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A pick me up
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Page 48
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Truck-mounted cranes are growing in popularity, as hauliers discover addedvalue services can create new avenues of profitabity in today's competitive economic climate.
Words / Images: Dave Young Over the past few years, increasing numbers of UK commercial vehicles — from 3.5-44 tonnes — have been fitted with truck-mounted cranes (TMC).
Health and safety has provided a substantial impetus, in particular, tougher statutory accountability. Changes to corporate manslaughter legislation mean companies can now be found guilty for collective managerial failures in their duty of care to employees.
Customer service is another important imperative. Warehouses and construction sites no longer have large amounts of labour to 'handball' goods and many don't want to move materials more than once. Builders often not only want materials delivered but placed on to a particular part of the job.
Transport firms need faster turnaround times to keep the wheels of an expensive truck rolling and earning. Not knowing what facilities will be available at many drops makes it prudent to be as self-contained as possible.
Some customers will insist on a TMC and hauliers discover by offering this additional service they can add value and so charge enhanced rates for specialist deliveries, gaining a competitive advantage. Against such operational benefits are stacked significant disadvantages.
Technical: • The need to tit subframes and a higher-rated front axle and tyres.
• Greater complexity; hydraulics, electrics and their maintenance, and repair. (Initial capital outlay is spread if the device can be transferred from one chassis to another or if it supports residual value).
Operational:
• Loss of payload. Raised height creates the risk of bridge bashing, hitting overhead structures or electric cables.
The taw and training
Training in the correct and safe operation of equipment is essential and best viewed not as an extra revenue cost but as an investment in raising your company's skill profile and avoiding third-party liability.
Aside from being a legal requirement, insurers demand evidence of employee competence and accredited teaching. In the context of the new driver CPC, such courses can form part of the 35 hours' development training required. Currently, drivers with a 'crane ticket' are in demand and can command higher pay.
Employers are statutorily responsible for the health and safety of their workers. The FTA advises that although there's no requirement for operators of lorry mounted cranes to have a specific qualification, Health & Safety Executive note GS39 sets out the standards required. The USE also considers refresher courses and training on specific equipment types to be important.
The Construction Industry Training Board issues certificated 'cards' to operators who've been trained to its standards and these are widely recognised and accepted. In short, drivers must he trained on TMC. There are plenty of courses usually only a couple of days in duration available, from the CITB, LGV schools and crane manufacturers. Check on the net, where courses are advertised from as little as £235 plus VAT. There may also be Government funding available ask the trainer.
Buying which crane?
Exactly how long is that piece of string? Hiab is in the enviable position of being the generic name for truckmounted loaders; but there are many equally good makes, four from Italy.
Unless already experienced, buyers need expert advice with a lot of decisions: New or second-hand? Remote or truck-mounted controls? Weight, reach, lifting capacity? Answers may be obtained from dealers, manufacturers or specialist companies. Britcom International uses CAD design to engineer crane installations. MVA recently developed a new quick-transfer bolt-on (instead of welded) subframe.
Mounting cranes is not a task to be undertaken lightly mistakes can mean chassis cracking, overweight axles and unsafe operation.
Lifting capacities range from HMF's little 340, suitable for a 3.5 tonne chassis, to Fassi's huge F1500AXP28-150, requiring at least four axles.
Increasingly, crane manufacturers' emphasis is on faster working systems and dampening devices to cut down bounce when lifting.
Many cranes can be specified with winches and there are a variety of lift types: Tfor hoisting cars, L for brick and block, grapples for spoil, recycling or scrap and the ubiquitous hook.
Other design variations include whole ranges for forestry and timber, and recycling cranes specifically for heavy-duty operation in tight access situations.
Opinions on control types vary; crane seats (heated squabs can be specified!) give a panoramic view, raised platforms enhanced employee protection. Long established machinery mover Hallet Silberman which uses Fassi specifies only remote radio control units for line of sight and safety reasons.
If specified at the ordering stage of a truck chassis, some manufacturers e.g. Volvo install a crane preparation kit with PTO and electric fittings on the factory line. •