JCB, the world’s leading manufacturer of backhoe loaders, will showcase its innovative Dual Drive system for backhoe loaders at PWX 2026. Designed to transform the way operators work, Dual Drive enables machine movement while remaining seated in the excavator operating position, eliminating 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 more than 70-year history of backhoe innovation, helping operators complete jobs faster, more comfortably and with greater efficiency. It will be available on 109-horsepower JCB 3CX and 4CX backhoe loader models.
Image Courtesy of: JCB
“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 Productivity
Versatility has always been one of the defining advantages of a backhoe loader. Unlike dedicated excavation equipment, 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.”
Image Courtesy of: JCB
During excavation applications, operators have traditionally needed 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. Dual Drive eliminates that 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.
Image Courtesy of: JCB
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.
Continuing a Legacy of Backhoe Leadership
JCB invented the backhoe loader in 1953, creating a machine that combined loader functionality at the front with excavator capabilities at the rear and forever changed the construction industry. 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.
Dual Drive is the latest example of JCB’s commitment to practical innovation, addressing a long-standing challenge for backhoe operators while reinforcing the machine’s position as one of the most versatile and productive pieces of equipment on any jobsite.
Image Courtesy of: JCB
“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.”
Stop by booth #831 during PWX 2026 to learn more about Dual Drive and explore JCB’s complete lineup of equipment solutions for public works, utility and infrastructure applications.
Or visit www.jcb.com/en-us.
JCB is a family company founded on October 23, 1945, and is now one of the world’s largest privately owned manufacturers of construction, agricultural and defense equipment, with 22 factories around the world. JCB North America currently employs more than 1,000 people and operates out of its headquarters in Savannah, Georgia. JCB recently began work on a new $500 million factory in San Antonio, Texas, the biggest investment in its history. JCB’s North American division also has regional offices in San Antonio, Texas; Santa Monica, California; and Miami, Florida. JCB manufactures a range of more than 300 products for customers in 150 countries. JCB products include telescopic handlers, backhoe loaders, tracked and wheeled excavators, wheel loaders, compact excavators, skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, aerial work platforms, rough terrain forklifts and Fastrac tractors.
For more information, visit www.jcb.com.
