Editor’s note: Over the last 10 months, the magazine has presented excerpts from the 2025 edition of the Pit & Quarry University Handbook that will be published this November. P&Q spotlights excavating and loading this month, with a focus on wheel loader buckets.
A wheel loader’s bucket is typically its biggest revenue generator. But with many types to choose from, how does a producer know which type of bucket is best suited for the application at hand?
The wrong bucket size can hinder wheel loader productivity – especially in aggregate settings.
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“In my 20-plus years of working in the construction industry, I have come across many of the same mistakes when it comes to selecting wheel loader buckets,” says Bill Zak, wheel loader and ADT product manager at Develon. “In the demanding world of aggregate production, every pass of a wheel loader bucket counts.
Optimizing a bucket is not just about moving material – it directly translates to better tons per hour, reduced fuel consumption and extended machine life in a high-production aggregate environment.”
Some of the most common mistakes include not considering the material density versus the wheel loader’s capabilities. Always factor the quick coupler’s weight into the lifting capacity calculations. Zak discourages producers from sizing a bucket based solely on the wheel loader’s straight tipping load.
“Straight tipping load is an indicator of the machine’s lift capacity,” he says. “However, your ‘safe operating load’ is a key specification, as well. Safe operating load is 50 percent of the machine’s articulated capacity. Safe operating load takes into account the machine’s stability when the bucket is full and in ‘full up’ position.”
Before selecting a wheel loader bucket and performing tasks like loading, carrying and stockpiling, Zak recommends owners, purchasing managers and operators consider the following factors:
• Material density
• Bucket weight
• Quick coupler weight
• Center of gravity
• Standard lift versus high-lift design wheel loaders
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Material density
When sizing a bucket to a wheel loader, Zak also suggests evaluating the material density and capacity first. Calculate the average material density to be moved and then compare that to the wheel loader safe operating load and lifting capacity.
“Material density is typically expressed in pounds per cubic yard or kilograms per cubic meter,” he says. “Wheel loader owners can obtain these values from material specifications, supplier data sheets or industry reference tables.”
It is also important to consider the possibility of working with varying material densities such as sand and then rock. The bucket specification should be determined by the heaviest material it is intended to handle. Remember, sand that absorbs moisture will be heavier wet than dry. Clean, washed aggregate densities can also vary from base fill densities.
Wheel loader manufacturers design machines to handle a predetermined loading cycle profile and working payload. Pushing a machine beyond these limits can accelerate wear, affect machine durability and significantly lower return on investment.
Ryan Johnson is public relations and content strategy manager at Two Rivers Marketing.
More from the P&Q University Handbook: Geology & Site Selection | P&Q University Handbook
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