For operations like residential builds, equipment transport, or lifting heavy materials into tight or elevated spaces, hiab or flatbed crane trucks are two of the most sought-after options in Australia.

But while both vehicles are designed for lifting and hauling, they serve very different purposes and choosing the wrong one can lead to costly delays, site limitations, or safety issues.

In this guide, our experts at Ultimate Crane Trucks will walk you through the key differences, ideal use cases, and cost considerations to help you confidently choose the right crane truck for your next project.

What Is a Hiab Crane Truck?

The name “Hiab” is actually a brand, short for Hydrauliska Industri AB, a Swedish manufacturer that pioneered the first truck-mounted loader cranes in the mid-20th century. Over time, the term “Hiab” has become a generic shorthand in Australia’s transport and construction industries for any truck with a mounted knuckle boom crane.

Unlike flatbed crane trucks, which often require separate machinery or additional lifting steps on-site, Hiabs are built for self-loading and unloading. They already come equipped with a mounted articulated (knuckle boom) crane, designed to both lift and transport loads using a single integrated system.

The crane is usually mounted just behind the truck cab or at the rear of the chassis, giving operators precise control over the placement of cargo, whether that’s steel beams, timber packs, spa units, construction materials, or palletised freight.

Key features of hiab crane trucks

Knuckle Boom Design: The Hiab’s boom consists of two or more articulating sections, which fold in and out like a finger joint. This allows it to operate in tighter spaces, with exceptional maneuverability for angled or overhead lifts.
Remote-Controlled Operation: Most modern Hiabs include wireless or wired remote systems, allowing the operator to control the crane while maintaining visual contact with the load, boosting both accuracy and safety.
Outriggers for Stability: Hiab trucks deploy hydraulic outriggers during lifting to stabilise the vehicle and safely support the crane’s reach and load.
Compact Setup: When stowed, the Hiab boom folds down compactly onto the vehicle, minimising travel height and making it suitable for standard road travel without additional escort vehicles or route restrictions.

Where are hiab crane trucks typically used?

Hiab crane trucks are particularly effective in projects where space is limited, loading/unloading must be done quickly, or where materials need to be delivered and installed in one visit. You’ll frequently see them used for:

Delivering and positioning building materials in dense urban areas
Installing signage, fencing, and light poles
Transporting and unloading landscape supplies like boulders or trees
Handling HVAC units, hot tubs, or water tanks for residential properties
Loading/unloading equipment in commercial and industrial zones with tight site access
Last-mile logistics and city-based civil projects where using separate mobile cranes and freight vehicles can be too costly or complex

What Is a Flatbed Crane Truck?

A flatbed crane truck is a heavy-duty vehicle that combines a flatbed tray with a mounted crane, usually a telescopic boom or knuckle boom, to transport and lift large, heavy, or oversized loads.

These are built for maximum load capacity and versatility, especially over longer distances or across industrial sites. The flatbed body allows for a wide, stable platform ideal for carrying irregularly shaped machinery, oversized building materials, steel lengths, containers, or multiple pallets at once.

The crane component, which is mounted behind the cab or sometimes at the rear, adds lifting functionality that eliminates the need for on-site forklifts or separate mobile cranes.

Key features of flatbed crane trucks

Full-Length Flat Deck: The open, horizontal tray design maximises usable space, making flatbeds ideal for transporting long items like scaffolding, timber beams, piping, or prefabricated structures.
Flexible Crane Mounting: Flatbeds can be fitted with either a telescopic boom (for long, straight reach) or a knuckle boom (for more compact and articulated lifting), allowing adaptability across many project types.
Heavy Load Ratings: These trucks typically support high gross vehicle mass (GVM) and payload capacity, making them better suited for infrastructure and commercial construction work.
Lashing & Load Security Options: The flat surface is ideal for multiple tiedown points, chocks, and bolted equipment. This provides flexibility in securing various load types to meet Chain of Responsibility (CoR) and Load Restraint Guide standards in Australia.

Typical use cases

Flatbed crane trucks are ideal for projects where transport volume and load weight take priority over fine placement. You’ll often find them in:

Large-scale commercial or civil construction (e.g. bridge beams, site sheds, rebar cages)
Plant and equipment relocation, including generators, skid-steers, or modular infrastructure
Infrastructure delivery (e.g. precast concrete, cable drums, large signage)
Bulk pallet or material transport where the crane is needed only at one or both ends

Performance Comparison: Which Crane Truck Performs Best in Key Areas?

