loading shovel

A front-end loader, also known as a front loader or wheel loader, is a heavy vehicle equipped with a hydraulically operated scoop at the front. This tool is designed for excavating and loading loose materials such as soil, sand, or coal.1

These machines are crucial in various operations, including surface mining, where they load loose coal onto haulage conveyances or trucks. They can also be used for tasks like digging basements and general bulldozer work, transporting materials over moderate distances. Power shovels, a related type of digging and loading machine, can also be equipped with various front attachments like booms or cranes to support a digger, and are used for excavation and debris removal.234