This report examines the market in Germany for crawler dozers and crawler loaders, and is an update on the subject last covered in Off-Highway Research’s European Service in 2019.

The range of crawler dozers now available runs from the smallest 100 horsepower models to those of over 1,000 horsepower. In practice, however, the majority of crawler dozers sold in Germany is in the 130-260 horsepower range. Models with a power output of more than 400 horsepower are a rare sight.

Germany has historically been the largest market in Europe for crawler dozers by some margin, accounting for 30 per cent of total regional sales in 2023. During the post-reunification boom in 1992 this figure was nearer 65 per cent. In recent years demand for crawler dozers has been affected to some extent by the ongoing popularity of crawler excavators, although they continue to remain an essential tool in some operations. The majority of machines is accounted for by the construction sector, with industrial, extractive and waste handling use accounting for the remainder of demand.

The range of crawler loaders reviewed in this report runs from models of 150 horsepower equipped with a 1.8 m3 bucket, to the largest machines rated at 275 horsepower with buckets of 2.0-4.6 m3. The majority of crawler loader sales lies within the 150 to 200 horsepower range.

The role of crawler loaders in Europe is now minimal, with regional sales declining to fewer than 100 units in 2023. This decline – the market was 5,300 units in 1980 – is primarily a result of the advancing technical development of wheeled loaders and the increasing use of the hydraulic excavator/tipper truck combination. The German market has been no exception to this trend and typically accounts for less than 20 units per year.

The findings presented in this report are based on Off-Highway Research’s International Database, and on information collected during an interview programme in Germany conducted in the first half of 2024 with all relevant suppliers.