Tracks vs. Wheels – Compact track loaders and compact wheel loaders
Tracks vs. Wheels – Compact track loaders and compact wheel loaders

Tracks vs. Wheels

Selecting The Right Compact Loader For Your Agency’s Needs

Compact machines are becoming an integral part of many governmental agency’s fleets. Terrain, ground speed, traction and load-handling capabilities are important considerations. All may be important factors, but the most significant decision when selecting a compact machine — tracks or wheels?

Compact track loaders provide more traction, less ground disturbance, better material retention and enhanced lifting capacities, but typically cost more to own and operate. Wheeled machines have the lower operating cost, and excel in applications where the ground conditions are firm and higher travel speed is required. Wheeled machines weigh less than track units, providing greater flexibility when transporting.

When comparing equivalent skid steer loader and compact track loader models, the track machine will typically provide about 30 percent more tipping load capacity due to its heavier undercarriage and increased stability. That means a track machine can use a higher capacity bucket and move more material per pass.

A Couple Of Questions To Ask:

Paved surfaces or off road? If crews work primarily on concrete or asphalt, a wheeled loader might be the better option, as these surfaces can cause track wear. Because track loaders have lower ground pressure, they can operate in places a skid steer loader can’t due to wet or sensitive ground conditions.

More important: Maintenance and owning costs or machine versatility? Track machines may have higher maintenance and operating costs than wheeled machines, but they enable your agency to complete a greater variety of jobs.

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Customer Support Agreement (CSA)

Customized To Meet Your Agency’s Needs

 

A Customer Support Agreement (CSA) is any arrangement between your governmental agency and our Cat® dealership to keep costs low and your equipment in optimal condition. Agreements are tailored to meet your specific needs and can range from simple Preventive Maintenance Kits to sophisticated Total Cost Performance Guarantees.

Agreement Flexibility – Support level meets your agency’s requirements and capabilities.

Accurate Testing – Caterpillar trained technicians have the knowledge, technology and support network to effectively service your fleet.

Early Warning – Advanced diagnostics identify problems early to schedule repairs at your convenience.

Increased Uptime – Engines and other components run more efficiently and reliably, improving uptime. Visit our dealership to learn how a CSA can help improve your agency’s efficiency and contain costs.

Fact-Based Timely Decisions

 

Effective fleet management is essential to the success of any governmental agency. Cat ProductLink® wirelessly connects you to your equipment, providing valuable insight into how your machine or fleet is performing.

Information such as location, hours, fuel usage, productivity, idle time and diagnostic codes are made available through online web applications. This enables you to make timely, fact-based decisions to maximize efficiency and lower the cost of owning and operating your fleet.

ProductLink is deeply integrated into Cat equipment, interacting with engine, transmission and implement control systems to help remove the guesswork from equipment management. ProductLink is standard on many Cat machines commonly used by governmental agencies.

 

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Cat ProductLink®

Cat® ProductLink® remote monitoring helps you take the guesswork out of asset management. Using telematics, you know where your equipment is, what it's doing and how it's performing. You can maximize efficiency, increase productivity and lower operating costs.

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