JCB’s Dual Drive tehcnology allows backhoe operators to drive from the excavator position
JCB is taking some of the swivel out of backhoe operation.
Designed to transform the way backhoe operators work, JCB’s Dual Drive system allows machine travel movement while remaining seated in the excavator position. This ability eliminates the need to continually rotate the seat and reposition the machine using the loader controls.
The new system represents the latest evolution in JCB’s seven decade history of backhoe deveopment, helping operators complete jobs faster, more comfortably and with greater efficiency.
Dual Drive will be available on 109-hp JCB 3CX and 4CX backhoe loader models. The system was recently showcased at Public Works Expo in Houston in late August.
“Dual Drive is one of those innovations that immediately changes the operator experience,” said James Gill, Product Manager at JCB North America. “For applications like trenching, ditch cleaning, utility installation and municipal maintenance, operators can now reposition the machine without leaving the excavator controls. It reduces downtime between digging cycles and helps crews accomplish more throughout the day.”
Built for public works
Versatility is one of the defining advantages of a backhoe loader. Unlike dedicated excavators, a backhoe loader can travel between tasks, load materials, excavate trenches and perform a wide range of construction, utility and maintenance applications with a single machine.
“We’re continuing to expand what a backhoe loader can do,” Gill said. “Dual Drive gives operators another reason to choose a backhoe for applications that demand both mobility and precision, especially in urban and infrastructure work.”
During excavation applications with a backhoe, operators usually need to pause periodically to move the machine forward, rotating the seat and shifting from the excavator controls to the loader controls before returning to work.
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Dual Drive eliminates the interruption by allowing operators to move the machine while remaining in the excavator operating position.
With integrated drive and steering controls on the excavator end, operators can advance along a trench line or work area without leaving their seat. By reducing downtime between digging cycles, the system helps operators stay focused and productive throughout the workday.
Beyond trenching, Dual Drive also enhances material handling applications by allowing operators to reposition the machine while maintaining full focus on the excavator end. This expanded capability creates new opportunities for backhoe utilization, particularly in confined jobsites and urban environments where productivity and maneuverability are critical.
JCB’s backhoe legacy
JCB invented the backhoe loader in 1953, creating a machine that combined loader functionality at the front with excavator capabilities at the rear. More than seven decades later, JCB has produced more than one million backhoe loaders and remains the world’s leading backhoe loader manufacturer, with one in every two backhoes sold worldwide bearing the JCB name.
“Backhoe loaders remain an essential tool for contractors, utility crews and public works departments because they can do so many jobs with a single machine,” Gill said. “Dual Drive builds on that foundation by helping operators work more efficiently and get more value from every hour on the job.”
