Crane Trucks & HIAB Vehicles Insurance

Crane trucks and HIAB (Hydraulic Individually Articulated Boom) vehicles are a fascinating and complex insurance risk. They combine the exposures of a heavy motor vehicle with those of a mobile lifting machine — and require both types of cover to be properly protected.

A modern HIAB loader crane on a 26-tonne rigid truck represents a total asset value of $250,000–$400,000. The HIAB unit itself may be worth $80,000–$150,000 of that total. Both the vehicle and the crane need to be specifically insured, and the insurance must respond to lifting operations as well as road use.

Lifting operations liability

When a HIAB picks up a load and swings it — whether that's a pallet of building materials, a piece of machinery, or a prefabricated building component — any failure of the crane, the rigging, or operator judgment can result in the load falling. If that load falls on a person, a vehicle, or a building, the liability can be severe.

Lifting operations liability is a specific insurance cover that addresses the legal liability arising from crane and HIAB operations. It is separate from your vehicle's public liability section, which typically covers vehicle-related incidents rather than lifting operations. A specialist broker will structure both covers — vehicle PL and lifting operations liability — to ensure there are no gaps.

Power line contact

Power line contact is a significant risk for HIAB operators working in urban environments. A crane boom touching an overhead line can cause electrocution, fire, and power outages affecting entire suburbs. Lines companies have the right to recover restoration costs, which can run to $100,000+. Your policy needs to specifically cover power line contact events, including third-party liability for the downstream consequences.

Operator certification

WorkSafe NZ has specific requirements for crane operators. Higher-capacity cranes require operators to hold appropriate certification under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. An uncertified operator using a certified crane is a compliance breach that may void your insurance cover at claim time. Verify your operators' certifications are current.