Can You Figure Out What These Trucks and Construction Items Are Made to Do?

By: Robin Tyler
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
Can You Figure Out What These Trucks and Construction Items Are Made to Do?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

If you love your machinery big and strong, you have certainly come to the right place.

Construction sites in today's day and age are filled with machinery that our forefathers could only dream of. In years gone by, none of these heavy machines existed and any construction was a case of blood, sweat and tears. Let's not forget time, lots of it.

Today, not only a range of heavy-duty machinery but various modern tools make construction far simpler and certainly save construction companies time. And as they say, time is money. 

The sheer number of machines available on a construction site is simply staggering. Of course, we know the regulars like a digger, a bulldozer and maybe even a crane. These all operate on site while large dump trucks move between the site and dumping areas, taking away unneeded soil, sand or gravel. 

Those are the easy ones to recognize. But have you ever seen a crawler loader? What about a feller buncher? Or a quad trencher? Yes, these all exist and play a crucial part in construction sites around the world.

So the question is, if we tell you what the vehicle is, would you be able to guess what job it does on the site?

Let's see, shall we?

Bulldozer
Youtube
What is the task of a bulldozer on a construction site?
Moves rocks or soil and dig holes
An essential part of any construction site, the bulldozer has the ability to move pretty much anything but usually rocks and soil thanks to the blade on the front. Some have a ripper on the back which can break up rocks or dig holes with.
Rides over rocks and flattens them
Puts cattle to sleep

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Forklift
YouTube
This is a forklift. What tasks does it complete on a site where construction is taking place?
Pick up rocks and soil
Able to move materials around the construction site
A forklift is normally associated with use in a warehouse, but they are also used on construction sites, for example, to move many bags of cement.
Lift large earthmoving machines

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Concrete Pump
n/a
What is the function of concrete pumps?
Any concrete not used on site is left here to dry.
Stores concrete
Pumps concrete down a boom line to locations around the construction site
A concrete pump sends ready-mix concrete down a boom to exactly where it is needed on a construction site.

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Dumper
YouTube
This vehicle is a dump truck. Its task on a construction site is to __________?
Transport gravel, sand and other materials to or from the site
A dump truck transports material to and from the constructions site, for example, gravel or sand.
Flattens soil to make roads
Brings in garbage to fill up holes made by bulldozers

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Rockbreaker
Shutterstock
An easy on this! A rockbreaker has one main job on a construction site. What is it?
Used to take rubble from the construction site
Used to plow trenches
Breaks large rocks on the construction site
The name kinda gives it away. A rock breaker is used to break up any rocks that a bulldozer ripper cannot.

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Grader
YouTube
What task does a grader perform on a construction site?
Uses a straight blade to flatten soil
A grader, sometimes called a motor grader, has a long blade in the front and is used to make soil totally flat. It is used after a bulldozer has done its work.
Transport soil, dirt, rocks away from the construction site
Picks up and moves big rocks

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Single drum compactor
Shutterstock
In this image we see a single drum compactor. What does it do on a construction site?
Crushes rocks
Compacts soil using one large rotating drum
This machine rides over areas on a construction site to compact them using a large, heavy drum which forms part of the unit.
Lays foundations

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On construction sites, what task does a crusher perform?
RBB/Moment Open/Getty Images
On construction sites, what task does a crusher perform?
Digs tunnels
Makes sand
Breaks rocks into smaller rocks or gravel
The name is a giveaway! A crusher breaks rocks into smaller rocks or gravel.

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Drilling rig
Shutterstock
Drilling rigs are sometimes found on construction sites. They are used to ________
Excavate sand and rock
Drill into soil or rock
Drilling rigs are used to drill down into soil or rock on a construction site.
Removes trees

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Crawler Loader
YouTube
What does a crawler loader do on a construction site?
Lays foundations
Crushes rocks
Used for digging and loading
This is usually a vehicle with a scoop on the front but instead of wheels, it has tracks.

