Terminal Tractor for Sale — 88

What is a terminal tractor?

Terminal tractor is an industrial truck of many names. It is also called shunt truck, spotter truck, spotting tractor, yard truck, yard dog, yard goat, yard horse, or mule. Terminal tractors are used to move loads within container ports, warehouse facilities, cargo yards and container terminals.

They are able to move incredibly heavy loads of up to 100 tonnes. Some vehicles are even able to move loads of up to 375 tonnes. This makes them an integral part of the shipping and distribution industries, but they are also used in any industry that requires heavy loads to be moved.

The application of a terminal tractor is similar to that of shunting locomotives in railway operations, which are intended for journeys within a railway station - namely for shunting wagons.  

As shunt trucks are not required to go out onto public roads, they tend to be slow moving. This kind of truck can only reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour. 

A terminal tractor includes many features, like 4x4 wheel drive and a high torque diesel engine, which enables it to move exceedingly heavy loads. Unlike with a traditional tractor, the driver’s seat its offset to the left of the engine.

Where are terminal tractors used?

Terminal tractors are used in many sectors, i.e. in ports, logistics centres, distribution and industry sites. 

In ports, terminal tractors are very often used to load and unload RoRo ships. RoRo (roll on, roll off) is a method for transporting vehicles and machinery. It is very similar to a ferry and it means that cars, trucks, trailers etc. roll on and off the ship, as opposed to being lifted. 

Terminal tractors are also popular in logistics and distribution centres, where they are used for a quick transfer of semi-trailers and container chassis. Thanks to their excellent manoeuvrability they are perfect in distribution terminals.

In addition, the terminal tractors are characterised by their high towing capacity and robust construction, which is why they are very popular, especially in industry sites (mainly in the metallurgy sector: foundries, steel works, etc.). The heavy loads are transported on roller trailers with iron wheels. 

Terminal tractor and its components

Terminal tractors have a very characteristic design:

• Driver's cab for only one person. In some vehicle models, the driver's seat unit and steering wheel can be rotated 180 degrees. 
• Robust chassis with a short wheelbase of about 3 metres.
• Height-adjustable fifth wheel designed for a lifting capacity of 40 tonnes. The fifth wheel plate can be adjusted by the driver from the cab using a joystick.  
• Diesel engine, usually with automatic transmission. Some manufacturers also produce electric terminal tractors. 
• Large fuel tank. 

Where can I buy a used terminal tractor?

If you are looking for a high quality terminal tractor for sale, you should take a look at the second-hand machinery market. Trade Machines, meta search engine for online and industrial auctions, will provide you with a huge selection of used terminal tractors from industry-leading manufacturers. Just follow these steps:

1. Go to the category Forklifts and subcategory Terminal Tractors.
2. You will be given a number of available auctions online. 
3. If you want to narrow down the search of Terminal tractors for sale, use the filters.
4. Choose preferred region, price range, manufacturer etc. so you get only those terminal tractors which meet your needs. 
5. Send a request or visit the seller’s website. 

What are the most popular manufacturers of terminal tractors?

There is a long list of renowned manufacturers of high-quality terminal tractors. Among them you can find: Kalmar, Deutz, Manitou or Sisu.