Find the Best Crane Truck Hire Near You

Crane Trucks for Hire on iseekplant

At iseekplant, we offer a wide selection of hundreds of crane trucks to meet all your lifting and transportation needs. Whether you're working on a small residential project or a large-scale commercial construction, our suppliers’ crane trucks are equipped to handle various loads, offering versatility and efficiency for any task.

In our crane truck category, we have two types of crane trucks:

• Front Boom Crane Truck: Positioned at the front, close to the cab, front boom crane trucks offer easier manoeuvrability in tight spaces. Their design allows for quick deployment of the crane arm, making them ideal for jobs with limited access.
• Rear Boom Crane Truck: Mounted at the back of the truck, rear boom crane trucks provide greater reach and stability. This setup is suited for heavy lifting tasks, allowing for the transport of larger loads with enhanced safety.

If you’re looking for cranes, check our full crane category for cranes of all sizes and types, like all terrain cranes, crawlers, frannas, roughies – you name it. In this quick guide, let’s look at what to expect when hiring a crane truck (which, believe it or not, isn’t really a crane but more of a truck!).

Crane Truck Hire Rates Guide

Crane trucks, which are sometimes called Hiab trucks (because Hiab manufactures the most popular brand of crane trucks), are fairly easy to find in cities and hire on an hourly, fixed, distance or tonnage rate.

Hiring a Crane Truck on a Daily/Hourly Rate Basis

Our crane truck hire rates guide provides clear, transparent pricing information to help you make informed decisions. Keep in mind, though, that these rates are super indicative and can seriously vary depending on the crane truck's capacity, the duration of the hire, and any additional services required.

Note: All prices listed on this page are estimates, exclude GST and are in AUD. Price estimates can vary based on location, model and additional requirements.

While dry hire options (machine only) for crane trucks are available, most of our suppliers recommend wet hire or contracted service to ensure the safe and efficient operation of their vehicles. Wet hire includes the expertise of a qualified operator, who holds necessary tickets and qualifications such as a High-Risk Work Licence (HRWL) for vehicle loading cranes (CV class) and specific training in road safety if required. Wet hire guarantees compliance with Australian safety standards and optimises the productivity and reliability of your project's lifting needs

Additional Costs to Consider When Hiring a Crane Truck on an Hourly Basis

In addition to the basic hire rates, several additional costs can affect the overall expense of hiring a crane truck. It's important to account for these potential costs when planning your project budget.

Apart from these additional costs, make sure you account for the following on your budget:

• Minimum 4-hour hire is standard for most crane truck operators
• 8.5% - 10% fuel levy
• Travel to and from the site on an hourly rate basis
• Damage or wear and tear (if the load spills or damages the truck in any way)
• Penalty rates of between 1.5x and 2.5x for weekends, public holidays, nights and strange shift types

Hiring a Crane Truck on a Fixed Rate Basis

Fixed-rate options are really common amongst owner-operators with one crane truck as these people usually spend their whole day driving from lift to lift across big cities. They standardise their rates and charge flat fees if the job is within the normal tonnage range of their machine (and there are no real surprises when it comes to materials being lifted) and is within a reasonable driving distance of their depot.

This table provides a quick overview of the rates you can expect when hiring a crane truck on a fixed-rate basis:

This charging model also helps them with paperwork and the simplicity of invoicing their customers. Anything outside the normal lift and shift jobs they do all day long will typically be charged at an hourly rate and an extra charge for travel.

Hiring a Crane truck on a Tonnage or Mileage Basis

There can be some atypical charging models out there for crane trucks, depending on your type of job, lifts and the distance you need to travel. Here are some sample rates across the internet:

• $50 per 10km travelled for small to medium-sized crane trucks
• $450 per 100km travelled for small to medium-sized crane trucks
• $20 per tonne of load transported (max 100km travel radius)

The most common types of crane truck hire contracts are on an hourly basis or fixed fee for a single lift, as described above. However, from time to time you will come across an operator willing to negotiate on a distance travelled basis, or tonnage lifted.

Before proceeding with your crane truck hire, consider all potential fees to ensure your project budget aligns with your needs. Our Get a Quote tool simplifies this process, connecting you directly with our suppliers who can offer detailed, customised quotes.

