Abstract: A main frame carries top and bottom shoring plates, with the top plates supported on pivoted brackets so that they can be tilted for leveling purposes. These brackets also can move transversely on vertically adjustable carrier bars to match the spacing between plates to the trench width. The shoring plates overlap each other when in raised position and are supported by cables connected to the bottom plates, which support the carrier bars. When the bottom plates are lowered, the top plates also can drop until the carrier bars strike a stop. Then the bottom plates continue to be lowered until striking a further stop. The main frame is supported on driven, independently steered wheels that can be shifted between various lateral spacings to keep weight away from the sides of a trench.