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Gauteng

Crane Truck Hire in Gauteng

4-5 ton, 8-10 ton and 34 ton Hiab crane trucks with certified driver and operator — for containers, steel, machinery and transformers. Self-loading deliveries. Fully insured.

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Crane Truck Hire in Gauteng — 4-5 Ton, 8-10 Ton & 34 Ton Hiab with Operator

Crane truck for hire in Gauteng — 4-5 ton, 8-10 ton and 34 ton Hiab crane truck with operator

Verified transporter: crane truck hire in Gauteng, Johannesburg . Available for hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, long-distance and off-road lifts.

Quick answer

A crane truck (also called a Hiab, knuckle-boom truck, or boom truck) is a flatdeck truck with a hydraulic crane mounted between the cab and the load body. It loads, transports and offloads its own cargo — no forklift or mobile crane is needed at either end. In Gauteng you can hire a crane truck in three weight classes: 4–5 ton (light lifts up to ~2 tonnes), 8–10 ton (lifts 3–5 tonnes), and 34 ton (heavy lifts 8–15 tonnes). Prices start from R960.00 per day or R16.00 per km — driver and certified crane operator included.

Why a Crane Truck Is the Ultimate Self-Loading Delivery Vehicle

Standard trucks do one job: they carry the load from A to B. But the load has to be placed on the truck at A, and taken off the truck at B — usually by a forklift or a mobile crane, which may or may not be available at either end. The crane truck solves that problem entirely. It carries its own crane on board, so it can pick up the load at the pickup point, drive it to the delivery point, and set it down precisely where it needs to be — no external equipment required at either end.

That self-loading capability is not just a convenience — it changes what is possible. A crane truck can deliver a shipping container to a site with no forklift. It can lift a transformer over a boundary wall into a substation. It can place a steel beam directly onto a rooftop without a separate crane. It can offload palletised bricks into a trench. It can set a generator down beside a telecoms tower in a remote area. That is why the crane truck is the standard configuration for steel erection, container delivery, transformer installation, mining supply, telecoms deployment, and any other job where heavy, awkward, or oversized cargo must be both transported and precisely placed. It is one truck doing the work of two — and that is the entire point.

At a Glance — Crane Truck Specifications by Size

Available sizes4–5 ton rigid · 8–10 ton rigid · 34 ton articulated
Crane typeKnuckle-boom (Hiab) · Telescopic boom · Rear-mounted or mid-mounted
Lift capacity range1 tonne (light 4–5 ton) to 15 tonnes (34 ton rig)
Maximum lift height6 – 8 m (4–5 ton) · 8 – 12 m (8–10 ton) · 12 – 20+ m (34 ton)
Working radiusUp to 15 m at reduced capacity depending on crane model
Payload capacity4,000 kg to 34,000 kg (payload plus crane weight combined)
Deck length4.5 m (4–5 ton) · 6 – 7.5 m (8–10 ton) · 12 – 13.5 m (34 ton)
Safety systemLoad moment limiter (LML) — certified and current on every unit
OperatorCertified crane operator supplied with every booking
Licence (light crane truck)Code 10 (C1) for 4–5 ton
Licence (heavy crane truck)Code EC + PrDP for 8–10 ton and 34 ton
Service areaGauteng, Johannesburg , nationwide and Southern Africa cross-border

Choose Your Crane Truck Size

Crane trucks come in every commercial weight class, from a light 4–5 ton rigid up to a 34 ton articulated rig with a heavy-lift crane. The right choice depends on the load weight, the required lift height, the working radius, and the physical constraints of the pickup and delivery points. Here are the three crane truck sizes most requested in Gauteng.

4–5 Ton Crane Truck Hire

Lift ~2 tonnesReach 6-8 mCode 10 licence

The 4–5 ton crane truck is the entry-level self-loading vehicle. It carries 4,000 to 5,000 kg of payload and has a light knuckle-boom crane mounted behind the cab, typically with a lift capacity of around 1.5 to 2 tonnes close to the truck. It is the ideal size for delivering palletised goods, small containers (6 m / 20 ft), building materials in bulk bags, garden equipment, generators, and any load that needs a small crane lift at the delivery point but does not justify a full mobile crane. Compact and manoeuvrable — it fits into residential streets and tight loading bays that a larger crane truck cannot reach.

