A skid steer loader is a small, rigid-frame loader with lift arms on each side of the operator and wheels that are driven, not steered. To turn, it drives the wheels on one side faster than the other, or in opposite directions, so the machine skids around its own centre. A compact track loader (CTL) uses the same concept with rubber tracks instead of wheels. Both are among the most versatile machines in construction: with the right attachment, one machine can dig, grade, lift pallets, sweep, drill, mill asphalt and clear snow.
Brief History of Skid Steer Loaders
The skid steer was invented on a turkey farm. In 1957, brothers Cyril and Louis Keller, who ran a machine shop in Rothsay, Minnesota, built a small three-wheeled loader for a local farmer who needed to clean manure from the upper floor of a turkey barn. The machine could turn around within its own length.
In 1958, Melroe Manufacturing of Gwinner, North Dakota, bought the design and hired the Kellers to develop it. The M-200 followed later that year, and in 1960 the M-400 became the first true four-wheel skid steer loader. Melroe adopted the Bobcat name in 1962, and the brand became so strong that “bobcat” is still used as a generic term for skid steers in many countries.
Competitors followed in the late 1960s, and through the 1970s and 1980s the machines gained more power, enclosed cabs and stronger hydraulics. The compact track loader appeared in the 1980s: Takeuchi introduced its first CTL in 1986. Rubber-track machines grew rapidly from the late 1990s and have since overtaken wheeled skid steers in North American sales, the largest market for both.
How a Skid Steer Works
- Rigid frame and skid steering. The wheels or tracks on each side are driven by their own hydrostatic motor. There is no steering axle, which keeps the machine short and able to turn in its own footprint.
- Lift arms run alongside the cab and pivot at the rear. The operator enters through the front, between the arms.
- Universal attachment plate at the front. A standardised mounting system means attachments from many brands fit most machines.
- Auxiliary hydraulics in standard and high-flow versions to power attachments such as cold planers, mulchers and trenchers.
- Controls: traditional hand-and-foot controls or, on most modern machines, electro-hydraulic joysticks with selectable patterns.
The key figures are rated operating capacity (ROC), tipping load, hinge pin height, engine power and auxiliary hydraulic flow. ROC is a fixed fraction of the tipping load defined by industry standards: 50% for wheeled skid steers, while for compact track loaders manufacturers commonly quote 35% or 50% of tipping load. Always compare ROC figures on the same basis.
Radial Lift and Vertical Lift
The lift arm geometry defines how the machine behaves:
- Radial lift: the arms move in an arc around a single pivot. The bucket moves forward at mid-height and back at the top. Radial machines are typically stronger at digging and pushing and better for work at or below eye level.
- Vertical lift: a linkage keeps the bucket moving almost straight up, giving more reach at full height and higher lift capacity at the top. Vertical machines are preferred for loading trucks and handling pallets.
Wheels or Tracks?
| Skid steer (wheels) | Compact track loader (tracks) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground pressure | Higher | Lower, better on soft ground |
| Traction on mud, sand, slopes | Limited | Excellent |
| Speed on hard surfaces | Faster | Slower |
| Surface damage on paving | Low with suitable tyres | Low with rubber tracks |
| Running costs | Lower (tyres) | Higher (tracks, undercarriage) |
| Typical use | Hard surfaces, yards, farms, demolition | Landscaping, grading, soft ground, all-weather work |
Many contractors now choose CTLs for earthworks and landscaping and keep skid steers for hard-surface work, where tyres wear less and the machine moves faster.
Size Classes
Manufacturers usually group machines by rated operating capacity:
| Class | Rated operating capacity | Typical engine power |
|---|---|---|
| Small frame | up to about 800 kg (1,750 lb) | up to about 50 hp |
| Medium frame | about 800 to 1,000 kg (1,750 to 2,200 lb) | about 50 to 75 hp |
| Large frame | above about 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) | 75 hp and above |
Mini skid steers and stand-on mini track loaders, with capacities of a few hundred kilograms, form a separate category for landscaping and narrow access. Figures are indicative.
