Cat Enhances Safety and Efficiency on Medium Wheel Loaders

CMEQ |Construction Equipment

Caterpillar has introduced new safety and tech upgrades for its next-gen medium wheel loaders to help contractors work safer and more efficiently.

Date: May 7, 2025

Cat Enhances Safety and Efficiency on Medium Wheel Loaders

Irving, Texas - Caterpillar Inc., a construction and mining equipment manufacturer, has introduced cutting-edge safety and technology features in its next-generation medium wheel loaders, designed to help contractors work faster, more accurately, and with increased safety. The new technologies are available as optional upgrades on the latest Cat 950, 962, 966, 966 XE, 972, 972 XE, 980, 980 XE, 982, and 982 XE wheel loaders, allowing operators to tailor their machines to meet evolving job site demands.

At the core of these safety upgrades is the Collision Warning System with Motion Inhibit. Using radar and smart vision sensors, it detects hazards behind the loader, warns the operator with audible and visual alerts, and blocks reverse motion if an obstacle is too close. The system’s three-zone alerts - yellow, amber, and red, indicate proximity, while Motion Inhibit prevents reversing from a stop when a hazard is detected, applying brakes and alerting the operator until the area is clear.

The People Detection feature uses smart cameras to spot individuals behind the loader, giving operators escalating alerts and highlighting people in red on the cab monitor for quick risk awareness.

The standard Cat Payload system delivers real-time bucket load data to prevent over- or underloading. The optional Advanced Payload adds automation like tip-off assist, multitask mode for tracking two loads at once, split mode for multiple trucks, and integration with Dispatch for Loading to improve scale house coordination.

To reduce fatigue and boost efficiency, Cat medium wheel loaders include features like auto set tires for better digging, autodig for automatic digging cycles, programmable kickouts for repetitive tasks, adjustable speed limiters, tire pressure monitoring, and remote software updates and diagnostics.

Mr. Frank Stadelmann, Global product application specialist for medium wheel loaders at Caterpillar, said, “Our new optional Collision Warning system with Motion Inhibit includes Object Detection, People Detection, and Motion Inhibit as a package to improve safe operation by alerting operators and preventing loader motion the moment a machine goes from inactive to active.”

Cat’s next-gen medium wheel loaders offer smarter, safer, and more efficient operation, helping contractors tackle tough job site challenges with greater ease and confidence.

Caterpillar Wheel loaders Construction equipment