If you've watched a lorry pull up, extend a crane arm from behind the cab and lift a shipping container into position — that's a hiab crane lorry. The name has become a catch-all in the UK, much like "hoover" for a vacuum cleaner, but it specifically describes a lorry with a hydraulic loader crane mounted between the cab and the load bed.
How the Loader Crane Works
The crane sits on a slewing column and is controlled by a trained operator using a pendant or remote handset. Hydraulic rams extend the boom sections outward and upward, reaching loads that would otherwise be inaccessible. Most lorry mounted cranes on UK roads have a lifting capacity between 5 and 25 tonnes at close range, with reach of 10 to 20 metres depending on the configuration.
The lorry itself carries the load on a flatbed or curtainsider body. The crane lifts the load on, secures it for transit, and lifts it off at the destination — no forklift, no telehandler, no second vehicle needed.
What Can a Hiab Crane Lorry Lift?
- 20ft and 40ft shipping containers
- Portable cabins and site offices
- Excavators, dumpers and plant machinery
- Steel beams, girders and structural sections
- Cable drums, pipe bundles and coiled stock
- Generators, transformers and industrial equipment
- Timber packs, stone and landscaping materials
Who Operates It?
Every hiab crane lorry in our fleet comes with a trained, experienced driver-operator. They plan the lift, assess the ground conditions, set up the outriggers for stability, and operate the crane throughout. You don't need to provide any additional labour or equipment on site.
When Do You Need a Hiab?
The simple answer: when the load is too heavy to manhandle, when a forklift can't reach, or when you need one vehicle to collect, transport and place a load without assistance at either end. Hiab crane lorries are the go-to solution for contractors, developers, hauliers and anyone moving heavy awkward loads across the UK.
All jobs are quoted nationwide as a fixed all-in price. Request a quote online or call us on 0330 107 7400.