2008 economic downturn, says Jamie Wright, product manager, Terex Construction Americas. He estimates CTLs make up between 20 and 25 percent of the market, while SSLs hold between 75 and 80 percent, 26 October 2012 Better Roads according to our sister publication, Equipment World. “The compact-track loader trend started as a result of contractors wanting to get jobs done faster, no matter the acquisition costs or operational cost of the unit,” Wright continues. “With the economic downturn, contractors were more selective and looking for ways to manage their equipment inventories more efﬁciently. As part of this, they are adding skid-steer loaders back into their ﬂeet since they are able to accomplish many of the same tasks at a lower operating expense.” So when does the price tag equal the beneﬁts, and how can roadbuilders know which one they need for their next project? Here’s what the experts have to say.

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