Best for: palletised goods, small containers (20 ft), building materials in bulk bags or on pallets, small generators, garden equipment, light steel, and any delivery where the consignee does not have a forklift.

Typical industries: building supply, hardware, landscaping, small-scale construction, agricultural supply, small courier and distribution, and light industrial.

Why customers choose it: the lowest-cost self-loading option. Where a normal 4 ton flatdeck truck would need a forklift at each end, the crane truck does it all — faster, cheaper, and with less coordination than booking separate equipment.

8–10 Ton Crane Truck Hire

Lift 3-5 tonnesReach 8-12 mCode EC licence

The 8–10 ton crane truck is the workhorse of the crane truck fleet. It carries 8,000 to 10,000 kg of payload and has a mid-size knuckle-boom crane mounted between the cab and the load body, typically with a lift capacity of 3 to 5 tonnes close to the truck. The deck length of 6 to 7.5 m allows it to carry long items — steel beams, pipes, precast concrete elements — and its crane can reach over boundary walls and into construction sites. This is the standard configuration for steel merchants, precast concrete suppliers, mining supply companies, and infrastructure contractors across South Africa.

Best for: structural steel (beams, columns, sections), precast concrete elements (beams, columns, slabs, pipes), 20 ft containers, generators and transformers, industrial machinery, mining components, telecoms and utility poles, and 8–10 tonnes of palletised goods.

Typical industries: steel merchants, precast concrete, construction, mining supply, infrastructure and civil engineering, telecoms deployment, and industrial supply.

Why customers choose it: the sweet spot for self-loading commercial deliveries. Handles the heavy, awkward loads that a 4–5 ton crane truck cannot take, at a fraction of the cost of a 34 ton rig plus a separate mobile crane.

34 Ton Crane Truck Hire

Lift 8-15 tonnesReach 12-20+ mHeavy lift

The 34 ton crane truck is the heavyweight of the self-loading fleet. It is typically an articulated rig — truck-tractor with a semi-trailer — with a heavy-lift knuckle-boom or telescopic crane mounted on the trailer or on a specialist subframe behind the cab. Lift capacity typically runs 8 to 15 tonnes close to the truck, with a maximum reach of 12 to 20+ m depending on the boom configuration. This is the configuration used for the most demanding lifts: full 12 m (40 ft) container placement, transformer installation, crusher and mill liner replacement, large generator placement, and infrastructure projects where both the transport and the lift are heavy.

Best for: full 12 m (40 ft) containers, transformers, heavy generators, crusher and mill components, mining plant, large precast elements, telecoms towers, and any lift where the load weight and the working radius exceed the capacity of an 8–10 ton crane truck.

Typical industries: electrical utility and Eskom contracting, mining, heavy industry, container terminals and depots, port operations, telecoms infrastructure, and large-scale construction.

Why customers choose it: the heaviest self-loading configuration available without bringing in a mobile crane. Where a mobile crane would need a permit, a route survey, and separate transport for the load, the 34 ton crane truck does the entire job in one vehicle — a massive time and cost saving on heavy-lift jobs.

Crane Truck vs Flatdeck vs Mobile Crane — Side by Side

Feature Crane Truck (Hiab) Flatdeck Truck Mobile Crane
Self-loading Yes — mounted crane on the truck No — needs forklift or crane at each end No — the crane is a separate vehicle
Transports the load Yes — carries the cargo on the same vehicle Yes — carries the cargo No — crane only; truck still needed for cargo
Lift capacity 1 – 15 tonnes N/A (no lifting) 20 – 300+ tonnes
Setup time 5 – 10 minutes N/A (depends on forklift availability) 30 – 90 minutes (rigging, outriggers)
Permits required Rarely (only for over-dimensional or road closures) Rarely Often (road closures, route surveys)
Best for Routine self-loading deliveries Bulk dry cargo One-off heavy lifts
Cost per job Low — one vehicle for transport + lift Low — transport only High — mobilisation + rigging + separate transport

Not sure whether a crane truck or a mobile crane is right for your lift? Send us the load weight, lift height, and working radius on WhatsApp and we will recommend the correct approach — free of charge.

