Abstract: A loading vehicle having a pick-up drum with resilient fingers for picking up straw material from the ground and a conveyor drum with conveyor arms, fitted in rows for carrying the material into the vehicle. The pick-up drum and the conveyor drum are disposed with respect to each other so that the conveying direction of the material is abruptly changed when the material is introduced into the path of motion of the conveyors. This produces a damming-up effect causing the material to be distributed over the entire conveyor front, which minimizes the tendency of squeezing between conveyors and the housing wall defining the conveyor duct at one side. The change in conveying direction also causes a certain compaction of the material, resulting in a better utilization of the available volume. The structure allows short spacing between the conveyor arms and closely spaced knives are positioned in the conveyor duct so that the blades of straw can be cut in small pieces which are suitable for ensilage.