Bulldozers, forklifts, cranes, excavators and other types of construction equipment each have unique capabilities. However, they share one commonality — the color yellow.

Why is construction equipment yellow? The main reasons behind this color choice are:

• Visibility: Yellow is a bright, attention-grabbing color. Of the seven colors on the visible light spectrum, yellow is one of the most visible at a distance, and it is the most visible color in the dark. Yellow also stands out well from other colors, the ground, dust and other conditions.
• Safety: Because yellow is easy to see, even in challenging conditions, this vivid hue makes an excellent warning color. Yellow paint ensures that workers and pedestrians clearly see construction equipment and steer clear of those machines. This way, employees and pedestrians can stay safe when on or near construction sites.
• Awareness: Yellow is also perceived as a high-energy color that stimulates mental activity. This stimulation helps increase energy and awareness levels among machine operators and construction workers, keeping your job site safer and more productive.
• Culture: Yellow has been the standard paint color for construction equipment for decades, and people often associate the color yellow with construction.

WHAT MAKES YELLOW SO VISIBLE?

Light travels in waves of different lengths and frequencies — these differences determine which color we see. The human eye sees color in wavelengths of light that are measured in nanometers. The visible color spectrum includes red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV) and ranges from 380 nanometers (violet) to 700 nanometers (red). Yellow light wavelengths measure between 570 and 590 nanometers, making yellow a highly visible color. 

Our eyes sense color through photoreceptor cells known as cones. Cones sense the wavelength of a color and communicate what color we see to the brain. Some colors of wavelength are naturally easier for the eyes to perceive. During the day, yellow is one of the easiest colors for our eyes to see, second only to green.

In periods of low light, rods — another type of photoreceptor cell in our eyes — also kick in to help us see. When it’s dark or visibility conditions are poor, our rods and cones quickly sense yellow even from a distance, as it’s the most visible color in these circumstances. That’s why yellow construction equipment is ideal, as the human eye can detect yellow through dust clouds, haze, fog, snow and other harsh job site conditions. 

HISTORY OF YELLOW CAT® MACHINES

Yellow wasn’t always the most widely used color for construction equipment. In the early 1900s, Cat® construction equipment was battleship gray. Caterpillar changed the color of its machines to Hi-Way Yellow in 1931.

This historic innovation was born out of the need for better visibility on road construction sites. Caterpillar wanted an aesthetically pleasing color with the best visibility at a distance during the day and night. Their search led them to the color yellow, and Caterpillar paint specialists developed the distinctive Hi-Way Yellow hue. Hi-Way Yellow was a bright and bold yellow shade that grabbed attention and was highly visible. Also in 1931, Caterpillar changed the red trim to black trim, and Cat equipment still has this look today.

Caterpillar used Hi-Way Yellow until 1979 when it was discontinued and replaced with Caterpillar Yellow, the legally protected paint color that Cat machines are known for today. Compared to Hi-Way Yellow, Caterpillar Yellow is more muted and visually appealing, but still highly visible.

Caterpillar continues to make formula adjustments to ensure the paint on their equipment offers maximum durability and longevity, but the specific yellow hue remains the same. The shade has become so important to the brand that Caterpillar Yellow and black have been designated its official colors. These colors are used on all Cat equipment, and they were incorporated into the modern Cat logo that was designed in 1989.

CONTACT THE CAT RENTAL STORE FOR HIGH-QUALITY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

With its distinctive, highly visible Caterpillar Yellow color, Cat equipment stands out on your job site, helping to create a safer environment while delivering industry-leading performance. If you’re looking for construction equipment for rent, you’ll find high-quality options through our dealer network when you browse their inventory online. You can also get a rental quote by calling 1-800-RENT-CAT.

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