What Can a Crane Truck Lift? Real-World Load Guide by Industry

Crane trucks handle a wide range of heavy, awkward, or oversized loads. The lift capacity depends on the crane size and the working radius — the further the boom reaches, the less it can lift. Here are approximate capabilities by crane truck size:

Load type4–5 ton truck8–10 ton truck34 ton truck
6 m (20 ft) shipping containerEmpty (up to ~2 t)Yes (loaded, up to ~5 t)Yes
12 m (40 ft) shipping containerNoEmpty only (if crane reach permits)Yes (loaded, up to ~10 t)
Structural steel beamsLight sectionsStandard I-beams and H-columnsHeavy sections and plate
Precast concrete elementsSmall slabs and kerbsBeams, columns, larger slabsHeavy beams and precast sections
TransformersSmall distribution unitsMid-size pad-mount and ground-mountLarge substation and power transformers
GeneratorsSmall portable unitsMid-size standby generatorsLarge industrial and data-centre generators
Industrial machinerySmall pumps and motorsMid-size machinery and plantHeavy mining and industrial equipment
Telecoms and utility polesSmall poles and equipmentStandard distribution polesHigh-voltage transmission structures
Palletised goods in bulk bagsYes (~10 bags)Yes (~20–25 bags)Yes (bulk volume)

Load weight and working radius together determine the correct crane size. Two loads of the same weight may need different cranes if one has to be placed at 4 m and the other at 12 m. Tell us the load weight, the lift height, and the horizontal working radius at quote stage so we allocate the correct crane and confirm the lift plan.

Crane Truck Hire Prices in Gauteng

Crane truck hire is priced higher than standard dry-freight hire because of the crane unit's capital cost, the certified operator, and the load-testing and LML certification compliance. The two standard options below cover the vast majority of bookings.

Option 1 — Truck + Crane Only

Self-drive with our operator

R 960.00 / Day
R 16.00 / km

Truck, crane and certified operator. Fuel, tolls and driver excluded. Licence requirements vary by size.

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Option 2 — Full Service

Truck + crane + driver + operator Best value

R 1,120.00 / Day
R 17.60 / km

Driver, certified crane operator, insurance and GIT cover included.

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What Affects the Cost of Crane Truck Hire?

  • Crane truck size: the biggest single factor. A 4–5 ton crane truck costs a fraction of a 34 ton rig with a heavy-lift crane, and pricing scales with payload, crane capacity, and boom reach.
  • Crane capacity and boom length: a crane truck with a larger crane and longer boom costs more to hire, because the capital value and running cost are higher. Reach matters as much as weight.
  • Distance: the per-kilometre rate drives your final price. Local trips within Gauteng are charged differently to interprovincial and cross-border runs.
  • Driver and operator: every crane truck booking includes a certified crane operator. For simple lifts, the driver is the operator. For complex lifts, a dedicated operator alongside the driver is quoted separately.
  • Lift complexity: routine lifts (load, drive, set down) are quoted on the standard rate. Complex lifts involving specific hazards — overhead power lines, off-road ground, confined spaces, live infrastructure, or high-lift conditions — require a lift plan and are quoted per job.
  • Permits and lift plans: standard jobs require none. Over-dimensional loads, road closures, lifts over public roads, and lifts on mine or quarry sites may require permits, method statements, and route surveys — quoted separately.
  • Standby time: waiting time at the loading or delivery point beyond the agreed free period is charged hourly.
  • Duration: weekly, monthly and long-term contracts attract significant discounts over daily rates.

Industries We Serve with Crane Trucks in Gauteng

  • Steel merchants: delivery of structural steel, beams, columns, and sections directly to construction sites, with the crane lifting the load off and placing it.
  • Precast concrete: delivery and installation of precast beams, columns, slabs, wall panels, and pipes.
  • Container logistics: self-loading delivery of 6 m and 12 m shipping containers to sites without forklifts or reach-stackers.
  • Electrical utilities & Eskom contracting: delivery and placement of transformers, switchgear, and substation equipment.
  • Mining supply: delivery of crusher parts, conveyor sections, mill liners, and heavy mining components.
  • Telecoms infrastructure: delivery and placement of poles, tower sections, and site equipment.
  • Building supply: self-loading delivery of palletised bricks, blocks, cement, and bulk bags to sites without forklifts.
  • Construction & civil engineering: self-loading delivery and placement of material on tight or remote sites.
  • Generators & standby power: delivery and installation of standby generators at data centres, hospitals, and commercial premises.
  • Agriculture: delivery of feed, fertiliser, seed, and equipment to farms without handling facilities.
  • Event staging: delivery and placement of staging, trussing, and heavy exhibition equipment.