Attachments
Attachments are the reason these machines exist. Common tools include buckets (general, light-material, 4-in-1), pallet forks, grapples, augers, trenchers, hydraulic breakers, cold planers for asphalt, forestry mulchers, stump grinders, brooms and sweepers, snow blades and blowers, soil conditioners, box blades and landscape rakes, and tilt attachments. High-flow hydraulics are needed for power-hungry tools such as mulchers and planers.
Main Manufacturers and Models
- Bobcat, the originator of the category and still a market leader.
- Caterpillar, with skid steers and compact track loaders.
- John Deere, Case, New Holland and Kubota, all strong in North America.
- Takeuchi, the pioneer of the compact track loader.
- JCB, with its single-arm, side-door Teleskid and skid steer design.
- Gehl and Mustang (Manitou Group), ASV, Wacker Neuson and Volvo CE.
Main Uses
- Site preparation, grading and backfilling.
- Landscaping and hardscaping.
- Loading and material handling on building sites and farms.
- Demolition and interior clean-out.
- Road maintenance with cold planers and sweepers.
- Land clearing with mulchers and grapples.
- Snow removal in winter.
Buying, Renting and Running Costs
Skid steers and compact track loaders are often bought for one job and end up doing ten. When choosing a machine, think about the attachments first: the hydraulic flow, pressure and the lift height the most demanding tool will need. A contractor planning to run a forestry mulcher or cold planer needs a large-frame, high-flow machine; one doing mostly pallet handling and cleaning needs a smaller vertical-lift unit.
Running costs depend heavily on the undercarriage. Tyres on skid steers are relatively cheap and quick to change; rubber tracks and undercarriage components on CTLs cost more, and wear faster on demolition sites, rocky ground and when turning on asphalt. Many owners choose solid or foam-filled tyres for demolition and recycling, where punctures are frequent. Daily greasing of the lift-arm and bucket pivots, checking hydraulic hoses at the front of the machine and keeping radiators and coolers clean are the basic habits that keep these machines working.
Safety
Skid steers and CTLs are compact but powerful, and they have particular risks:
- Entry and exit: operators get in and out through the front, between the lift arms. The arms must be lowered or supported by the lift-arm support device before anyone leaves the seat.
- Seat bar and belt interlocks stop the machine when the operator is not properly seated. Never bypass them.
- Load stability: carry loads low, travel up and down slopes with the heavy end uphill, and respect the ROC.
- Visibility to the rear is limited: use rear cameras and keep pedestrians away from the working area.
- Falling object and rollover protection (FOPS/ROPS) and a closed door or screen protect the operator from debris.
Trends and Technology
- Electric loaders: battery-electric skid steers and CTLs, pioneered by Bobcat’s all-electric T7X, are entering rental fleets.
- Selectable joystick controls and electro-hydraulics make machines easier to learn.
- Grade control systems for CTLs used in site preparation.
- Remote and autonomous operation is being tested for hazardous jobs such as demolition.
- Integrated attachment recognition that sets hydraulic flow automatically.
Key Terms
- Rated operating capacity (ROC): the load the machine can lift safely, usually set at a fraction of the tipping load.
- Hinge pin height: the height of the pivot point of the bucket at full lift, a key figure when loading trucks.
- High-flow hydraulics: an optional circuit with greater oil flow for demanding attachments such as cold planers and mulchers.
- Universal quick attach: a standard mounting plate that lets attachments from many makers fit many machines.
- Pilot controls: joystick controls that operate the machine hydraulically or electronically instead of through mechanical levers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called a skid steer? Because it steers by skidding: the wheels on one side slow down or reverse, and the machine pivots.
Skid steer or compact track loader? Choose tracks for soft ground, slopes and grading; choose wheels for hard surfaces, speed and lower running costs.
What does rated operating capacity mean? It is the maximum load recommended for safe operation, calculated as a fixed percentage of the tipping load according to industry standards.
How much does a skid steer weigh? Weight varies with size class, from well under 2 tonnes for the smallest models to more than 4 tonnes for large machines. Always check the operating weight in the manufacturer’s specification before planning transport.
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