What Is a Boom Truck?
A boom truck is a crane mounted on a truck chassis. The arm that reaches out to make the lift is the boom, which is where the name comes from, and the deck behind the cab carries the material. One unit drives to site, sets up on its outriggers, and places the load without a separate delivery truck.
You’ll also hear it called a boom truck crane or a boom crane. It’s a different machine from a boom lift, which raises people to height instead of lifting materials.
Where a Boom Truck Earns Its Place on Site
If the lift is moderate and the site is tight, a boom truck is often the fastest and most economical way to get it done. A boom truck arrives with its own carrier and sets up fast, which keeps small lifts from turning into big jobs. Here is where we see them used most:
- Rooftop equipment sets, including HVAC units and exhaust fans
- Material placement: steel, trusses, pipe, precast, and building packages
- Utility and municipal work where access is limited
- Tanks, generators, signage, and light industrial lifts
- Short-duration jobs and one-off placements
- Delivering and setting material in a single trip
What Our Clients Say
At MR Crane Service, every project is a commitment fulfilled. Our clients trust us for our safety standards, on-time performance, and precision in every lift. Below are some experiences from companies that have worked with our team and seen firsthand the value of a reliable, professional crane service.
Types of Boom Trucks: Stiff Boom and Knuckle Boom
Most boom trucks fall into two styles. A stiff boom, also called a telescopic boom, extends in a straight line, which gives long, clean reach to a roof or across a site. A knuckle boom, also called a folding or articulating boom, bends in sections like an arm, which helps it place material in tight spots, over obstacles, and from a flatbed.
Which one fits depends on the lift. Tell us the load, the reach, and the access, and we’ll recommend the right unit.
Boom Truck vs Mobile Crane: How to Choose
Choose a boom truck when the load is moderate, the site is tight, and you want to deliver and place material with one unit. Choose a mobile crane when the load is heavier, the radius is longer, or the lift is higher than a boom truck can reach. Our mobile crane fleet runs from 30 to 220 tons, so there’s room to step up when the job demands it. Not sure which fits? Send us the load weight, radius, and height. We’ll tell you which unit makes sense, even when the answer is the bigger crane.
Associations and Industry Standards
We stay connected to the industry and hold ourselves to the standards that matter on real job sites.
What Affects Boom Truck Rental Cost?
Every job is different, so we quote each one. Four things move the price most: the size of the unit, how long you need it, where the job site is, and how complex the lift is. A certified operator is included on every rental. To quote your lift, we need:
- What you're lifting and how much it weighs
- How far the load travels (radius) and how high it goes
- The job site address and ground conditions
- Space for outriggers and truck access
- Overhead hazards such as power lines
- Your dates and how long you need the unit
Boom Truck Capacity: Units From 10 to 22 Tons
A boom truck’s rated capacity is only part of the picture. What it can lift at any moment depends on boom length and radius, so a unit lifts far less at full reach than close in. Here is our fleet at a glance:
- 10 tons, Sterling 10T: light commercial placement and tight sites
- 18 tons, National 18T and Elliott TM1881: mid-range work such as rooftop equipment and material packages
- 20 tons, Manitex T2085: a step up in capacity for heavier set work
- 22 tons, Manitex 22T: the top of our boom truck range
Closing line: Need a 30 or 40 ton unit? Our mobile crane fleet starts at 30 tons.
Service Support That Keeps Units on the Job
A boom truck that’s down is a crew standing around. MR Tech, our sister company, handles mobile heavy duty mechanical service, so inspections, repairs, and maintenance are done in house by people who know this fleet. That means fewer surprises and faster fixes when your schedule is tight.
Victoria Roots, Province-Wide Reach
MR Crane has served Victoria since 2006 and has grown into a team of 60+ across sales, dispatch, operations, safety, and field crews. When you call about a boom truck, you reach the people who plan and run the lifts.
Planned Lifts, Not Improvised Ones
Before a boom truck sets up, we look at ground conditions, overhead hazards, outrigger space, and the weight and radius of the load. Our operators work to WorkSafeBC and CSA requirements, and every lift is planned before the unit arrives.
Boom Truck Rental on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Sea to Sky, and the Okanagan
We rent boom trucks across British Columbia: Victoria, Langford, Nanaimo, and Courtenay on Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, and Langley in the Lower Mainland, Squamish and Whistler along the Sea to Sky corridor, and Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, and Kamloops in the Okanagan and BC Interior. Wherever the job site is, we send the right unit and a crew that knows the conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a boom truck?
A boom truck is a truck-mounted crane: a crane boom on a truck chassis, with a deck for hauling material. It lifts and places loads. That sets it apart from a boom lift, which raises people to height.
How much does it cost to rent a boom truck?
Pricing depends on the size of the unit, how long you need it, where the job site is, and how complex the lift is. Send us the details and we’ll come back with a clear quote.
How much can a boom truck lift?
MR Crane’s boom trucks range from 10 to 22 tons. What a unit can lift at any moment depends on boom length and radius, so the headline number and the real capacity at your reach are different. Send us the load weight, distance, and height and we’ll confirm the right unit.
What is the difference between a boom truck and a mobile crane?
A boom truck suits moderate loads, tight sites, short jobs, and work where you also need to deliver material. A mobile crane suits heavier loads, longer reach, and higher lifts. If you’re unsure, we’ll recommend the right one based on your lift.
What is the difference between a boom truck and a boom lift?
A boom truck is a crane that lifts and places materials. A boom lift is an aerial work platform that raises workers to height. If you need to set equipment or move material, you want a boom truck. If you need to get a person up to a ceiling or facade, you want a boom lift.
Does boom truck rental include an operator?
Yes. Every MR Crane rental includes a certified operator, and our team helps plan the lift before the unit arrives on site.
What is the difference between a stiff boom and a knuckle boom truck?
A stiff boom extends in a straight line for long, clean reach. A knuckle boom bends in sections, which helps with tight spots and placing material over obstacles. Tell us about the lift and we’ll recommend the better fit.
Where does MR Crane offer boom truck rental?
We serve Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Sea to Sky corridor including Squamish and Whistler, and the Okanagan, including Kelowna and Vernon.
Request a Boom Truck
Tell us the load, the lift height, and the job site. We’ll come back with the right unit and a clear quote.