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Tiltrotator
Engcon Wiki Commons
What is the purpose of a tiltrotator?
Allows an excavator bucket to move through 360 degrees
This allows the bucket on an excavator to rotate through 360 degrees. This increases overall precision.
A big drill bit for drilling tunnels at an angle
An extension added to the end of a crane

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Mobile crane
Youtube via KUBO - SK
Mobile cranes are often found on construction sites but what do they do?
A crane that comes to the site when needed. It is part of a vehicle and can move equipment, soil, trees etc.
Mobile cranes are great when you need a crane for just a day or two. They do the job without building a big structure.
A crane with a built-in phone straight to the construction company should anything go wrong
A crane used to pick up small rocks

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Excavator
Shutterstock
What task do excavators perform?
Crushes rocks into tiny pieces
Picks up and moves rocks
A mechanical shovel that does the major digging on a construction site
Essentially a mechanical shovel, excavators do the digging on a construction site.

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M9 Armored Combat Earthmover
Wiki Commons
Earthmovers are seen on construction sites all over the world. What are they tasked with?
Crushes rocks into tiny pieces
Transports sand, rocks and rubble away from a construction site
An earth mover is a massive truck that is tasked with clearing unnecessary sand, rocks and rubble from a construction site and dumping it elsewhere.
Moves soil into large mounds

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Backhoe Loader
YouTube
What tasks do backhoes perform?
Used to transport soil or rocks away from the construction site
Used to crush rocks
Are able to dig and move soil around a construction site.
This tractor-like unit features a large digging bucket on the front and a two-part articulated arm on the back with a smaller bucket on the back. It is used to dig and move soil around a construction site, for example.

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Bench Scrapers
Shutterstock
This image shows a scraper. Do you have any idea how they are used on a construction site?
Collects soil, stores it and moves it to another part of the construction site
Used for earthmoving, a scraper is able to not only collect large portions of soil and store it onboard, it can then move it to another part of the construction site and dump it where needed.
Transport soil away from the construction site
Scrapes rocks and turns them into gravel

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Front-end Loader
YouTube
Everyone has seen a front-end loader before, but what does it do on a construction site?
Transports soil or rocks away from the construction site.
Able to pick up sand, gravel or rocks with its front scoop and move them
A front-end loader has a front bucket able to scoop up soil, gravel or small rocks and move them to another areas on a construction site or put them into a dump truck, for example.
Grades soil till its flat

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Tunnel boaring machine
RBB/Moment Open/Getty Images
A tunnel boring machine _________
Bores through sand and rock to make tunnels
Also known as a mole, a tunnel boring machine's name gives it away. It makes tunnels. They can be used as an alternative to blasting.
Picks up and moves soil or rocks around the construction site
Turns rocks into gravel

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Tractor
n/a
A good old tractor! What does it do when used in construction?
Dig tunnels
Hook up to small rollers and pull them to flatten ground or soil
Tractors can be used for many reasons. Tractors are used on a construction site for pulling rollers to flatten soil.
Pickup gravel and dirt

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Dump Truck
YouTube
A dump truck is tasked with what job while on a construction site?
Transports gravel, sand and other materials to or from the site
Dump trucks transport material to and from the construction site, for example, gravel or sand.
Flattens soil to make roads
Brings in garbage to fill up holes made by bulldozers

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Tracked asphalt paver
Shutterstock
What does a tracked asphalt paver do in the world of construction?
A machine that digs up old asphalt
A machine that lays paving bricks
A machine that lays asphalt for roads
This machine is able to lay asphalt on a construction site, for example for roads or parking lots.

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Rough terrain crane
Shutterstock
What is a rough terrain crane?
A crane that can operate off-road or on rough surfaces
This crane moves under its own power and has large tires that allow it to operate in off-road conditions or in rough terrain.
Makes foundations
Moves sand from one part of a construction site to another

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Scissor lift vehicle
Shutterstock
Are you able to identify the task a scissor lift vehicle performs?
Installs lifts into buildings that are been constructed
This vehicle has a special lift which operates on a scissor mechanism
This vehicle carries a scissors lift which can be used to reach high places on a construction site. Often used as an alternative to scaffolding.
None of the above

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Trencher
YouTube
On a construction site, a quad trencher does what?
Transports sand away from the construction site
Breaks rocks into gravel
Digs trenches
Riding on a quad track system, a quad trencher digs trenches on a construction site.

