The fastest way to get the right crane is to send the information the crane team needs to choose it, all at once. Without it, the team has to guess or ask several rounds of questions, and a wrong guess can mean a crane that cannot make the lift. Use this checklist to prepare your request before you ask for a quote.
About the load
- What the item is, and its weight from documents or the manufacturer.
- Its length, width and height, and where its lifting points are.
- Whether it is fragile, flexible or off-balance.
- How many lifts are needed, if there is more than one item.
About the lift
- Where the item is picked up: a truck bed, the ground or a building.
- Where it must be placed: a roof, a slab, a foundation, inside a compound.
- The horizontal distance from where the crane can stand to the pickup and set-down points.
- The height at which the load must land, and the height of anything the load must pass over.
About the site
- Access for the crane: road width, gate width, turning space and any height limits.
- The ground where the crane will set up: paved, compacted or soft, and anything buried beneath it.
- Overhead power lines, trees or structures near the lift area.
- Space to extend the outriggers fully.
Permissions and people
- Site permits or approvals required for the lift, and any road use or closure needed outside the site.
- Who on your side will supervise the lift, and whether riggers and a signaller are needed from the crane supplier.
Timing
The date, the start time and how long the lifts are expected to take, including time to rig each item. Mention any time restrictions on the site or road.
Documents that help
A site plan with the crane position marked, drawings of the item, and photos of the access road, the setup area and the set-down point. For the principles behind these questions, see the lift planning guide.