All-wheel steering (also called four-wheel steering or all-wheel-steering) steers all four wheels of a construction machine and significantly reduces the turning radius. It is used on telehandlers, compact wheel loaders, and some mobile cranes, and enables three steering modes: all-wheel steering (both axles in opposite directions), front-wheel steering (front only), and crab steering (all wheels parallel, lateral movement).
Crab steering is particularly useful on confined construction sites: the machine moves diagonally without swinging the front end. Telehandlers such as the Manitou MT 1440 use this when working inside buildings. Compact wheel loaders benefit from the reduced turning radius when loading in tight silos or halls.
Unlike articulated steering (standard on larger wheel loaders), all-wheel steering has the advantage that the machine does not bend as a whole — this improves stability when handling high lift loads. Manufacturers such as Kramer, Wacker Neuson, and Manitou offer all-wheel steering as standard equipment on their compact machines.