A trackhoe is a heavy earthmoving machine equipped with a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm, all mounted on a tracked undercarriage. The tracks distribute the massive weight of the machine, allowing it to operate on soft mud, loose sand, and uneven terrain without sinking. Operators use them for digging trenches, excavating foundations, and loading dump trucks.
Get the trackhoe over to the north corner to dig out that stump before we start grading.
Also heard as
- excavator
- crawler excavator
Do not mix it up with
- Backhoe: A backhoe is a tractor with a loader on the front and a digging arm on the back, usually on wheels; a trackhoe is a dedicated tracked excavator.
Related terms
Backhoe
A heavy equipment vehicle featuring a loader bucket on the front and an articulated digging arm on the rear.
Earthmoving
The process of excavating, transporting, and grading soil and rock to prepare a construction site.
Heavy equipment
Large, heavy-duty vehicles and machines used for earthmoving, lifting, and major construction tasks.