diff --git a/panda/src/chan/bindAnimRequest.I b/panda/src/chan/bindAnimRequest.I
index 9d619a3d1a..65617eb973 100644
--- a/panda/src/chan/bindAnimRequest.I
+++ b/panda/src/chan/bindAnimRequest.I
@@ -20,9 +20,10 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE BindAnimRequest::
 BindAnimRequest(const Filename &filename, const LoaderOptions &options,
+                Loader *loader,
                 AnimControl *control, int hierarchy_match_flags,
                 const PartSubset &subset) :
-  ModelLoadRequest(filename, options),
+  ModelLoadRequest(filename, options, loader),
   _control(control),
   _hierarchy_match_flags(hierarchy_match_flags),
   _subset(subset)
diff --git a/panda/src/chan/bindAnimRequest.h b/panda/src/chan/bindAnimRequest.h
index 9e5efb79bc..d4d2e6dccf 100644
--- a/panda/src/chan/bindAnimRequest.h
+++ b/panda/src/chan/bindAnimRequest.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ public:
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE BindAnimRequest(const Filename &filename, 
                          const LoaderOptions &options,
+                         Loader *loader,
                          AnimControl *control,
                          int hierarchy_match_flags,
                          const PartSubset &subset);
diff --git a/panda/src/chan/partBundle.cxx b/panda/src/chan/partBundle.cxx
index 95cf9060ef..f50455d6f1 100644
--- a/panda/src/chan/partBundle.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/chan/partBundle.cxx
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ load_bind_anim(Loader *loader, const Filename &filename,
   }
 
   PT(BindAnimRequest) request = 
-    new BindAnimRequest(filename, anim_options, control, 
+    new BindAnimRequest(filename, anim_options, loader, control, 
                         hierarchy_match_flags, subset);
   loader->load_async(request);
 
diff --git a/panda/src/display/graphicsEngine.cxx b/panda/src/display/graphicsEngine.cxx
index 676d5ffbe6..5356f7b7e5 100644
--- a/panda/src/display/graphicsEngine.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/display/graphicsEngine.cxx
@@ -503,6 +503,8 @@ remove_all_windows() {
   // And, hey, let's stop the vertex paging threads, if any.
   VertexDataPage::stop_threads();
 
+  AsyncTaskManager::get_global_ptr()->stop_threads();
+
 #ifdef DO_PSTATS
   PStatClient::get_global_pstats()->disconnect();
 #endif
diff --git a/panda/src/event/asyncTaskChain.cxx b/panda/src/event/asyncTaskChain.cxx
index 97eb45013b..46731995f0 100644
--- a/panda/src/event/asyncTaskChain.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/event/asyncTaskChain.cxx
@@ -1345,26 +1345,35 @@ write_task_line(ostream &out, int indent_level, AsyncTask *task, double now) con
     // For sleeping tasks, include the wake time, as an elapsed time
     // in seconds.
     string name = task->get_name().substr(0, 32);
-    sprintf(buffer, "%c%-32s %8.1f %8.1f %8.1f %8.1f %6d",
+    sprintf(buffer, "%c%-32s %8.1f",
             servicing_flag, name.c_str(),
-            task->_wake_time - now,
-            task->_dt * 1000.0, task->get_average_dt() * 1000.0,
-            task->_max_dt * 1000.0, 
-            task->_sort);
+            task->_wake_time - now);
   } else {
     // For active tasks, don't include a wake time.  This means we
     // have more space for the name.
     string name = task->get_name().substr(0, 41);
-    sprintf(buffer, "%c%-41s %8.1f %8.1f %8.1f %6d",
-            servicing_flag, name.c_str(),
-            task->_dt * 1000.0, task->get_average_dt() * 1000.0,
-            task->_max_dt * 1000.0, 
-            task->_sort);
+    sprintf(buffer, "%c%-41s",
+            servicing_flag, name.c_str());
   }
   nassertv(strlen(buffer) < buffer_size);
 
   indent(out, indent_level) 
-    << buffer << "\n";
+    << buffer;
+
+  if (task->_num_frames > 0) {
+    sprintf(buffer, " %8.1f %8.1f %8.1f %6d",
+            task->_dt * 1000.0, task->get_average_dt() * 1000.0,
+            task->_max_dt * 1000.0, 
+            task->_sort);
+  } else {
+    // No statistics for a task that hasn't run yet.
+    sprintf(buffer, " %8s %8s %8s %6d",
+            "", "", "",
+            task->_sort);
+  }
+
+  nassertv(strlen(buffer) < buffer_size);
+  out << buffer << "\n";
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.I b/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.I
index 1329d8faad..88a473db93 100644
--- a/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.I
+++ b/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.I
@@ -52,6 +52,21 @@ get_num_tasks() const {
   return _num_tasks;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: AsyncTaskManager::get_global_ptr
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns a pointer to the global AsyncTaskManager.
+//               This is the AsyncTaskManager that most code should
+//               use for queueing tasks and suchlike.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE AsyncTaskManager *AsyncTaskManager::
+get_global_ptr() {
+  if (_global_ptr == (AsyncTaskManager *)NULL) {
+    make_global_ptr();
+  }
+  return _global_ptr;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: AsyncTaskManager::add_task_by_name
 //       Access: Protected
diff --git a/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.cxx b/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.cxx
index bdc0084079..93ed9382a5 100644
--- a/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.cxx
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include "config_event.h"
 #include <algorithm>
 
