A method is shown for fusing sections of thermoplastic pipe together to construct continuous pipelines. A pipe loader arm is provided which can be attached to the mobile sub-frame of any number of commercially available fusion machines. The pipe loader arm scoops up and loads a new section of thermoplastic pipe to be fused into the fusion machine by feeding the pipe in an axial direction, rather than lifting the new section of pipe with a crane and vertically feeding it into the fusion machine. An exit-end support can be used to gradually lower the growing pipeline to the ground after the fusion step. The method described herein greatly reduces the time and increases the ease in which sections of pipe are fused to grow pipelines, while additionally making the process safer and protecting newly-made pipe joints from rough handling.