Types of Crane Trucks and Their Specific Uses

Crane trucks are versatile vehicles equipped with a crane for lifting and transporting materials. They come in various types, each designed for specific tasks and industries. Here are some of the main types:

• Flatbed with Crane Trucks: These trucks combine the functionality of a flatbed, offering a spacious platform for transporting goods, with the added advantage of a mounted crane for loading and unloading materials. Ideal for transporting heavy or bulky items that require lifting assistance at the destination, specifically in construction and landscaping.
• Hiab Trucks: Named after the brand that pioneered them, Hiab trucks feature a hydraulic crane mounted on a truck chassis, facilitating the lifting and transporting heavy materials. These trucks are versatile, providing precision in loading and unloading operations, and are used in various sectors from construction to utilities and rescue services.
• Telescopic Crane Trucks: These trucks have a boom made of several tubes fitted one inside the other. They can extend the boom to reach high and distant places. Telescopic crane trucks are versatile and used in many different types of jobs, from construction to service work.
• Knuckle Boom Crane Trucks (Loader Cranes): Equipped with a jointed boom, these cranes can fold down to a compact size but extend far and move in multiple directions, making them ideal for handling loads in tight spaces. They are commonly used for loading and unloading materials.
• Stiff Boom Crane Trucks: These have a simple telescopic boom that extends straight out, providing powerful lifting capability with a straightforward operation. They're often used for lifting heavy loads that don’t require intricate manoeuvring.
• Side Lifter Crane Trucks: Specialised for transporting and loading/unloading containers. These trucks have lifting arms or cranes on the sides to lift containers from the ground or other vehicles, making them key in logistics and shipping industries.
• Telescopic Crane Trucks: These trucks have a boom made of several tubes fitted one inside the other. They can extend the boom to reach high and distant places. Telescopic crane trucks are versatile and used in many different types of jobs, from construction to service work.
• Knuckle Boom Crane Trucks (Loader Cranes): Equipped with a jointed boom, these cranes can fold down to a compact size but extend far and move in multiple directions, making them ideal for handling loads in tight spaces. They are commonly used for loading and unloading materials.
• Stiff Boom Crane Trucks: These have a simple telescopic boom that extends straight out, providing powerful lifting capability with a straightforward operation. They're often used for lifting heavy loads that don’t require intricate manoeuvring.
• Side Lifter Crane Trucks: Specialised for transporting and loading/unloading containers. These trucks have lifting arms or cranes on the sides to lift containers from the ground or other vehicles, making them key in logistics and shipping industries.

What Does a Crane Truck Do?

Crane trucks are most frequently used to lift and load materials onto a truck and transport them across cities. Crane trucks are common to lift and transport sea containers, site sheds, storage units, pallets, supply and consumables, motors, cable rolls, and large parts and engines. Some of the bigger crane trucks (upwards of 12 tonnes) can actually lift things like loaders, skid steers and mini excavators onto the back of a tipper tray.

Apart from the hydraulic crane (which has diferring boom lengths, heights and capacities) what makes a crane truck a versatile and useful piece of machinery is its two-in-one combination of the crane and tilt or tipper tray. This means you can lift, load and transport substantial loads on paved roads.

There are usually a good number of one-man bands (or, as we call them at iseekplant, owner-operators) that own their own crane truck that drive around different cities lifting and shifting items for multiple sites all day. There are also a couple of pure crane truck specialists out there.

Load Capacity, Reach and Specs of Popular Crane Trucks

The load capacity and reach of a crane truck are critical factors to consider when selecting the right lifting gear for your project. This section explores popular crane trucks and the key features of each model.

Alternative Equipment to Crane Trucks

Crane trucks are essential for various lifting tasks on construction sites, but certain scenarios may require alternative equipment. Below, we explore a few options that might offer advantages in terms of accessibility, cost, or suitability, depending on the project's specifics.

• All Terrain Cranes are more versatile for projects requiring mobility across various terrains and significant lifting capabilities. Unlike crane trucks, they can operate in a broader range of construction environments but may require additional setup time and costs.
• Telehandlers offer excellent versatility with the ability to attach different implements, making them suitable for a variety of tasks beyond lifting, including material handling and excavation, albeit with lower lifting capacities compared to crane trucks.
• Tower Cranes excel in vertical lifting for high-rise construction projects, providing unmatched height and lifting capacity, but lack the mobility and versatility of crane trucks for smaller projects or those spread over large areas.
• Knuckle Boom Lifts are known for their flexibility and ability to manoeuvre in tight spaces, making them suitable for tasks where precision and space constraints are primary considerations.
• Forklifts are ideal for material handling on construction sites, forklifts excel in moving heavy items across short distances. They provide a practical solution for lifting tasks that don't require the height or reach of crane trucks, offering efficiency and maneuverability in confined spaces.

This table compares these alternatives with crane trucks:

Lift Your Project to New Heights with Crane Truck Hire

At iseekplant, we bridge the gap between your project needs and Australia's premier crane truck suppliers, ensuring you have access to a fleet that meets your exact specifications, from lifting capacity to reach. And if you're looking for comprehensive support across your entire jobsite, our network of 18,000++ suppliers offers excavators, backhoes, trenchers and other equipment you need to get the job done.

For any questions or to get expert advice, our team is just an email away at projects@iseekplant.com.au or a phone call at 1300 691 912. Ready to elevate your project? Tap into our network by clicking 'Get a Quote' today!