What Does Each Construction Vehicle Do?
Watching how big machines and vehicles work on a construction site is fascinating. Kids get glued to see such huge machines working and vehicles carrying a huge load from one point to the other. To light up their enthusiasm, find a list of construction machines in the form of commercial vehicles on a construction site.
What is a Construction Project?
A project where the construction of a building, road, dam, bridge, etc. is going on is called a construction project. In this project, different vehicles are used for various purposes. A single vehicle will not be able to provide all the functions. Hence, such a project needs the service and support of different types of construction vehicles.
Types of Construction Vehicles
Here is a list of modern construction vehicles used in contemporary projects.
Boom lift
It is a simple type of platform that can lift a person aerially above the ground. The platform is sturdy enough to provide grip and support to a construction worker. This is one kind of lift machine for construction that can lift two or more workers at a time. It all depends on the size of the bucket platform holds.
Scissor lift
This is an interesting lift machine used on construction sites. It has an aerial platform that can lift two or more workers higher above the ground with the help of levers and jacks functioning like scissors.
Forklift
This is common construction equipment used in construction sites and other commercial spaces. A man can operate two static hands that go underneath a material and lift it up. Once lifted, the vehicle can deliver it to the desired location.
Bulldozer
This machine has a single huge claw that can dig and remove materials, dirt, sand, and waste. In simpler words, a tractor is attached with a huge claw in the front. It is also used for levelling uneven grounds.
Bulldozer Used in Construction
Trencher
A trencher is a very useful machine for digging trenches and laying pipelines, drainage systems, etc. It comes in different models based on industrial requirements.
Backhoe Loader
A backhoe loader may look similar to a bulldozer but it has unique capabilities. It is a bucket attached to a tractor in the front and a backhoe at the back. It is used for easy landscape work, digging trees, moving boulders, and moving dirt.
Excavator
It is a heavy construction vehicle used to excavate or dig deeper. It is a vehicle made of a wheeled undercarriage. A cockpit is built on it for the operator. It is attached with a cab, dipper, bucket, and boom. It is used to make trenches, holes, and foundations.
Asphalt paver
As the name suggests, it is a heavy vehicle machine used to pave roads with asphalt. The hot mixture of asphalt is laid on the ground maintaining a proposed thickness. The asphalt is then levelled by a drum roller.
Drum Roller
A drum roller is attached to a heavy drum in front of a tractor-like vehicle. It is used for levelling uneven grounds and compressing asphalt on construction sites.
Off-highway Truck
This construction vehicle is made for rough terrains of a construction site. It is highly powerful to carry scrap, dirt, etc. and is generally used as a dump truck.
An off-highway Truck
Towable and Portable Light Tower
Construction on a site can go on at night. All the workers will need a proper source of light to see to avoid accidents. This is where heavy-duty portable light towers are used. These towers can be towed by any commercial vehicle and can be set anywhere on a construction site.
Tips for Parents
Explain the road construction equipment names and pictures along with real estate construction so that kids can understand the purpose of the vehicles. It will become a lot easier for young minds to learn about different construction vehicles.
FAQs on Construction Vehicles for Kids: Names, Pictures & Uses
1. What are construction vehicles?
Construction vehicles are special, powerful machines designed to help build things like houses, roads, and bridges. They are built to be very strong to perform heavy-duty jobs that regular vehicles cannot, such as digging deep holes, lifting heavy materials, and moving large amounts of earth.
2. Can you name some common construction vehicles and their uses?
There are many different types of construction vehicles, each with a specific job. Some of the most common examples include:
- Excavator: Uses its long arm and a bucket to dig big holes and trenches.
- Bulldozer: Pushes large amounts of soil, sand, and rubble with its large front blade.
- Dump Truck: Carries and dumps loose materials like sand, gravel, or dirt from one place to another.
- Crane: Lifts and moves extremely heavy objects, like steel beams, high into the air.
- Cement Mixer: Mixes sand, water, and cement together to create the concrete needed for building foundations and structures.
3. What is the difference between an Excavator and a Backhoe Loader?
The main difference is in their design and versatility. An Excavator is a large machine with a cabin that can rotate 360 degrees and is primarily used for heavy-duty digging. A Backhoe Loader is typically smaller and has a digging bucket at the back and a loading shovel at the front, making it a more versatile, multi-purpose machine for smaller jobs.
4. Which construction vehicle is the most common to see on a building site?
The Excavator and the Dump Truck are two of the most frequently seen construction vehicles. This is because nearly every construction project starts with digging (a job for the excavator) and requires moving materials away from or to the site (a job for the dump truck).
5. Why can't regular cars or trucks do the jobs of construction vehicles?
Regular cars and trucks are built for transporting people and light goods on roads. Construction vehicles, however, are specifically engineered with powerful engines, strong frames, and special tools like blades, buckets, and hooks. They are designed to handle immense weight and rough terrain, tasks that would damage or be impossible for a normal vehicle.
6. Why are construction vehicles so important for building our towns and cities?
Construction vehicles are essential because they make building faster, safer, and more efficient. They perform tasks in a few hours that would take many people weeks to complete by hand. Without these powerful machines, constructing our schools, hospitals, homes, and bridges would be an incredibly slow and difficult process. They are the super helpers of the modern building world.