+PT(AsyncTaskManager) AsyncTaskManager::_global_ptr;
+
 TypeHandle AsyncTaskManager::_type_handle;
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -673,3 +675,16 @@ do_output(ostream &out) const {
   out << get_type() << " " << get_name()
       << "; " << _num_tasks << " tasks";
 }
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: AsyncTaskManager::make_global_ptr
+//       Access: Private, Static
+//  Description: Called once per application to create the global
+//               task manager object.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void AsyncTaskManager::
+make_global_ptr() {
+  nassertv(_global_ptr == (AsyncTaskManager *)NULL);
+
+  _global_ptr = new AsyncTaskManager("taskMgr");
+}
diff --git a/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.h b/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.h
index 72bee82423..7fb073bd50 100644
--- a/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.h
+++ b/panda/src/event/asyncTaskManager.h
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ PUBLISHED:
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
   virtual void write(ostream &out, int indent_level = 0) const;
 
+  INLINE static AsyncTaskManager *get_global_ptr();
+
 protected:
   AsyncTaskChain *do_make_task_chain(const string &name);
   AsyncTaskChain *do_find_task_chain(const string &name);
@@ -106,6 +108,9 @@ protected:
 
   virtual void do_output(ostream &out) const;
 
+private:
+  static void make_global_ptr();
+
 protected:
   class AsyncTaskSortName {
   public:
@@ -129,6 +134,8 @@ protected:
   
   ConditionVarFull _frame_cvar;  // Signalled when the clock ticks.
 
+  static PT(AsyncTaskManager) _global_ptr;
+
 public:
   static TypeHandle get_class_type() {
     return _type_handle;
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/textureReloadRequest.I b/panda/src/gobj/textureReloadRequest.I
index 0febc81f4b..d58d83a69d 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/textureReloadRequest.I
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/textureReloadRequest.I
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 INLINE TextureReloadRequest::
 TextureReloadRequest(PreparedGraphicsObjects *pgo, Texture *texture, 
                      bool allow_compressed) :
+  AsyncTask(texture->get_name()),
   _pgo(pgo),
   _texture(texture),
   _allow_compressed(allow_compressed),
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/loader.I b/panda/src/pgraph/loader.I
index 9cc0f4efa5..f0e3e05021 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/loader.I
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/loader.I
@@ -108,6 +108,76 @@ add_file(const Filename &file, LoaderFileType *type) {
   _files.push_back(cf);
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Loader::set_task_manager
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Specifies the task manager that is used for
+//               asynchronous loads.  The default is the global task
+//               manager.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE void Loader::
+set_task_manager(AsyncTaskManager *task_manager) {
+  _task_manager = task_manager;
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Loader::get_task_manager
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns the task manager that is used for
+//               asynchronous loads.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE AsyncTaskManager *Loader::
+get_task_manager() const {
+  return _task_manager;
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Loader::set_task_chain
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Specifies the task chain that is used for
+//               asynchronous loads.  The default is the initial name
+//               of the Loader object.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE void Loader::
+set_task_chain(const string &task_chain) {
+  _task_chain = task_chain;
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Loader::get_task_chain
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns the task chain that is used for
+//               asynchronous loads.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE const string &Loader::
+get_task_chain() const {
+  return _task_chain;
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Loader::stop_threads
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Stop any threads used for asynchronous loads.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE void Loader::
+stop_threads() {
+  PT(AsyncTaskChain) chain = _task_manager->find_task_chain(_task_chain);
+  if (chain != (AsyncTaskChain *)NULL) {
+    chain->stop_threads();
+  }
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Loader::remove
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Removes a pending asynchronous load request.  Returns
+//               true if successful, false otherwise.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE bool Loader::
+remove(AsyncTask *task) {
+  return _task_manager->remove(task);
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Loader::load_sync
 //       Access: Published
@@ -141,16 +211,23 @@ load_sync(const Filename &filename, const LoaderOptions &options) const {
 //               or set the done_event on the request object and
 //               listen for that event.  When the model is ready, you
 //               may retrieve it via request->get_model().
-//
-//               If threading support is not enabled, or the Loader
-//               was created with 0 threads (that is,
-//               get_num_threads() returns 0), then this will be the
-//               same as a load_sync() call: the model will be loaded
-//               within the current thread, and this method will not
-//               return until the model has fully loaded.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE void Loader::
 load_async(AsyncTask *request) {
-  add(request);
-  poll();
+  request->set_task_chain(_task_chain);
+  _task_manager->add(request);
+}
+
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Loader::get_global_ptr
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns a pointer to the global Loader.  This is the
+//               Loader that most code should use for loading models.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE Loader *Loader::
+get_global_ptr() {
+  if (_global_ptr == (Loader *)NULL) {
+    make_global_ptr();
+  }
+  return _global_ptr;
 }
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/loader.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/loader.cxx
index 9ed5d30aca..7bb17777d0 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/loader.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/loader.cxx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "bamFile.h"
 
