Originally a brand name, this term now refers to any small, highly maneuverable front-end loader where the left and right wheels operate independently. Operators use them for grading, trenching, and moving dirt on residential sites where heavy machinery cannot fit. Their tight turning radius makes them essential for site prep, though reckless operation can easily tear up existing landscaping or shallow utilities.
Get the Bobcat off the trailer and start backfilling around the foundation.
Always check for sprinkler heads and septic lines before spinning a Bobcat around in a residential yard.
Also heard as
- skid-steer
- skid loader
Related terms
Heavy equipment
Large, heavy-duty vehicles and machines used for earthmoving, lifting, and major construction tasks.
Earthmoving
The process of excavating, transporting, and grading soil and rock to prepare a construction site.
Backhoe
A heavy equipment vehicle featuring a loader bucket on the front and an articulated digging arm on the rear.