Below, we break down how these two options compare across the most critical operational factors.

1. Lifting capacity and reach

Crane truck lifting capacity is dictated by the type and model of crane mounted on the vehicle. This includes its configuration, boom length, and hydraulic system.

Hiab crane trucks, which typically use articulated (knuckle boom) cranes, can offer substantial lifting power. Some models like the Hiab X-HiPro 1058 can lift up to 20 tonnes at short radius. However, their capacity usually tapers off significantly at extended reach, as is the case with any articulated system.

Flatbed crane trucks, on the other hand, often use either telescopic or heavy-duty knuckle boom cranes. The larger chassis of these vehicles accommodates higher-capacity lifting systems. Consequently, they are better suited for transporting and hoisting longer, heavier, or oversized items, especially when a longer radius lift is necessary.

2. Site accessibility and manoeuvrability

Hiab trucks are generally more compact than flatbed crane trucks due to their integrated lifting system and shorter overall length. Many Hiab configurations are mounted on smaller 6-wheeler and 8-wheeler chassis. Their knuckle boom cranes can also fold neatly, making them ideal for tight residential or urban spaces.

Flatbed crane trucks are often mounted on larger, rigid, or combination vehicles with extended beds, making them less suitable for narrow or congested sites.

3. Setup time and operational efficiency

Hiabs typically offer faster setup and breakdown times on multi-site jobs or when smaller, repeated lifts are needed. Most modern Hiabs are equipped with stabilisers that deploy quickly, and remote-controlled operation allows a single operator to control everything efficiently.

Flatbed crane trucks may require additional setup time when lifting heavier loads if larger stabiliser spreads or load assessments are needed on-site. However, for projects involving bulk deliveries or fewer, heavier lifts, they can be more time-efficient overall by reducing the number of trips.

4. Cost considerations

The costs of working with these crane trucks depend on:

Crane capacity
Truck size (GVM)
Operator licensing and experience
Duration of hire
Distance and site conditions

However, mainly, cost-effectiveness depends on the task size and duration.

Hiab crane truck hire is often more cost-effective for shorter jobs, lighter loads, or multiple quick drops. This is particularly true when only one vehicle is needed for both lifting and transport. Their compact size also tends to reduce fuel usage and traffic permit requirements, particularly in metro areas.

Flatbed crane trucks may have higher hire rates due to their size and capacity. However, they offer better value for large, heavy, or multi-item deliveries, when fewer trips are needed to complete the job. In many infrastructure or civil works projects, a flatbed may cut labour costs. This is achieved by consolidating transport and lift into one movement.

5. Maintenance and reliability

Hiab trucks, due to their compact design and articulated boom mechanics, generally require more frequent servicing of moving joints, pivot points, and hydraulics. Especially when used in stop-start or high-frequency operations. Regular lubrication, boom inspections, and control system checks are also vital to avoid downtime.

Flatbed crane trucks are robust but also demand careful attention. Larger cranes and higher load cycles could accelerate wear on stabilisers, crane rams, and chassis mounts.

Their larger components may lead to longer service intervals but also higher part replacement costs.

Regardless of the type, both vehicles must comply with the Australian Standard AS 2550.11 (Cranes, Hoists and Winches – Safe Use – Vehicle Loading Cranes) and undergo scheduled inspections under NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Need the Right Crane Truck for the Job? Let’s Make It Simple.

If you’re weighing up a Hiab versus a flatbed crane truck, the right choice often comes down to how much precision your lift needs versus how much volume you’re moving. Hiabs shine when space is tight and timing matters. Flatbeds dominate when you need to shift large or heavy loads in fewer trips.

But here’s the reality: many projects don’t fall neatly into one category. That’s where expert planning comes in.

At Ultimate Crane Trucks, we help you assess your site, load type, and lifting plan to ensure you’re using the most cost-effective and compliant setup possible.

Talk to us today about your project requirements, and let’s simplify your next lift.

Choosing Crane Truck For Your Project: Hiab or Flatbed?