 bool Loader::_file_types_loaded = false;
+PT(Loader) Loader::_global_ptr;
 TypeHandle Loader::_type_handle;
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -38,12 +39,14 @@ TypeHandle Loader::_type_handle;
 //  Description:
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 Loader::
-Loader(const string &name, int num_threads) :
-  AsyncTaskManager(name)
+Loader(const string &name) :
+  Namable(name)
 {
-  PT(AsyncTaskChain) chain = make_task_chain("default");
-  if (num_threads < 0) {
-    // -1 means the default number of threads.
+  _task_manager = AsyncTaskManager::get_global_ptr();
+  _task_chain = name;
+
+  if (_task_manager->find_task_chain(_task_chain) == NULL) {
+    PT(AsyncTaskChain) chain = _task_manager->make_task_chain(_task_chain);
 
     ConfigVariableInt loader_num_threads
       ("loader-num-threads", 1,
@@ -55,10 +58,8 @@ Loader(const string &name, int num_threads) :
                 "asychronous thread.  You can set this higher, particularly if "
                 "you have many CPU's available, to allow loading multiple models "
                 "simultaneously."));
-
+    
     chain->set_num_threads(loader_num_threads);
-  } else {
-    chain->set_num_threads(num_threads);
   }
 }
 
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ void Loader::
 output(ostream &out) const {
   out << get_type() << " " << get_name();
 
-  int num_tasks = get_num_tasks();
+  int num_tasks = _task_manager->make_task_chain(_task_chain)->get_num_tasks();
   if (num_tasks != 0) {
     out << " (" << num_tasks << " models pending)";
   }
@@ -356,3 +357,16 @@ load_file_types() {
   }
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Loader::make_global_ptr
+//       Access: Private, Static
+//  Description: Called once per application to create the global
+//               loader object.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+void Loader::
+make_global_ptr() {
+  nassertv(_global_ptr == (Loader *)NULL);
+
+  _global_ptr = new Loader("taskMgr");
+}
+
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/loader.h b/panda/src/pgraph/loader.h
index ec787c3141..fd81201e5c 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/loader.h
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/loader.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class LoaderFileType;
 //               loading interface may be used, but it loads
 //               synchronously.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-class EXPCL_PANDA_PGRAPH Loader : public AsyncTaskManager {
+class EXPCL_PANDA_PGRAPH Loader : public TypedReferenceCount, public Namable {
 private:
   class ConsiderFile {
   public:
@@ -73,7 +73,15 @@ PUBLISHED:
     Files _files;
   };
 
-  Loader(const string &name = "loader", int num_threads = -1);
+  Loader(const string &name = "loader");
+
+  INLINE void set_task_manager(AsyncTaskManager *task_manager);
+  INLINE AsyncTaskManager *get_task_manager() const;
+  INLINE void set_task_chain(const string &task_chain);
+  INLINE const string &get_task_chain() const;
+
+  BLOCKING INLINE void stop_threads();
+  INLINE bool remove(AsyncTask *task);
 
   BLOCKING INLINE PT(PandaNode) load_sync(const Filename &filename, 
                                           const LoaderOptions &options = LoaderOptions()) const;
@@ -84,21 +92,33 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   virtual void output(ostream &out) const;
 
+  INLINE static Loader *get_global_ptr();
+
 private:
   PT(PandaNode) load_file(const Filename &filename, const LoaderOptions &options) const;
   PT(PandaNode) try_load_file(const Filename &pathname, const LoaderOptions &options,
                               LoaderFileType *requested_type) const;
+
+  static void make_global_ptr();
+
+  PT(AsyncTaskManager) _task_manager;
+  string _task_chain;
+
   static void load_file_types();
   static bool _file_types_loaded;
 