Off-Road and Remote-Site Crane Truck Work

Crane trucks are frequently used on sites with limited access and no handling infrastructure. Common off-road and remote-site jobs include:

  • Mine and quarry work: delivering crusher components, mill liners, and conveyor sections to mine benches and plant areas.
  • Farm deliveries: offloading seed, fertiliser, and equipment in paddocks without forklifts.
  • Telecoms tower sites: delivering and placing tower sections, antennas, and base station equipment on remote ridges.
  • Rural electrification: delivering and placing transformers, poles, and switchgear at rural substations.
  • Remote construction: delivering material to construction sites on gravel or dirt access roads.
  • Flood and disaster relief: delivering and placing emergency equipment where normal logistics are disrupted.

Off-road work requires confirming ground conditions before departure — a crane truck working on soft or unstable ground risks tipping, even within its nominal load chart. Tell us the ground conditions and access route at booking so we allocate the correct vehicle and confirm the lift plan.

Cross-Border Crane Truck Hire

We arrange cross-border crane truck hire across Southern Africa, with experienced drivers and full documentation support. Common corridors from Gauteng include:

  • Namibia: via Nakop / Ariamsvlei on the N14 — Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund.
  • Botswana: via Skilpadshek / Pioneer Gate on the N4 — Gaborone, Francistown, Maun.
  • Zimbabwe: via Beitbridge on the N1 — Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls.
  • Zambia: via Beitbridge and Chirundu / Kazungula — Lusaka, Ndola, Livingstone.
  • Mozambique: via Komatipoort on the N4 / Maputo corridor — Maputo, Beira, Nacala.
  • Malawi and DRC: on request, quoted per trip and cargo.

Cross-border crane truck work typically requires 48 hours' notice for customs documentation, cross-border permits, and where relevant, lift-plan confirmation. Contact us on WhatsApp on +27 62 345 2345 for a corridor-specific crane truck quote.

How to Book a Crane Truck in Gauteng

  1. Tell us what you are lifting. Enter your load type, weight, required lift height, working radius, pickup point, and drop-off point in the free estimate form on this page.
  2. Get an instant distance and fare. Our system calculates the road distance and your estimated fare immediately — no waiting for a callback.
  3. Choose your crane truck size. 4–5 ton, 8–10 ton, or 34 ton; knuckle-boom or telescopic; standard or specialised subframe.
  4. Confirm your booking. Submit the form or message us on WhatsApp. You will receive written confirmation with the vehicle, driver and operator details, current LML certificate, and final price.
  5. Complex lifts: we will prepare a lift plan and method statement on request for lifts involving specific hazards (high reach, off-road ground, live infrastructure, confined spaces).
  6. Cross-border trips: we will confirm documentation, customs, and lift-plan requirements before departure.

Why Choose WeTransport for Crane Truck Hire

Verified & Fully Insured

Every crane truck is licensed, roadworthy, and covered by comprehensive insurance plus goods-in-transit cover.

Certified Operators & Current LML

Every lift is performed by a certified crane operator. Load moment limiter certificates are current and provided with every booking.

Lift Plans on Request

Lift plans and method statements prepared for complex lifts involving high reach, off-road ground, live infrastructure, or confined spaces.

Experienced Drivers & Operators

Code 10 and Code EC drivers with crane operator certification, experienced on construction sites, mines, and remote infrastructure deployments.

Transparent Pricing

Clear per-day and per-kilometre rates quoted up front. No hidden call-out fees or surprise surcharges.

Crane Truck Hire in Johannesburg and Nearby Areas

We arrange crane truck hire throughout Gauteng and the greater Johannesburg region, including local deliveries, regional routes, interprovincial long-haul, and remote-site work. Popular crane truck routes from Gauteng include runs to Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Polokwane, Nelspruit, East London, Rustenburg, Witbank, Richards Bay, and cross-border to Gaborone, Windhoek, Harare, Lusaka, and Maputo.

