As industries search for ways to reduce operating costs, lower emissions and streamline project timelines, truck-mounted cranes stand out as one of the most efficient lifting solutions available today.

Sonia Pretorius, National Sales Manager for 600SA, a division of CFAO Equipment, says unlike traditional crawler or tower cranes, truck-mounted units combine transport and lifting into a single unit, offering unmatched versatility and tangible financial and environmental benefits.

“Traditional lifting solutions often require separate vehicles to transport equipment to job sites whereas truck-mounted cranes eliminate this need entirely. This is because transport and lifting form part of one unit, reducing fleet size and simplifying project logistics.”

Another advantage of truck-mounted cranes is their legal on-road mobility, meaning they do not require special transport permits, allowing them to move easily between multiple job sites in a single day.

“This streamlined approach immediately reduces the cost, time and the emissions associated with multiple trips or dedicated transport trucks,” notes Pretorius.

Fuel usage is one of the most notable operational differences between truck-mounted cranes and bulkier equipment. Typically, truck-mounted cranes will use about 10 litres per hour while mobile cranes will use between 20 and 40 litres per hour.

“Obviously, there are a few factors that influence fuel consumption: the size of the crane and the size and weight of the load. That said, truck-mounted cranes use less fuel compared to mobile cranes because of their design. The bigger the crane, the further the oil needs to travel to power the cylinders. This means more power is needed, which also results in higher CO2 emissions,” adds Pretorius.

Pretorius says because the hydraulic system on a truck-mounted crane is integrated with the truck’s engine, these cranes naturally operate cleaner and more efficiently. “Shorter setup times also mean less idling, less run-time and lower total emissions per lift.”

From a pricing perspective, truck-mounted cranes come at a more reasonable purchase price than crawler or tower cranes. They also have reduced maintenance requirements as there are no tracks, no heavy counterweight systems and minimal rigging.

Additionally, they are cheaper to transport (they transport themselves) and are quicker to set up (they can be operational in under five minutes), which translates into less paid downtime.

Pretorius says crawler and tower cranes need high capital investment, which is often prohibitive for small to mid-sized contractors. “They also require specialised transport to get them to site and setting them up requires large teams (sometimes taking up between one and five hours, depending on size), extensive rigging and significant site preparation. Also, larger hydraulic systems and tracks increase maintenance needs and fuel usage.

“Savings depend on project type, but truck-mounted cranes consistently reduce costs in transport and logistics, labour, setup and breakdown time, fuel and maintenance,” she notes.

For many small- to mid-sized contractors, these efficiencies translate to between15% and 30% savings on lifting-related logistics and setup costs when compared to using larger crawler cranes or mobile cranes. In addition, avoiding specialised heavy equipment rentals can significantly reduce strain on capital.

While truck-mounted cranes have lower lifting capacities and vertical reach, meaning they are not suitable for high-rise construction, most everyday lifting applications fall perfectly within their performance range.

They are versatile across industries, especially those that require frequent moving, short setup times and moderate lifting capacity. Some of these include HVAC and mechanical installations, steel erection and light construction, telecommunications and signage, landscaping and tree removal, municipal and utility operations, mining, agriculture and logistics support.

Their flexibility allows companies to complete more jobs with fewer machines, improving efficiency across entire operations.

Truck-mounted cranes deliver a unique combination of cost savings and operational versatility that traditional lifting equipment simply cannot match. For everyday lifting needs across a wide range of industries, they provide a smart, sustainable alternative that helps companies reduce fuel consumption, minimise setup time and achieve meaningful improvements in both project delivery and profitability.