Crane trucks, sometimes called Hiab trucks (because Hiab is the most popular brand of crane truck), are commonly used for lifting and transporting materials such as sea containers, site sheds, storage units, pallets, motors, and even large equipment such as skid steers and mini excavators.
Crane truck hire services are widely available in cities, offering flexible pricing options, including hourly, fixed, distance, or tonnage rates. Below, we explore the different types of hire and average national rates for each of the contract types so you can plan your 2025 projects accordingly.
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Apart from the hydraulic crane (which has a deferring boom length, height and capacity), what makes a crane truck such a versatile and useful piece of machinery is its two-in-one combination of the crane & tilt tray 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 have their own crane truck and rip around cities all day, lifting and shifting items for multiple sites. There are also a couple of pure crane truck specialists out there.
Need to hire a crane truck? Get free competitive quotes through iseekplant! Whether it’s for loading, unloading, or transporting construction materials, you can find the right crane truck hire solution through our platform.
Crane Truck Hire Rates: Hiring a crane truck or Hiab truck on an hourly basis
- Small (4 tonne - 6 tonne) crane truck or Hiab truck hire rate (with operator): $70 per hour+
- Medium (6 tonne - 10 tonne) crane truck or Hiab truck hire rate (with operator): $90 per hour+
- Large (10 tonne - 12 tonne) crane truck or Hiab truck hire rate (with operator): $100 - $120 per hour+
Crane truck rates, in the larger cities anyway, rarely fluctuate from the standard or average rates above unless the crane truck is a lot older and has many more hours on the clock. Well-maintained vehicles provide greater reliability, reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns or inefficiencies. There aren't too many variations in terms of features either because crane trucks are relatively simple machines in terms of specification.
Operating a crane truck requires a ticketed operator and a heavy rigid license. Understanding licence requirements is crucial, as different states may have varying regulations on crane operation, ensuring compliance with national safety guidelines.
Any type of lifting, even small tonnages of materials, is a dangerous exercise, making safety a top priority when hiring a crane truck. Be sure to choose operators with strong compliance records and adherence to workplace safety regulations.
Crane Truck Hire Rates: Hiring a crane truck or Hiab truck on a fixed rate basis
- 4 tonne crane truck hire fixed cost: $250 - $300 (within 100km radius of depot, one pick up)
- 4 tonne - 8 tonne crane truck hire fixed cost: $300 - $320 (within 100km radius of depot, one pick up)
- 8 tonne - 14 tonne crane truck hire fixed cost: $350 - $500 (within 100km radius of depot, one pick up)
Fixed-rate options are really common amongst owner/operators with one crane truck, as these guys 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 within a reasonable driving distance of their depot.
These owner/operators are known for providing a professional service, ensuring efficiency and reliability for every lift-and-shift job. This charging model also helps them with paperwork and the simplicity of invoicing their customers. Anything outside of 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.
Crane Truck Hire Rates: Hiring a crane truck or Hiab truck on a distance or tonnage basis
The most common types of crane truck hire contracts are hourly or fixed fee for a single lift, as described above, but from time to time, you will encounter an operator willing to negotiate on a distance travelled basis or tonnage lifted.
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. Some examples we've seen published online are;
- $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)
Need to hire a crane truck? Get free competitive quotes through iseekplant!
Crane Truck Hire: Common Terms and Extra Fees
- Minimum 4-hour hire is standard for most crane truck operators
- 8.5% - 10% fuel levy
- Travel to and from 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.
Short-term crane truck hire contracts usually have additional fees and charges that may not necessarily apply to longer-term contracts because the plant hire supplier who owns the crane truck or Hiab truck needs to recoup costs associated with booking his crane for a shorter job.
You can expect to pay for travel to and sometimes from your site. However, many crane truck hire providers focus on delivering a high-quality service, ensuring well-maintained machinery and skilled operators for each project. If the crane truck has to dispose of anything, then you pay tip fees or disposal fees at the point of drop off.
There are short-time hires (which may be a single day of work) and long-term contracts (which can go for months to years). On a one day hire, you may be charged on a per-hour basis or just an entire day rate. On a longer-term hire, you will be more likely to be charged on a monthly basis. This contractual term is mostly offered to freight business companies.
Find the Best Crane Truck Hire Services Near You
If you are in the market for a crane truck hire, get in touch with iseekplant today to get competitive rates for machines near you. Servicing the needs of the construction industry in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide, and beyond, we can match you with a crane truck near you. Our platform connects clients with top-rated crane truck operators, ensuring the best fit for any lifting and transportation job.
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