Heavy equipment,heavy machinery,earthmovers,construction vehicles, orconstruction equipment, refers toheavy-duty vehicles specially designed to executeconstruction tasks, most frequently involvingearthwork operations or other large construction tasks.Heavy equipment usually comprises fiveequipment systems: theimplement,traction, structure,power train, and control/information.
Heavy equipment has been used since at least the 1st century BC, when theancient Roman engineerVitruvius described acrane powered by human or animal labor inDe architectura.
Heavy equipment functions through themechanical advantage of asimple machine that multiplies theratio between input force applied and force exerted, easing and speeding tasks which often could otherwise take hundreds of people and many weeks' labor. Some such equipment useshydraulic drives as a primary source of motion.
The wordplant, in this context, has come to mean any type of industrial equipment, including mobile equipment (e.g. in the same sense aspowerplant). However, plant originally meant "structure" or "establishment" – usually in the sense of factory or warehouse premises; as such, it was used in contradistinction to movable machinery, often in the phrase "plant and equipment".
The design of heavy equipment has increasingly incorporated modern electronics and software, a process known asFleet digitalization. This integration of technology facilitates greater automation, safety monitoring, and operational efficiency on construction and mining sites, creating what is often referred to as anintelligent job site.
Fleet telematics systems are utilized for theFleet management of heavy equipment. A ruggedizedTelematic control unit, installed on each asset, uses aGPS tracking unit to provide real-timeVehicle location data. In addition to location, the system transmits a wide range oftelemetry data, including engine hours, fuel consumption, idle time, and diagnostic fault codes.[1] This data is used for operational oversight, such as totrack asset utilization, schedule predictive maintenance, and manage fuel withFuel-management systems. Studies in the construction industry have correlated the use of such systems with improvements in overall project efficiency.[2] A primary function of these platforms is to address the challenge of aggregating data from a mixed fleet of equipment from various manufacturers into a single, unified interface.[3]
Research and development in heavy equipment has increasingly focused on robotics and autonomous operation. Several manufacturers have commercialized autonomous systems that allow machines like haul trucks and dozers to operate without a human driver by following pre-programmed routes from adigital site plan.[4] Such applications are most prevalent in mining and large-scale earthwork operations where tasks are repetitive and occur in controlled environments. Semi-autonomous features, such as grade control and automated digging cycles on excavators, are also becoming common, assisting operators in performing tasks with greater speed and precision.
Technology is applied to improve operator safety and situational awareness.Video telematics systems, which utilize multiple ruggedizedcameras, offer operators a comprehensive view of their surroundings to mitigate blind spots. These systems also record operational data for incident analysis.Operator scoring applications analyze telemetry data to identify potentially hazardous operating practices, such as excessive speed or abrupt movements, providing a basis for targeted safety training. Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are also being adapted for heavy equipment, with features like object detection and collision avoidance alerts to protect both the operator and ground personnel.
The development of electric and hybrid-electric powertrains is an area of ongoing development in heavy equipment manufacturing. Several manufacturers, including Caterpillar,[5] Volvo,[6] and Liebherr,[7] have produced electric or hybrid-electric prototypes and commercial models. While technical challenges related to battery capacity and charging infrastructure persist for the largest classes of equipment, electric powertrains provide operational advantages such as the elimination of on-site emissions, reduced noise levels for operation in urban areas, and potentially lower maintenance and energy costs.[8]
These subdivisions, in this order, are the standard heavy equipment categorization.
Tractor
Grader
Excavator
Backhoe
Timber
Pipelayer
Scraper
Mining
Articulated
Compactor
Loader
Track loader
Skid-steer loader
Material handler
Paving
Underground
Hydromatic tool
Highway
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Heavy equipment requires specializedtires for various construction applications. While many types of equipment havecontinuous tracks applicable to more severe service requirements, tires are used where greater speed or mobility is required. An understanding of what equipment will be used for during the life of the tires is required for proper selection. Tire selection can have a significant impact on production and unit cost. There are three types of off-the-road tires,transport for earthmoving machines,work for slow moving earthmoving machines, andload and carry for transporting as well as digging. Off-highway tires have six categories of serviceC compactor,E earthmover,G grader,L loader,LS log-skidder andML mining and logging. Within these service categories are various tread types designed for use on hard-packed surface, soft surface and rock. Since tires are a large expense on any construction project, careful consideration should be given to prevent excessive wear or damage.
A heavy equipment operator drives and operatesheavy equipment used inengineering andconstruction projects.[9][10] Typically onlyskilled workers may operate heavy equipment, and there is specialized training for learning to use heavy equipment.
Much publication about heavy equipment operators focuses on improving safety for such workers. The field ofoccupational medicine researches and makes recommendations about safety for these and other workers in safety-sensitive positions.
Due to the small profit margins on construction projects it is important to maintain accurate records concerning equipment utilization, repairs and maintenance. The two main categories of equipment costs are ownership cost andoperating cost.[11]
To classify as an ownership cost an expense must have been incurred regardless of if the equipment is used or not. These costs are as follows:
Depreciation can be calculated several ways, the simplest is the straight-line method. The annual depreciation is constant, reducing the equipment value annually. The following are simple equations paraphrased from the Peurifoy & Schexnayder text:
m = some year in the future N = equipment useful life (years) and Dn = Annual depreciation amount
Book value (BV) in yearm
| example: N = 5 purchase price = $350,000 m = 3 years from now
|
For an expense to be classified as an operating cost, it must be incurred through use of the equipment. These costs are as follows:[12]
|
The biggest distinction from a cost standpoint is if a repair is classified as amajor repair or aminor repair. A major repair can change the depreciable equipment value due to an extension inservice life, while a minor repair is normalmaintenance. How a firm chooses to cost major and minor repairs vary from firm to firm depending on the costing strategies being used. Some firms will charge only major repairs to the equipment while minor repairs are costed to a project. Another common costing strategy is to cost all repairs to the equipment and only frequently replaced wear items are excluded from the equipment cost. Many firms keep their costing structure closely guarded[citation needed] as it can impact the bidding strategies of their competition. In a company with multiple semi-independent divisions, the equipment department often wants to classify all repairs as "minor" and charge the work to a job – therefore improving their 'profit' from the equipment.
Die-cast metal promotionalscale models ofheavy equipment are often produced for each vehicle to give to prospective customers. These are typically in1:50 scale. The popular manufacturers of these models areConrad andNZG in Germany, even for US vehicles.
The largest 10 heavy equipment manufacturers according to Yellow Table 2025[14]
| No. | Company | Country | Sales (billion USD) | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caterpillar |  United States | 37,8 | 15.9% |
| 2 | Komatsu |  Japan | 26,6 | 11.2% |
| 3 | John Deere | United States | 12,9 | 5.5% |
| 4 | XCMG |  China | 12,7 | 5.4% |
| 5 | Liebherr |  Switzerland | 12,4 | 5.2% |
| 6 | Sany | China | 10,8 | 4.6% |
| 7 | Hitachi Construction Machinery | Japan | 9,1 | 3.8% |
| 8 | Volvo Construction Equipment |  Sweden | 8,3 | 3.5% |
| 9 | JCB |  United Kingdom | 7,4 | 3.1% |
| 10 | Sandvik | Sweden | 6,9 | 2.9% |
Other manufacturers include:
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