Bulldozers: It’s All in the Tracks

Most people think that they can recognize a bulldozer. If you show them a big, heavy tracked Caterpillar, they will correctly identify it. If you put that Caterpillar next to a wheeled front end loader with a dozer attachment and they will probably pick the big one or both. If you show the same person a front end loader on its own, however, you will find that a lot of people make the same mistake. One of the defining characteristics of the bulldozer is that it is a tracked vehicle.

Bulldozers are slow moving heavy vehicles that can operate in all weather conditions and on very rough terrain. The tracks allow the bulldozer to hold its own when lesser vehicles would slip or become bogged. They have all kinds of applications because of their robust nature. You will see bulldozers in mining applications, construction, demolitions, agriculture and even military. Heavily armored bulldozers with special blades can be used to clear minefields.

The type of blade that a bulldozer is fitted with depends largely upon the use for which it is intended. Traditionally bulldozers are used for pushing large loads of dirt. The basic blade types are (according to Wikipedia):

1. A Straight Blade (“S-Blade”) which is short and has no lateral curve, no side wings, and can be used for fine grading.
2. A Universal Blade (“U-Blade”) which is tall and very curved, and has large side wings to carry more material.
3. A “S-U” combination blade which is shorter, has less curvature, and smaller side wings.This blade is typically used for pushing piles of large rocks, such as at a quarry.

If you are interested in obtaining your bulldozer certification, contact us at Associated Training Services. We have helped plenty of people, just like you, find their way into exciting careers in heavy equipment.