The Rising Popularity of Compact Wheeled Excavators

Change often feels like a natural product of time. However, when it comes to processes and industries, it’s usually driven by the need for greater efficiency and higher productivity. A once ideal method becomes outdated as new, more productive ways of doing things are established. This evolution is clear with compact wheeled excavators.

Popular for some time in Europe, wheeled excavators didn’t gain the same steam in North America because the open spaces and greater travel distances favored larger equipment. That is changing, however. Increased trucking costs make hauling large pieces of equipment less viable. Jobsites today are often more crowded than before and require equipment with a more compact footprint. Labor shortages are still an issue. This creates the need for creative, innovative solutions. These factors make it the right time for the wheeled excavator to be a go-to option in North America. 

Rolling Across the Site

One of the benefits of a wheeled compact excavator is its ability to travel — up to 25 mph for some advanced models. That includes zipping across a jobsite, traveling to another project or even driving to fuel up. A contractor with a backhoe and compact track loader (CTL) must choose between hauling the equipment or driving two separate machines, with the CTL only traveling up to 9 mph. If both pieces of equipment need to be transported at the same time to the next site, they are often loaded and hauled with a trailer rather than driving two machines at different speeds — even if the jobsite is a short distance away. When every minute counts and these contractors are trying to maximize billable hours, the downtime resulting from loading and unloading machines or traveling to the nearest gas station quickly adds up.

Consider a two-mile trip to a gas station or between jobsites. With a backhoe and CTL, operations must take the time to load each machine on a trailer, haul to the next site and unload the machines before they can begin operating again. With a wheeled excavator, this one machine has the capabilities to replace both the backhoe and CTL and can travel two miles in just five minutes — saving time loading and hauling. That increase in speed quickly adds up in terms of job timelines, billable hours and overall efficiency. It also improves operator experience as it saves hassle either in loading and unloading machines or driving at slow speeds on potentially busy roads.

Viable for Any Job

Speed is important, but some might raise the question: Can a wheeled excavator actually boost efficiency through power and performance on-site? Simply put, yes. On an average jobsite, you’ll notice several pieces of idle equipment each day. In an ideal world, every machine would be running and earning money 100 percent of the time. However, that target is rarely realized as owner-operators with multiple machines on-site see 30 to 35 percent efficiency out of any one unit. When operators can replace multiple machines with a wheeled excavator, though, the 100 percent efficiency goal becomes attainable — plus they don’t have to do the heavy hauling of trailers full of large machines.

The key is finding a design that is truly multipurpose without sacrificing performance. With a wheeled excavator’s speed, it’s possible to quickly drive to wherever your attachments are on the site, switch the bucket out for a set of forks, lift and load the pallet and switch back to continue digging all within minutes. Previously, this process might have taken up to three times longer or required another unit, such as a telescopic handler or rough terrain forklift, and another operator. Or, with a single operator, equipment then stands idle.

Then consider the benefits of a machine that has four-wheel steering, allowing an incredibly tight turn radius, paired with the power and range to lift 3 tons to 10 ft up through a 360-degree rotation. This is a machine that can park in single space, if needed, and with its offset, three-part boom work outside the width of the machine in any direction, including below grade — all while maintaining perfect stability.

A single machine that offers power and speed in a compact footprint, along with the functionality of multiple machines while requiring only one operator is game changing for many industries, including construction, landscaping, forestry, municipal work and utility construction.

Advantageous Design

Safety is of utmost importance. With some wheeled excavators, prioritizing safety may mean sacrificing productivity. One that is designed to address both should have a low center of gravity that is placed directly in the center of the machine. This offers stability, even when driving the machine on slopes or down inclines. Some designs feature the capability to carry loads safely in these situations and are designed in a way that even with the low center of gravity, the ground clearance remains high enough to maneuver over a variety of uneven terrain. Older, top-heavy designs, with higher centers of gravity and too much weight in the front, do not lend themselves as well to off-road operations.

Another design feature to consider is operator accessibility to the cab and fuel tank. Wheeled excavators that allow operators to fill the tank without stepping on the tire of the machine, but rather standing on the ground, eliminate the risk of a preventable accident. Additionally, when operators can access the fuel tank, grease points and filters from the ground, regular maintenance can be performed quickly and safely.

Here to Stay

While it may have taken time to gain popularity in North America, the benefits of wheeled excavators are clear. Think of a contractor putting in underground piping and electric wiring. They leveraged the perks of a compact wheeled excavator and outperformed competitors still relying on backhoes, allowing them to earn bids away from them even while charging more.

These types of cases are becoming more common across North America. Operations that consider the benefits of new compact equipment options like wheeled excavators are reaping the rewards. As times change, those willing to alter how they think and work will find ways to thrive and achieve more success than ever.

Manny Mendez is a national sales and service manager for Mecalac North America.