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Sonic Transport HIAB crane lorry lifting a load on site

HIAB Crane Lorry Hire for the Loads That Need Lifting as Well as Moving

Lorry mounted crane hire from van with HIAB up to 26 tonne rigids. Self loading and unloading with no forklift needed on site.

A focussed team that plans every HIAB job as a lifting operation, not just a delivery

Transport and Crane in One Vehicle

The vehicle loads and unloads itself, so there is no dependence on forklifts or handling equipment at either end. One booking covers collection, transport and precise placement of your load on site.

ALLMI Trained Operators on Every Lift

Our HIAB operators hold lorry loader accreditation alongside their driving entitlement. Every lift is planned in advance, with load weight, reach and ground conditions confirmed before the vehicle arrives.

The Right Vehicle and Crane for the Job

From van with HIAB and 7.5 tonne units for tight urban access up to 26 tonne rigids for serious payload. We match the vehicle and crane capacity to your load, your reach requirement and your site.

HIAB crane lorry with stabiliser legs deployed

HIAB crane lorry specifications

Available across a range of rigid sizes with rear or front mounted cranes, our HIAB vehicles handle building materials, plant, cabins and machinery across the full UK network. Typical 26 tonne rigid specification shown below, with smaller configurations available.

Bed length
6.2 m
Bed width
2.4 m
Max payload
14,000 kg
Crane reach
Up to 12 m
Lift capacity
Up to 6,000 kg
Tracking
Live GPS

When to choose a HIAB crane lorry

  • Building materials delivered to sites without handling equipment
  • Portable cabins, welfare units and container placement
  • Plant and machinery movements between yards and sites
  • Timber, steel and fencing lifted over walls and boundaries
  • Deliveries where the load must be placed, not just dropped
  • Kerbside deliveries to residential and restricted sites
  • Smaller lifts suited to a van with HIAB or 7.5 tonne unit
  • Any job that would otherwise need a separate crane hire

Optional Features

Extras available on request to match the specific demands of your lift.

Brick and Block Grab
Extended Reach Jib
Moffett
ADR

ADR certified drivers and equipment are available for dangerous goods movements. See our ADR load service for details.

A HIAB Turns One Delivery Into a Complete Lifting Operation

A lorry mounted crane removes the single biggest constraint in freight delivery, which is what happens at either end of the journey. With a HIAB, the vehicle loads and unloads itself. There is no waiting for a forklift that may not exist on site, no hiring a separate crane and no coordinating two contractors to complete one job. The driver positions the vehicle, deploys the stabiliser legs and places your load exactly where it needs to go. For construction sites, plant yards, farms and residential deliveries where handling equipment is not guaranteed, that self sufficiency is the difference between a delivery that works and one that does not.

Operators Trained and Certified for Safe Lifting

Crane work is regulated for good reason. A HIAB lift involves load charts, ground assessment, exclusion zones and slinging decisions that a standard delivery driver is not trained to make. Our HIAB operators hold ALLMI accreditation for lorry loader operations alongside their driving entitlement, and every lift is planned before the vehicle arrives on site. We confirm the weight of the load, the reach required from the vehicle position and the ground conditions where the stabilisers will sit. That preparation means the lift itself is routine rather than improvised, and your goods, your site and everyone on it stay safe throughout.

From Van With HIAB to 26 Tonne Crane Lorry

HIAB capability is not limited to the largest vehicles. We provide lorry mounted cranes across a range of vehicle sizes, from compact 7.5 tonne units and van with HIAB configurations suited to tight urban sites and smaller loads, up to 26 tonne rigids carrying serious payload with the crane capacity to match. The right vehicle depends on your load weight, the reach required and the access at both ends of the journey. When you brief us we confirm those details first, then specify the vehicle and crane combination that completes the job in one visit rather than sending whatever happens to be on the yard.

Built for the Loads That Standard Vehicles Cannot Handle

The freight that needs a HIAB tends to be the freight that causes problems everywhere else. Building materials delivered to sites without a telehandler, portable cabins and welfare units placed onto prepared ground, plant and machinery moved between yards, timber packs lifted over walls and fencing dropped along a boundary line. These are jobs where placement matters as much as transport, and where getting it wrong means delays, damage or a second vehicle booking. We handle them as complete operations, planned from collection through to the final lift, so the load arrives and lands exactly where your project needs it.

Need a HIAB for a Load That Has to Be Lifted Into Place?

Tell us your load weight, the reach required and the access at both ends and our team will confirm the right vehicle and crane configuration and plan the lift correctly.

Get a quote in 5 mins 0330 236 8313

Frequently Asked Questions

A HIAB is a lorry fitted with its own hydraulic crane, which means the vehicle can load and unload itself without forklifts or handling equipment on site. HIAB is a manufacturer name that has become the common term for any lorry mounted crane. The crane folds away for transit and deploys on stabiliser legs for lifting.