Until the 19th century and into the early 20th century heavy machines were drawn under human or animal power. With the advent of portable steam-powered engines the drawn machine precursors were reconfigured with the new engines, such as the combine harvester. The design of a core tractor evolved around the new steam power source into a new machine core traction engine, that can be configured as the steam tractor and the steamroller. During the 20th century, internal-combustion engines became the major power source of heavy equipment. Kerosene and ethanol engines were used, but today diesel engines are dominant. Mechanical transmission was in many cases replaced by hydraulic machinery. The early 20th century also saw new electric-powered machines such as the forklift. Caterpillar Inc. is a present-day brand from these days, starting out as the Holt Manufacturing Company. The first mass-produced heavy machine was the Fordson tractor in 1917

Construction Equipment is a trade publication and web site serving the information needs of construction contractors, materials producers, and other owners and operators of construction equipment. It is headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Established in 1949, Construction Equipment is published monthly. Each issue typically includes product evaluations[1] and buying file[2] as new products are introduced into the market. In addition, the magazine covers fleet-management topics, including the monthly column equipment executive.

Every December, Construction Equipment ranks new products introduced that year in a feature called Top 100 new products.[4]

As of June 2013, total BPA circulation was 76,030 subscribers.

In 2010, former owner Reed Business Information sold the magazine to MB Media. MB Media was acquired by Scranton Gillette Communications forming a sister company called SGC Horizon, LLC.