Insurance, Tracking & Compliance

  • Insurance: Yes Active
  • Live tracking: Live GPS tracking available
  • Goods in transit: Yes Active
  • Driver compliance: valid licence for the crane truck class (Code 10 or Code EC), valid PrDP where required, and medical fitness certificate
  • Operator compliance: certified crane operator with current certification for the specific crane unit
  • Crane compliance: current load-test certificate, load moment limiter (LML) certification, and hydraulic system inspection
  • Vehicle compliance: current licence disc, roadworthy certificate, operator card, calibrated tachograph where required
  • Overload compliance: loads verified against axle and GCM limits before departure, and lifts verified against the crane load chart at the working radius
  • Abnormal load compliance: route surveys, permits, and escorts arranged for over-dimensional or over-mass cargo
  • Cross-border compliance: customs documentation, cross-border permits, and country-specific GIT confirmation arranged per corridor

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Crane Truck Hire — Frequently Asked Questions

A crane truck for hire in Gauteng starts from R960.00 per day for the truck only, or R1,120.00 per day with a professional driver and crane operator included. The per-kilometre rate starts at R16.00 per km (R17.60 per km with a driver). Crane truck hire is priced higher than a standard flatdeck or tautliner because of the mounted hydraulic crane, the certified operator, and the load-testing and inspection compliance required. Final pricing depends on the crane size — from a small 4 ton truck with a light knuckle-boom crane up to a 34 ton rig with a heavy-lift crane — plus the pickup point, drop-off point, lift height required, and whether the trip is local, long-distance, or involves off-road lifts. Use the free estimate form on this page for an instant, no-obligation quote.

A crane truck — also called a Hiab, knuckle-boom truck, loader crane truck, or boom truck — is a truck with a hydraulic crane mounted between the cab and the load body, or at the rear of the load body. The crane is powered by the truck's hydraulic system and can lift, swing, and place a load without any external equipment. That makes a crane truck a self-loading and self-offloading vehicle — it can pick up a load at the pickup point, drive it to the delivery point, and set it down precisely where it is needed, all without needing a forklift or separate mobile crane at either end. This is why crane trucks are essential for delivering heavy, awkward, or oversized items that a normal flatbed truck or tautliner simply cannot handle.

A crane truck is a self-propelled truck with a mounted hydraulic crane — one vehicle that both transports and lifts. A mobile crane (also called a truck crane or all-terrain crane) is a dedicated lifting machine with a much larger telescopic or lattice boom, mounted on a purpose-built carrier. Mobile cranes lift far more than a crane truck (up to 300+ tonnes), but they cannot carry the load on the same vehicle — you need a separate truck to transport the cargo. Crane trucks lift less (typically 1 to 15 tonnes depending on size) but do the whole job — load, transport, and offload — in one vehicle. For deliveries where the cargo is a few tonnes and the lift is a few metres, a crane truck is faster and cheaper than mobilising both a truck and a mobile crane.

A knuckle-boom crane (also called an articulated crane or Hiab) has two or more hydraulic arms that fold like a human finger — the joints allow it to reach over, behind, and around obstacles, and to stow compactly when not in use. It is the most common crane truck configuration in South Africa because it is versatile, takes up little deck space, and can reach into tight spaces. A telescopic crane truck has a straight extending boom (like a fire-truck ladder) that slides out to the required length. Telescopic booms typically lift more at full extension but take up more space when stowed. The right choice depends on the lift height, the load weight, and the physical constraints of the pickup and drop-off points. Tell us your lift conditions at quote stage and we will allocate the correct crane configuration.

Crane trucks lift a wide range of heavy, awkward, or oversized items. Common lifts include: shipping containers, structural steel (beams, columns, sections), pre-cast concrete elements (beams, columns, slabs, pipes), generators and transformers, industrial machinery, mining components (crusher parts, conveyor sections, mill liners), building materials in bulk bags or on pallets, agricultural equipment, borehole and pump equipment, and telecoms and utility poles. The maximum lift depends on the crane size: a light 4 ton crane truck lifts around 1–2 tonnes; an 8–10 ton crane truck lifts 3–5 tonnes; a 34 ton crane truck lifts 8–15 tonnes. The lift capacity is also affected by the boom extension — a crane that lifts 5 tonnes close to the truck lifts far less at full reach. Tell us the load weight and the lift distance at quote stage so we can confirm the correct crane size.

