Crane trucks handle most residential lifts. 1 listed supplier is based in Sorell or service Tasmania.
What drives demand in Sorell
- Subdivisions
- Road works
- Community infrastructure
- Coastal residential
Sorell is a service point for residential, agricultural, road, tourism and coastal projects in south-east Tasmania. Suppliers servicing Sorell commonly also cover Midway Point, Dodges Ferry, Richmond, Hobart.
Site conditions in Sorell
Coastal town east of Hobart with residential growth. Allow for causeway traffic, rural access and additional mobilisation to Tasman Peninsula sites.
Wet, cold winters slow earthworks; specialist plant may need to cross Bass Strait, so book early.
Machines commonly hired in Sorell
| Class | Size / spec | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Crane truck (VLC) | 5–100 metre-tonne | Deliver and place materials, trusses, pods and small plant |
| Pick-and-carry (Franna) | 20–40 t | Moving loads around site, steel erection, shutdown work |
| City / compact slewing | 20–60 t | Tight urban lifts, roof plant, air-conditioning units |
| All-terrain slewing | 60–400 t + | Tilt panels, bridge beams, wind and energy components |
| Crawler crane | 50–750 t | Long-duration heavy lifts, piling support, major infrastructure |
Brief the supplier properly
Give the load, radius and height
Supply load weight including rigging, dimensions, the pick-up point, set-down point and the horizontal distance from where the crane can stand. Drawings help.
Prove the set-up area
Outriggers impose large point loads. Identify buried services, pits, basements, soft ground and slopes where the crane will set up, and ask about outrigger mats.
Plan around people and traffic
Road or footpath occupancy may need council permits, traffic controllers and after-hours scheduling. Allow lead time for approvals.
Agree the lift plan
Complex, tandem or near-capacity lifts need a documented lift plan. Confirm who prepares it and who supervises rigging.
For Sorell specifically, tell the supplier the exact site address so they can confirm the depot the machine will come from, the travel or float charge and any TAS permit needs.
Licences and rules in TAS
- Crane operators must hold the relevant High Risk Work Licence: CV (vehicle loading crane ≥10 metre-tonnes), CN (non-slewing mobile crane >3 t), C2/C6/C1/C0 (slewing mobile cranes by capacity).
- Dogging (DG) or rigging (RB, RI, RA) licences are required for slinging loads and directing the crane when the operator cannot see the load.
- Mobile cranes require an annual inspection and log book; ask for current inspection records for major lifts.
- WHS regulator for Sorell: WorkSafe Tasmania. Oversize transport: Oversize and overmass permits are issued through the NHVR, with Department of State Growth consent on state roads.
What drives the cost in Sorell
- Minimum hours (often 3–4 hours) and travel time from the depot
- Crew: dogger or rigger in addition to the operator
- Counterweight transport for larger slewing cranes
- Traffic control, permits and road occupancy fees
- After-hours, weekend and public-holiday rates
- Distance from the supplier’s depot to your Sorell site
See the plant hire cost guide for indicative 2026 rates.