To assist equipment customers by promoting consistent machine terminology in the marketplace, AEM is advancing the use of the term “compact tool carrier” to refer to machines that are also known as mini-loaders, mini skid-steer loaders, mini skid steers, compact skid steers and compact utility loaders.

AEM’s Larry Buzecky notes that U.S. and international standards writing bodies are adopting the encompassing term. A proposed SAE standard on personnel protection defines a compact tool carrier as “a self-propelled crawler or wheeled machine having an operating mass of less than 1400 kg with a rigid frame, having either a walk-behind operator position or standing operator platform at the rear of the machine and having either front-mounted interchangeable equipment or lift arms with an attachment bracket capable of coupling to interchangeable, front-mounted attachments.”

In September 2008 AEM produced a new safety manual covering compact tool carriers, in English and Spanish, and available from the AEM Store online at www.aem.org.

The AEM compact tool carrier manuals cover safe operating practices for compact tool carriers having either tracks or tires. Heavily illustrated with pictorials from AEM's Pictorial Database, the manuals cover an entire cycle of safe operation, from preparing for safe operation through safe equipment shutdown and equipment maintenance. The manuals were developed with oversight from AEM’s Compact Tool Carrier Safety Manual Ad Hoc Committee, which helped guide the manual to production.

AEM produces a wide variety of safety and training materials for off-road equipment.