Yes. Every crane truck we list is hired with a licensed driver who is also a certified crane operator. Our crane truck drivers hold the appropriate licence for the vehicle class — Code 10 (C1) for the lighter rigids and Code EC with PrDP for the 34 ton rigs — and are medically certified. They also hold crane operator certification, with current load-testing certificates for the specific crane unit, and are experienced in lifting on construction sites, quarries, mines, and industrial premises. The driver and crane operator are usually the same person, but for very large lifts we can supply a dedicated operator to work alongside the driver. Tell us at booking if the lift involves specific risks — high lift, off-road ground, live electrical infrastructure, or confined spaces — so we can allocate the correct operator and equipment.

Maximum lift height depends on the crane model. A typical knuckle-boom crane on a 4–5 ton truck lifts to around 6–8 m. An 8–10 ton crane truck lifts to around 8–12 m. A 34 ton crane truck with a heavy-lift knuckle boom lifts to around 12–16 m, and with a telescopic boom can reach over 20 m. Lifting height is one factor — boom length, load weight, and whether the crane is lifting from the side or the rear all affect the practical working envelope. Tell us the required lift height and the horizontal distance the load must travel from the truck at quote stage so we can allocate the correct crane size. Trying to lift beyond the crane's rated capacity at the required reach is a critical safety risk — never override the load moment limiter.

Yes. The knuckle-boom design is specifically designed for this. The articulated arms can reach over a boundary wall, through a window, over a fence, down into a basement or excavation, or up onto a rooftop — anywhere the crane can physically swing to. That is the major practical advantage of a crane truck over a forklift: the truck stays on the road or in the yard, and the crane reaches the load. For lifts into an occupied building, we recommend an on-site survey or a photo of the access route before the booking so we can confirm the crane size and confirm the working radius. Tell us if the lift involves obstacles (walls, power lines, trees, rooflines) so we plan the lift accordingly.

A flatdeck truck is an open-deck truck with no lifting equipment — it can carry the load, but a forklift or crane at each end must load and unload it. A crane truck is the same open-deck concept, but with a hydraulic crane mounted on the truck itself, so it can load and unload its own cargo. That self-loading capability is the entire point of a crane truck: it takes the place of a separate crane or forklift at both the pickup and delivery points. For deliveries where the consignee does not have a forklift on site, or where the load is too heavy or awkward for a forklift, a crane truck is the standard solution. Both trucks can carry similar loads by weight and volume, but only the crane truck can handle the lift.

The load moment limiter (LML) is a safety system built into every modern crane truck that continuously monitors the load weight, the boom angle, and the boom extension. If the combination would exceed the crane's safe working envelope at that reach, the LML automatically shuts down the lift. It is the single most important safety feature on a crane truck, and it is legally required to be tested and certified at regular intervals. The LML prevents overloading and tip-over, which is the most common cause of crane truck accidents. Always confirm that the LML is current and certified before the lift — we provide the current load-test certificate with every crane truck we hire out.

In most cases, no — a routine crane truck lift on a private site or on a roadside delivery does not require a permit. However, specific situations do require permits or additional documentation: lifting over a public road, lifting over live electrical infrastructure, lifting on a mine or quarry (each site has its own rules), lifting in an area with overhead power lines, and lifting abnormal loads (over-dimensional or over-mass). For these situations, we handle the documentation and can provide lift plans, method statements, and certified operators. Tell us if the lift involves any of these conditions at quote stage so we can confirm the requirements.

Enter your pickup point, drop-off point, load description, load weight, and required lift height in the free estimate form on this page. Our system calculates the distance and fare instantly. You can then confirm your crane truck booking online or via WhatsApp on +27 62 345 2345. Same-day and next-day bookings are usually available across Gauteng and surrounds, but lifts with specific risks (high lift, off-road, confined space, live infrastructure) should be booked 24 to 48 hours in advance so we can plan the lift and allocate the correct crane size.