A Short History Of The Bulldozer

Bulldozer’s have been around since the early 1920’s and were one of the concepts behind the design of the first military tank.

The first bulldozer was a modified Holt farm tractor. Once their versatility and ability to move earth (as against plowing) they grew quickly in popularity. The design transformed from that farm tractor into what we see today, bulldozers with caterpillar traction and a variety of blades and tools for moving earth, shifting boulders and removing tree stumps.

Originally known as bull graders, the term bulldozer came into effect in the early 1930’s – one of the early definitions was “bulldozing” which meant using a big force to push over or through any obstacle – hence the name bulldozer.

To quote from Wikipedia:

By the 1920s, tracked vehicles became common, particularly the Caterpillar 60. To dig canals, raise earth dams, and do other earthmoving jobs, these tractors were equipped with a large thick metal plate in front. This metal plate (it got its curved shape later) is called a “blade”. The blade peels layers of soil and pushes it forward as the tractor advances. Several specialized blades have been developed: for high volume loads such as coal, rakes to remove only larger boulders, or blades with razor sharp edges to cut tree stumps. In some early models the driver sat on top in the open without a cabin.

From the humble farm tractor grew the mighty bulldozer and where would we be today without them. The millions of man hours they have saved by doing mechanically in one day what often took weeks for a team of laborers to achieve.

A career as a bulldozer operator is a satisfying one, particularly as you drive down a highway and say to your children, ‘I helped build this road’. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can help you achieve a career as bulldozer operator.