"We believe that a comfortable operator is a productive operator," says Pierre Verdon, marketing, Caterpillar. "Features such as a comfortable and quiet cab with air conditioning, air-ride seat and good visibility allow the operator to feel less tired, better focused and overall much more productive. Those options will also help contractors retain employees by making them more comfortable on the jobsite."

"Operator comfort is a critical aspect for skid-steer loaders," adds Jim Hughes, Case Construction Equipment. "The options being offered today are being driven by creature comforts in your car and in your home. The days of having a seat and some controls are gone. If you have operators sitting in a machine eight to 10 hours a day, you need to keep them comfortable or they will find something else to do."

Benefits of cozier cabs
Upgrading to even a basic cab enclosure gets you sliding windows, curved glass, frameless doors and more overhead glass, so there's less stress and strain to view what's going on outside the cab. But for those who want more, there's a laundry list of options for "tricking" out a skid steer that includes just about everything but the kitchen sink.

At the top of most operators' wish list is an enclosed cab with heat, defrost and air conditioning. This comfort comes with a cost - typically several thousand dollars. Even a basic cab with sliding windows for ventilation will set you back a couple thousand. But by many accounts, either option pays for itself in a short amount of time.

"An enclosed cab with heat and/or air conditioning helps keep operators comfortable, clean and at the right temperature while working," says Greg Rostberg, marketing manager, Bobcat Co. "[Contractors can work] all day without breaking a sweat, and they can stay warm and dry in a