Abstract: In order to get working mechanism of pedestal piles in soft soils, a group of field vertical loading tests were performed on pedestal and normal piles at a site in soft soils to make comparative study.This paper analyzes the testing information, and explore the bearing characteristic and capacity of pedestal piles, discuss the working process of pile vertical bearing capacity,also relations between lateral friction force、the force at the end of the pile and pile vertical bearing capacity. The study indicates that pedestal pile could work very well in soft soils,and the pedestal pile could bring potential bearing capacity of the supporting layer into full play and remarkably enhance the pile's bearing capacity and reduce the settlement.The study indicates that working mechanism of pedestal piles in soft soils is somewhat different with that in other soils.