CTL and Skid Steer Operating Tips

Compact Track Loader and Skid Steer Operation Tips Atlantic Coastal Equipment

Skid steers and CTLs are some of the most versatile and valuable pieces of equipment on your jobsite. They have the ability to dig, load, and, with the right attachments, handle a huge range of other jobs for construction, road building, vegetation management, municipalities, and more. But they can also be dangerous if you don’t take the right precautions. In order to avoid accidents and get the best performance possible from your skid steer or compact track loader, follow these operating tips and best practices.

Never travel across slopes

Rollovers are a present danger on hilly or uneven jobsites. If you must move up or down a slope in your CTLs or skid steers, then you should ensure that the heaviest end is positioned uphill and travel in a straight line up and down. This position will maximize your stability and significantly reduce the chance of tipping over. When you’re not transporting anything in your bucket, the rear of the loader is generally heavier.

Remain in the operator’s seat when the engine is running or the arms are raised

A common cause of injury or death during compact track loader and skid steer operation is hitting or crushing someone with the moving components. Buckets can drop without notice and loads can spill or fall unexpectedly, potentially causing harm to you or the people around you. You should not power up the machine or make adjustments from outside the cab. It’s also important to never allow someone to walk under the raised loader arms. The correct process for stopping the machine is:

• Lower the arms and attachment flat on the ground
• Turn off the engine and remove the key, or lock the keyless panel
• Engage the parking brake
• Shift the controls until they are locked or in a neutral position

Wear your seatbelt at all times

Rollovers are the leading cause of injury and death during CTL and skid steer operation. In the majority of these situations, operators could have been protected just by wearing a seatbelt. Even if your machine has a ROPS system, seatbelts are a critical part of maintaining a safe working environment. It doesn’t matter how light your load is or how short the distance you’re traveling is, always fasten your seatbelt before you start using the machine.

Don’t operate CTLs or skid steers with a person in the bucket or on attachments

Falling off a compact track loader or skid steer can cause serious harm. Only one person should ever be involved in running these machines, and you should never lift the hydraulics or drive the equipment with another person riding along the outside of the cab.