Abstract: A powered vehicle for operating ladles and the like, in particular ladles utilized for tapping molten aluminium, which vehicle comprises an arcuate load-bearing structure substantially of the rigid bridge girder type resting securely on two opposedly located trucks associated with the bottoms and exteriors of the bridge girder end uprights, one of said trucks carrying a motor means and respective drive to at least one of the trucks, and the other carrying a fitted driver cab for an operator, associated with said bridge girder there being an additional bridge girder structure mounted for a vertical sliding movement along guides formed on the uprights of said bridge girder by hydraulic cylinders or the like, with whose opposite uprights there are associated, at opposite locations, projecting elements of cradle- or fork-like configuration, or the like, adapted to receive, support, and hold studs or pins standing proud of a ladle surface, at diametrically opposed locations thereon, whereby the ladle can be hooked