Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
The term TOP LOADING refers to a loading technique where both excavator and truck are at the same height. This is not ideal, but it is sometimes necessary.
Top loading is used for a few different scenarios, most commonly when starting the first cut as the truck cannot yet get lower than the excavator.
100% of operators hate top loading due to limited vision because their cabs are lower than the truck box, which causes the following headaches. 👇
When your cab is lower than the truck box, you have to load at a whole different perspective which can be very deceiving. It's hard to tell if the load is perfectly centered, and you're sometimes guessing if it's actually full since you don't have a full line of sight.
On top of that, the increased boom lift travel creates a much slower cycle time, which has most operators bored as hell with a sore neck.
In addition, there is a greater risk of hitting the truck box. You see, when you lift a full bucket that high above the excavators center of gravity it not only affects the excavators balance, it also creates a different type of swing momentum which is harder for the swing brakes to slow down and stop.
Lastly, top loading changes the loading distance, which will have the rock truck drivers confused. All other styles of loading require the truck to be as close at possible, but not with top loading; the truck will have to be further away so the stick can extend far enough to get the bucket out of the box at this angle.
The term TOP LOADING refers to a loading technique where both excavator and truck are at the same height. This is not ideal, but it is sometimes necessary.
Top loading is used for a few different scenarios, most commonly when starting the first cut as the truck cannot yet get lower than the excavator.
100% of operators hate top loading due to limited vision because their cabs are lower than the truck box, which causes the following headaches. 👇
When your cab is lower than the truck box, you have to load at a whole different perspective which can be very deceiving. It's hard to tell if the load is perfectly centered, and you're sometimes guessing if it's actually full since you don't have a full line of sight.
On top of that, the increased boom lift travel creates a much slower cycle time, which has most operators bored as hell with a sore neck.
In addition, there is a greater risk of hitting the truck box. You see, when you lift a full bucket that high above the excavators center of gravity it not only affects the excavators balance, it also creates a different type of swing momentum which is harder for the swing brakes to slow down and stop.
Lastly, top loading changes the loading distance, which will have the rock truck drivers confused. All other styles of loading require the truck to be as close at possible, but not with top loading; the truck will have to be further away so the stick can extend far enough to get the bucket out of the box at this angle.