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Double drum compactor
Pavel Å evela via Wiki Commons
A double drum compactor has one task on a construction site. What is it?
Lays foundations
Compacts soil using two large drums
This machine rides over areas on a construction site to compact them using two large, heavy drums which form part of the unit.
Crushes rocks

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Paver
YouTube
What does a concrete paver do?
A machine that digs up old concrete
A machine that lays concrete for sidewalks
This machine is able to lay concrete on a construction site, for example for sidewalks.
A machine that lays paving bricks

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Skid steer loader
Shutterstock
Can you tell the main task that a skid steer loader performs?
General hauling of dirt and other loose items, as well as clearing areas
Sort of a mini bulldozer, a skid steer loader is a four-wheeled machine that can have various attachments attached to a two-armed lifting arm. They are capable of zero-radius turns so are highly manueverable.
Flattens soil
Crushes rocks

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Feller buncher
Josef Mohyla/E+/Getty Images
This strange-looking machine is a feller buncher. What tasks does it perform?
Crushes rocks into gravel,
Used to cut and collect trees
A feller buncher is a harvester vehicle used in logging and on construction sites where large amounts of trees need to be cleared.
Digs trenches

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Small Plate Compactor
YouTube
A plate compactor does what job on a construction site?
Lays foundations
Crushes stones into gravel,
Compacts small areas of soil
A plate compactor is a machine used by a single operator that compacts small areas of soil.

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Reach stacker
Shutterstock
What is the purpose of a reach stacker?
Stacks containers
This specialized vehicle is used for stacking containers on a construction site or at a harbor for instance.
Fells trees
Digs trenches

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Bulldozer blade
Shutterstock
This blade is used on a bulldozer to perform what task?
Moves soil
A blade on a bulldozer is primarily used to move soil, gravel and the like around a construction site.
Cuts trees
Lays foundations

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Excavator bucket
Shutterstock
What is an excavator bucket used for?
A bucket used for compacting the soil
A bucket used for grinding gravel,
A bucket used for digging
This is the bucket found on all excavators. Used for digging REALLY big holes.

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Pile driver
Shutterstock
Do you know what a pile driver does on a construction site?
Digs tunnels
Drives piles into the ground for foundation support
This specialist machine drives piles into the ground. These act as foundation support.
Digs trenches

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Hydraulic hammer
Shutterstock
What does a hydraulic hammer do?
Demolish buildings and break up rocks
An extension for an excavator, a hydraulic hammer can be used to demolish buildings or to break up rocks.
Hammers in hydraulic nails
None of the above

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Concrete Mixer
YouTube
An easy one. We're sure you know what a mixer does, don't you?
Mixes gravel
Mixes small amounts of concrete
This machine is used to mix small amounts of concrete and cement on a construction site. Larger amounts are brought in by trucks.
None of the above

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Wrecking Ball
YouTube
What is a wrecking ball used for?
Used to demolish structures
Attached to a crane, this large, heavy ball, made from steel is used to demolish structures.
A form of transport for Miley Cyrus
None of the above

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Telescopic handler
Shutterstock
What is the purpose of a telescopic handler?
Used for check the weather on a construction site at night
Lifts various things on its telescopic prongs
Also called a boom lift, this is very similar to a forklift but on a bigger scale. It differs from a forklift in that the prongs operate on a telescopic boom.
None of the above

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Jackhammer
n/a
What does a jackhammer do on a construction site?
Breaks up concrete
A jackhammer is a one-person-operated machine for breaking up concrete or small rocks
Used for hammering jack nails
None of the above

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Access mat
Shutterstock
Any idea what an access mat is used for in construction?
Exercise mat for construction workers
Provides a firm footing for construction machinery
A portable floor used on construction sites to provide a firm footing for construction machinery.
None of the above

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Bending machine
Shutterstock
What is the task of a bending machine?
Bends pipes
This is used to bend piping used during construction.
Bends metal sheets
Bends concrete pillars

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You Got:
/40
Shutterstock