Backhoe equipment can be found on any construction site. The backhoe is a hydraulic-powered digging scoop on a three-jointed arm, designed to dig through hard earth. Backhoes are used to dig and refill holes and trenches.

The backhoe equipment features three parts. The tractor is the main one. Then comes the loader. The loader is a big rectangular device which scoops up the material.

Backhoe equipment is used whenever buildings are made, or roads are being dug. Backhoes lift heavy loads. Modern backhoe equipments are powered by hydraulics. They are typically mounted on the back of a tractor or front loader. A backhoe attached to a swiveling cab on top of tracks is called an excavator.

New backhoe equipment is certainly not cheap as for example a base-model 14' digging depth backhoe is sold brand new for $55,000 to $75,000, therefore if you plan to use it just once, maybe it's a better idea to rent it. A good advantage of backhoe equipment in general is that it's transportable. Although a lot of improvements have been made recently with the integration of electronics that help the backhoe operator perform its duties, there is a shortage of backhoe operators on the market.

One topic that is rarely discussed is used backhoe equipment. The problem here is that there isn't much information available and when you want to study that market, you have to get very creative and assumptions have to be made. The most typical method of selling used equipment is though the dealer networks of the major OEMs, most of which are independent companies representing the manufacturers.

Such dealers offer a wide range of backhoe models, because customers who buy brand new machines usually sell their backhoe to the dealer and pay the difference. In this industry, OEM dealers are restricted to doing business only with clients within their area, which can be a whole state or part of the state. For example, Caterpillar has more than 400 branches. This is because those type of heavy machineries require a lot of maintenance work, so it's always best if the service is in close proximity to the customers.

Apart from official OEM affiliates, there are also independent used backhoe equipment dealers. Several hundred of them operate in North America and have extensive part inventory. The exact number of these dealers is not known, but about 30 of them also deal on international as well as national level. The largest used equipment markets in the United States of America specialize in excavators, wheel loaders, dozers, backhoe loaders and skid-steer loaders.