Inspections

Vehicle Loading Crane Inspections

A vehicle loading crane — the truck-mounted loader crane many operators simply call a "Hiab" — earns its living loading and unloading its own vehicle and the loads around it, often many times a day. Common makes include Hiab, Palfinger and Fassi, and while those manufacturers each have their own service networks, a loader crane can be inspected, tested and certified independently. This page is where you arrange that work, carried out to the AS 2550 series for safe use and AS 1418 for the design framework the crane was built within.

Loader cranes concentrate wear in specific places: the folding or telescoping boom and its knuckle joints, the slew mechanism, the stabiliser legs and their interlocks, the hydraulic circuit, and the mounting where the crane meets the truck chassis. Because the crane and the vehicle work as one system, an inspection has to consider the sub-frame and mounting as well as the crane itself. We assess the whole assembly, check the load-limiting and stability systems, and document the outcome so the unit stays compliant and safe to keep working.

Call 0416 689 689

Who It's For

Built For

Transport, logistics and delivery operators running loader cranes
Building supply, steel and precast businesses loading their own trucks
Utility, council and infrastructure fleets with truck-mounted cranes
Owner-operators of a single Hiab, Palfinger or Fassi style crane
Buyers and sellers needing an independent loader crane condition report

Scope

Equipment & Coverage

Hiab-style folding-boom loader cranes
Palfinger truck-mounted loader cranes
Fassi and other-make vehicle loading cranes
Knuckle boom, slew and stabiliser leg systems
Crane-to-chassis sub-frame and mounting

How It Works

The Process

Confirm crane & vehicle

We record the crane make and model — Hiab, Palfinger, Fassi or otherwise — and the host vehicle, so the inspection covers both the crane and the mounting where it meets the truck.

Inspect boom, slew & stabilisers

The folding or telescoping boom, knuckle joints, slew mechanism, stabiliser legs and their interlocks are examined for wear, distortion, corrosion and fatigue across the load path, with attention to the high-cycle joints that a loader crane flexes dozens of times a day.

Check hydraulics & mounting

The hydraulic circuit, hoses and controls are assessed, along with the sub-frame and mounting bolts that tie the crane to the chassis — a common wear and fatigue point on hard-worked loader cranes, and one a routine service rarely examines in depth.

Test, certify & document

Function and, where warranted, load testing verify performance, load-limiting and stability systems are checked, defects are rated, and you receive the certification documentation.

Compliance & Standards

Vehicle loading cranes are designed within the AS 1418 series and used, sited, maintained and inspected under the AS 2550 series. Because the crane and its host vehicle work as one system, the safe-use regime covers the crane, the sub-frame and mounting, and the load-limiting and stability systems together. Routine and periodic inspections keep the unit safe between deeper checks, and a major inspection falls due at the interval set by the relevant standard and equipment class — commonly 5-year or 10-year depending on equipment type and duty. We are not a Hiab, Palfinger or Fassi dealer or authorised agent; we work independently across all makes and record only what has genuinely been assessed. A loader crane's high daily cycle count is what makes ongoing inspection worthwhile rather than optional: the boom joints, slew and stabilisers see loads far more often than a crane that is set up once and left in place for a shift, so wear accumulates quickly and the mounting to the chassis works loose over time if it is not monitored. Keeping the inspection record current keeps the unit compliant, insurable and safe for the crew and the public who share the space around it.

Why EWP Australia

Independent inspection and certification for Hiab, Palfinger, Fassi and other loader cranes
Crane and crane-to-chassis mounting both assessed as one system
Stabiliser interlocks and load-limiting systems checked in scope
Serviced independently of manufacturer networks, so findings stay objective
One consistent inspection standard across a mixed-make loader crane fleet
Australia-wide mobile field service — we come to the vehicle

FAQs

Common Questions

Is a 'Hiab' a type of crane?

Hiab is a manufacturer whose name has become shorthand for the truck-mounted loader crane class, in the same way operators say Franna for a pick-and-carry crane. Common makes include Hiab, Palfinger and Fassi. Whatever the brand, these vehicle loading cranes are inspected to the same safe-use framework, and we confirm the actual make and model at the outset so the inspection matches the crane rather than the label people happen to use for it.

Do I have to use the manufacturer to inspect my loader crane?

No. While Hiab, Palfinger and Fassi each have their own service networks, a vehicle loading crane can be inspected, tested and certified independently. We work across all makes, and that independence keeps our assessment of the crane's condition objective rather than tied to a single manufacturer. For fleets running cranes from more than one maker, using one independent specialist also keeps the inspection standard and the documentation consistent across the whole fleet.

Why does the crane-to-truck mounting matter in an inspection?

Because the crane and the vehicle work as one system. The sub-frame and mounting bolts carry the reaction loads every time the crane lifts, and they are a common wear and fatigue point on hard-worked units. We assess the mounting alongside the crane so the whole assembly is verified, not just the boom — a crane that checks out perfectly can still be unsafe if the structure tying it to the chassis has worked loose or begun to crack.

What is checked on the stabilisers?

The stabiliser legs, their extension and deployment, the pads and feet, and the interlocks that stop the crane operating unless it is properly stabilised are all inspected, because on a loader crane stability is as safety-critical as the boom structure. We also look at the hydraulic supply to the legs and any levelling indication the operator relies on, and all findings are recorded in the documentation so nothing safety-critical is left to assumption. A stabiliser fault can be as dangerous as a structural one, since it undermines the base the whole lift depends on.

What happens if the inspection finds a problem with the sub-frame or mounting?

It is documented and rated by severity like any other defect. The sub-frame and mounting bolts are a known fatigue point on hard-worked loader cranes, so if we find cracking, movement or loose fasteners we set out clearly what needs rectification before further use and what can be planned into maintenance. Where structural repair is needed we can arrange it and re-check the unit so it returns to service in a certified condition.

Can you inspect our loader cranes where they are based?

Yes. EWP Australia operates Australia-wide as a mobile field service, so inspections are carried out at your yard or wherever the vehicle is based rather than requiring the truck off the road to reach a depot. That keeps the vehicle available for work and lets us plan the inspection around your delivery schedule. To arrange one, call 0416 689 689, or email info@ewpaustralia.com.au.

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