When it
comes to transporting particularly weighty goods, using the services of a
haulage company is vital. Simply put, haulage is a term to describe the
transport businesses responsible for the commercial transport of particularly
heavy and/or awkward goods. The various haulage services available all fall
into the transport and logistics industry and, without it, the economy would
come to a stand-still and trading in larger cargo would cease to exist between
businesses and nations.
From wide
and abnormal load transport to freight carriers and light loaders, a specialist
and comprehensive haulage transport company can help with all your needs.
However, one of the most valuable and useful pieces of equipment to help with
haulage needs is a crane lorry, and many haulage companies can hire out these
cranes for use.
With so many
cranes available across construction, transport and logistics industries, what
makes a crane lorry so special and useful in comparison to other models? There
are many benefits to using a crane lorry and many different types of businesses
use them for lifting and transporting various loads. As experts in haulage, we
use this blog to explore the crane lorry, its uses and its benefits to those
looking for heavy haulage solutions today.
What is a crane
truck?
Essentially,
a crane lorry is a truck vehicle that has had a crane mounted onto it at the
back. With a standard cab at the front, the crane is normally attached just
behind it or right at the end of the vehicle, with space in between to place
the goods that need to be lifted on. These trucks may sit on four to eight
wheels, depending on the size and, on some models, the cab can double as an
operating booth whereas some have a secondary operating booth at the back of
the rig.
A crane lorry
is used for the loading and unloading of heavy cargo, usually a single item,
but it can also be used for construction and repairs. Depending on the weight
needed, most crane trucks come in different models to cope with higher heights
and weight capacities.
Using a crane truck for heavy haulage
Usually, a
crane lorry is needed for the transport of heavier goods, but normally only for
single-items. When it comes to heavy transport and abnormal loads, a crane
truck is a highly versatile bit of equipment that is prepared to take on
anything from a combine harvester and building materials to containers and
cars. This means they are very flexible in terms of working environments and
business sectors. They can lend themselves to many different industries including:
Agricultural
Many
agricultural industries utilise crane trucks as they have enough space to fit
agricultural machinery and transport them from A to B. Whether you’re looking
to get your combine harvester between farms or book your tractor in for a service
at the garage, a crane truck will lift the heavy vehicle and place it onto the
truck, before fastening it on securely.
Freight and cargo transport
For the
purpose of freight and cargo shipping in marine industries and international
trade of goods via ship, a crane lorry can be incredibly useful. A crane truck
is able to lift metal containers to be lifted from the ground onto the truck
and then from the truck onto the ship.
Construction
From packs
and packs of bricks to tonnes of roofing slates, a crane truck can be used to
easily transport building materials from your supplier to the construction
site, or between projects around the country.
Driving a crane lorry
To drive a
crane truck on the road, the designated employee to do so will need a drivers
licence. Depending on the type or model of truck and the weight, they may need
an additional licence. If the crane lorry weighs between 3.5 and 7.5, a
category C1 Driving Licence is needed. If it’s one of the largest crane lorries
available and weighs over 7.5 tonnes, then a Category C Licence is required. If
working in the agricultural, industrial or construction industries,
fortunately, many experienced employees and companies will have these licences
in place already.
If you need
to operate the crane or situate it on a public highway, you need permissions
and a crane licence from the local council you’re working in. This is not the
case if the crane is situated or operated on private land. When hiring a crane
from a company, you’ll need to ensure that the company has a crane licence. If
you are crane operator brought in to operate the crane lorry, you need to
ensure that the company you work for has a crane licence.
The benefits of a crane lorry
If you’re
thinking about hiring a crane lorry for your project or site and feel that they
will suit the job at hand, but you’re still not sure, it’s good to understand
how many benefits this equipment has.
● Multi-purpose
- as previously mentioned, a crane truck can be utilised by many industries and
sectors from agricultural and marine to construction and retail.
● Accessibility -
whereas a traditional crane may have
to be transported in components before being set up and can be impractical to
some environments, a crane truck is a single unit and is easier to access
difficult sites. They also don’t need support pads that conventional cranes
need, and can perform a lot better on sandy or soft ground.
● Manoeuvrability
- a crane lorry can manoeuvre heavy and awkward objects into tight or
restricted spaces. The crane end can be rotated up to 180 degrees and can
sometimes rotate 360 degrees, depending on the model. They also require a lot
less space than standard cranes would, making them ideal for urban, rural and
construction environments, and can be moved at any time.
● Cost-effective
- When hiring a traditional crane, you will have to prepare your site by laying
a foundation, installing support pads and building the crane, taking up a lot
of time that could otherwise be spent working on a project. However, a crane
truck is already supported by the vehicle it’s mounted onto, and you can always
work on the original site with no alterations and use the same workforce to
operate the vehicle. It’s also a two-in-one piece of kit in that it can haul
and transport goods, along with your staff.
D & D
Transport
- expert haulage company, also specialising in
heavy haulage and crane lorry hire
At D & D
Transport, we are experts when it comes to haulage and are a leading supplier
of crane lorry hire in Nottingham. We can hire out reputable equipment, such as
reliable Hiab trucks, for your project today.
With over 25
years of experience in the industry, we provide expert haulage solutions. From
wide loads and heavy haulage to freight carriers and crane lorries, we can
cater to different industries and all manner of transport and haulage needs
today, whatever your company specialism. So, if you’re looking for a
professional and experienced haulage company, rely on D & D Transport’s
fleet and friendly team today. For more information, contact us on 01773 533
366 or visit
our website
today.
