In the process of field operation earth-moving machines experience combined stresses caused by the work environment. Such impact parameters depend on the excavated soil conditions, kind of work operations performed, type of the implement mounted on the machine. During the machine life-cycle its loading conditions can change many times. The field research revealed that changes in form and type of external loadings do not allow ensuring a high reliability and capacity of an earth-moving machine in any conditions of field operation. To achieve a high level of the mentioned parameters the machine should be equipped with systems enabling adaptation to external loading conditions.