The loading dozer combines the grading capability of a crawler dozer with the loading function of a wheel loader. The key difference from a pure grading dozer: the bucket of a loading dozer can be hydraulically raised higher and tipped over the top edge of a truck or dumper to load material.
Loading dozers are ideal for moving earth over short distances (under 100 m) in difficult terrain: they push material together, load it onto transport vehicles, and grade the remaining surface. In landfill construction, gravel pit operations, and major earth moving projects, they often replace the combination of a grading dozer and wheel loader.
Liebherr is the market leader in loading dozers with the LR series (LR 616 to LR 636). Cat offers the 953K and 963K as track loaders. These machines weigh 15–35 tons and have bucket capacities of 1.5–4.5 m³. Track undercarriages provide superior traction on unprepared ground — significantly better than wheel loaders in wet or soft conditions.