What is a crane truck?
A crane truck is a rigid truck with a loader crane mounted behind the cab or at the rear. It carries the load on its own tray and lifts it off at the site, so one vehicle does the transport and the lift. Many people call the crane a Hiab, after the brand. For heavier lifts or longer reach, a Franna or mobile slewing crane may suit better.
Typical crane truck jobs
- Delivering and placing pallets, steel and building materials
- Shipping containers, sheds and site huts
- Machinery and equipment moves
How our crane hire referral works
- Tell us the lift: what, how heavy, where.
- We match a local operator with the right crane for the job.
- They call you with a price and book the lift.
Lift capacity at a glance
Builds, steel, panels, HVAC on tight urban sites.
Long reach and heavy lifts on outriggers.
Glazing, indoor and narrow-access lifts.
Deliver and lift in one visit.
Suburbs served
- Melbourne CBD
- Docklands
- Dandenong
- Campbellfield
- Keysborough
- Cranbourne
- Berwick
- Pakenham
- Footscray
- Sunshine
- Coburg
- Box Hill
- Ringwood
- Frankston
- All metro Melbourne
Crane hire cost guide (Melbourne)
Indicative Melbourne wet-hire rates (operator and rigger included, ex GST), from iseekplant (30 June 2026). They exclude travel to and from the depot, extra rigging labour, permits and traffic management. Your quote depends on the lift.
| Crane | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Franna 12t | $160–$195/hr |
| Franna 20t | $195–$235/hr |
| Franna 25t | $220–$265/hr |
| Mobile slewing 50t | $330–$430/hr |
| Mobile slewing 100t | $480–$630/hr |
Same source: most Melbourne suppliers apply a 4-hour minimum for Frannas and a full day for larger slewing cranes. Rates for spider cranes are not covered; they are quoted on request.
Frequently asked questions
When should I hire a crane truck instead of a Franna?
Hire a crane truck when the load also needs to be carried to the site, because the truck transports and lifts it in one visit. A Franna is a dedicated crane that does not carry loads on a tray, so it suits heavier lifts where the material arrives separately. Send your load details and the operator will advise which fits.
How much does crane truck hire cost in Melbourne?
We have not found a reliable published Melbourne rate guide for crane trucks, so we do not quote a figure. Price depends on the truck and crane size, travel and how long the job takes. Send the load, pickup and drop-off details and the local operator will quote your job.
How does this crane hire referral service work?
You send your lift details once through the form or by phone. We pass the request to one independent local crane operator suited to the job, and that operator contacts you directly with a price and books the lift. We are a referral service, not a crane company, and the request is free with no obligation.
What details do I need for a crane quote in Melbourne?
Give the load weight, the lift height and distance from where the crane can set up, the site suburb and street, ground and access conditions, and your preferred date. Photos of the site and load help. Operators use this to choose the crane size, check if permits are needed and price the lift accurately.
Related crane hire services
- Crane hire Melbourne (all cranes)
- Franna crane hire Melbourne
- Mobile slewing crane hire Melbourne
- City and CBD crane hire
- Spider and mini crane hire
- Crane hire in Dandenong and the south-east
- Hiab truck hire Melbourne
- Mini and small crane hire
- Crawler crane hire Melbourne
- Crane hire cost and rates Melbourne
- Crane hire in Campbellfield and the north