+  static PT(Loader) _global_ptr;
+
 public:
   static TypeHandle get_class_type() {
     return _type_handle;
   }
   static void init_type() {
-    AsyncTaskManager::init_type();
+    TypedReferenceCount::init_type();
+    Namable::init_type();
     register_type(_type_handle, "Loader",
-                  AsyncTaskManager::get_class_type());
+                  TypedReferenceCount::get_class_type(),
+                  Namable::get_class_type());
     }
   virtual TypeHandle get_type() const {
     return get_class_type();
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/modelFlattenRequest.I b/panda/src/pgraph/modelFlattenRequest.I
index 29ba33b70a..b0e8af4821 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/modelFlattenRequest.I
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/modelFlattenRequest.I
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE ModelFlattenRequest::
 ModelFlattenRequest(PandaNode *orig) :
+  AsyncTask(orig->get_name()),
   _orig(orig),
   _is_ready(false)
 {
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.I b/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.I
index 2a29d19d91..5268d598bc 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.I
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.I
@@ -20,9 +20,12 @@
 //               via load_async(), to begin an asynchronous load.
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE ModelLoadRequest::
-ModelLoadRequest(const Filename &filename, const LoaderOptions &options) :
+ModelLoadRequest(const Filename &filename, const LoaderOptions &options,
+                 Loader *loader) :
+  AsyncTask(filename.get_basename()),
   _filename(filename),
   _options(options),
+  _loader(loader),
   _is_ready(false)
 {
 }
@@ -49,6 +52,17 @@ get_options() const {
   return _options;
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: ModelLoadRequest::get_loader
+//       Access: Published
+//  Description: Returns the Loader object associated with this
+//               asynchronous ModelLoadRequest.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+INLINE Loader *ModelLoadRequest::
+get_loader() const {
+  return _loader;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ModelLoadRequest::is_ready
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.cxx
index ed1258e079..0b90aceb45 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.cxx
@@ -30,10 +30,7 @@ do_task() {
     Thread::sleep(delay);
   }
 
-  Loader *loader;
-  DCAST_INTO_R(loader, _manager, DS_done);
-
-  _model = loader->load_sync(_filename, _options);
+  _model = _loader->load_sync(_filename, _options);
   _is_ready = true;
 
   // Don't continue the task; we're done.
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.h b/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.h
index 924ef824fe..95deec1bf3 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.h
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/modelLoadRequest.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "loaderOptions.h"
 #include "pandaNode.h"
 #include "pointerTo.h"
+#include "loader.h"
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //       Class : ModelLoadRequest
@@ -36,10 +37,12 @@ public:
 
 PUBLISHED:
   INLINE ModelLoadRequest(const Filename &filename, 
-                          const LoaderOptions &options);
+                          const LoaderOptions &options,
+                          Loader *loader);
   
   INLINE const Filename &get_filename() const;
   INLINE const LoaderOptions &get_options() const;
+  INLINE Loader *get_loader() const;
   
   INLINE bool is_ready() const;
   INLINE PandaNode *get_model() const;
@@ -50,6 +53,7 @@ protected:
 private:
   Filename _filename;
   LoaderOptions _options;
+  PT(Loader) _loader;
   bool _is_ready;
   PT(PandaNode) _model;
   
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/modelPool.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/modelPool.cxx
index 4471dcba0b..0a1b9091b3 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/modelPool.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/modelPool.cxx
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@
 
 ModelPool *ModelPool::_global_ptr = (ModelPool *)NULL;
 
-static Loader *model_loader = NULL;
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: ModelPool::write
 //       Access: Published, Static
@@ -73,9 +71,7 @@ ns_load_model(const string &filename, const LoaderOptions &options) {
   new_options.set_flags((new_options.get_flags() | LoaderOptions::LF_no_ram_cache) &
                         ~(LoaderOptions::LF_search | LoaderOptions::LF_report_errors));
 
-  if (model_loader == (Loader *)NULL) {
-    model_loader = new Loader("ModelPool", 0);
-  }
+  Loader *model_loader = Loader::get_global_ptr();
   PT(PandaNode) panda_node = model_loader->load_sync(filename, new_options);
   PT(ModelRoot) node;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/text/fontPool.cxx b/panda/src/text/fontPool.cxx
index a833456086..a79e0739b9 100644
--- a/panda/src/text/fontPool.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/text/fontPool.cxx
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@
 
 FontPool *FontPool::_global_ptr = (FontPool *)NULL;
 
-static Loader *model_loader = NULL;
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: FontPool::write
 //       Access: Published, Static
@@ -94,9 +92,7 @@ ns_load_font(const string &str) {
 
   string extension = filename.get_extension();
   if (extension.empty() || extension == "egg" || extension == "bam") {
-    if (model_loader == (Loader *)NULL) {
-      model_loader = new Loader("FontPool", 0);
-    }
+    Loader *model_loader = Loader::get_global_ptr();
     PT(PandaNode) node = model_loader->load_sync(filename);
     if (node != (PandaNode *)NULL) {
       // It is a model.  Elevate all the priorities by 1, and make a