Compact Utility Loaders & Work Machines

Compact utility loaders (sometimes called compact tool carriers) look like a mix of a skid steer and a utility vehicle. They use buckets, forks, sweepers, mowers and many other attachments, and drive faster and farther than skid steers. That makes them handy for landscapers, farms, municipalities and contractors, and easy to overload, tip or run over someone.

• Landscapers
• Farm & Ranch Workers
• Municipal Crews
• Contractors

What these machines are

• Rubber-tired (or sometimes tracked) articulated or rigid-frame loaders with a lift arm, a quick-attach plate and a cab with a roll bar or enclosure. They often use a hydrostatic drive and a seat belt and lap bar or cab doors.
• Attachments change the machine's job and its stability. Buckets, pallet forks, brooms, snow blowers, augers, trenchers, grapples and mowers each need their own training and rated capacity. See Skid Steers and Telehandlers.
• OSHA's rules for material handling equipment apply, including rollover protection and operator training. See Equipment Basics.

Main hazards

• Rollover and tip-over: carrying loads high, turning on slopes, overloading and fast driving on rough ground. See Equipment Rollovers.
• Run-over and struck-by: limited visibility and workers on foot close by. See Backing & Spotters.
• Crush points: between lift arms and the cab or frame, with the attachment, and under raised arms. See Struck-By & Caught-Between.
• Falling loads: loads rolling back toward the operator or falling from forks and buckets.
• Carrying riders, including children, who can fall off or be crushed.
• Hydraulic hazards: hose leaks and attachment couplers. See Hydraulic Hazards.
• Power lines and underground utilities when lifting or digging.
• Noise, vibration and exhaust, especially in enclosed spaces. See Carbon Monoxide.

Before you operate

• Get trained on the machine and each attachment, and read the manual. Employers must evaluate operators. See Operator Training & Evaluation.
• Do a walk-around inspection: tires or tracks, lift arms, pins, quick-attach, hoses, fluid levels, lights, horn, brakes, mirrors, cameras and the cab. Don't use a machine with a missing or altered guard or ROPS. See Forklift Inspection for a model checklist.
• Check the rated operating capacity (ROC) on the plate and don't exceed it with the attachment and load. Heavier attachments reduce lift capacity.
• Make sure the attachment is locked into the quick-attach properly, with pins or wedges fully engaged, and test by tilting the attachment against the ground.
• Wear your seat belt, lower the lap bar or close the door, and keep hands and feet inside the cab. Wear hard hat, hearing and eye protection and boots as the job requires.
• Check for overhead lines, buried utilities and hazards in the work area.

Operating safely

• Carry loads low, about 4 to 6 inches off the ground when traveling, and tilt buckets and forks back slightly. Lower loads before turning.
• Drive slowly on rough ground, and avoid sharp turns, hills and soft edges. Go straight up and down slopes, not across them, and keep the heavy end uphill as the manual says.
• Don't overload, jerk, or lift a load that is stuck. Back away from edges and trench lines, and keep the machine at a safe distance from drop-offs.
• Never carry passengers or lift people on forks or buckets, unless the machine has an approved work platform and a seat for them. See Aerial Lifts.
• Keep bystanders out of the work zone and swing area, make eye contact before moving and use spotters. Don't allow workers under raised arms or loads.
• On roads and sidewalks, follow traffic rules and use warning lights where the law requires. See Work Zones.
• When leaving the seat, lower the arms, set the park brake, shut off the engine and remove the key if needed. Never leave it running unattended.

Maintenance and storage

• Lock out and block raised lift arms with the arm support before working under them. Release hydraulic pressure before opening lines. See Blocking & Cribbing.
• Follow the service schedule, fix leaks, and keep guards, mirrors, alarms and lights working.
• Refuel with the engine off and away from ignition sources. See Equipment Fueling.
• Store with the attachment lowered, park brake set and the key removed, and secure it against unauthorized use. See Equipment Loading & Trailers for transport.

Compact utility loader checklist

• I'm trained on the machine and the attachment and checked the rated capacity
• The quick-attach is locked and my seat belt is on
• I carry loads low and avoid slopes and soft edges
• No riders, and bystanders are kept out of the work zone
• I lower the arms, park and shut off before leaving the seat

Last updated: October 5, 2026