Why Picker/Boom Trucks Are a Smarter Choice for Material Handling

When jobsites need materials moved quickly, safely, and without the cost and delay of mobilizing large equipment, picker trucks—also called boom trucks or crane trucks—are hard to beat. These road-legal, truck-mounted cranes combine lifting power with on-highway mobility, turning complicated multi-step lifts into fast, single-visit tasks. From urban infill projects and utility maintenance to energy, marine, and industrial turnarounds, picker trucks deliver the sweet spot of capacity, reach, speed, and cost control.

Hercules Crane & Lifting Supplies supports these needs across Canada with in-house crane divisions embedded within our branches coast to coast. And when projects call for specialized hoisting solutions or turnkey execution, our sister company, Atlantic Crane, extends your options with deeper project expertise and additional equipment.

What Exactly Is a Picker Truck?

A picker truck is a highway truck chassis fitted with a hydraulically operated crane—often a telescopic or knuckle-boom—mounted behind the cab or at the rear. Because the crane travels with the truck, it drives to site, sets stabilizers, completes the lift, and moves on. That agility is why picker trucks shine on multi-stop routes, tight urban sites, and maintenance work that can’t justify a full-size mobile crane or a separate delivery plus crane rental.

Common applications

• Placing rooftop HVAC, generators, and telecom equipment

• Setting light standards, signs, and traffic structures

• Delivering & spotting construction materials (rebar bundles, formwork, pallets)

• Utility work (poles, transformers, crossarms)

• Oil & gas, mining, and marine logistics where access changes day-to-day

8 Practical Benefits of Picker Trucks

1. One trip, fewer vendors
   The same vehicle that transports your load can lift and precisely place it, cutting coordination time and eliminating second mobilizations.

2. Faster job cadence
   Minimal setup and road-to-road capability lets crews complete multiple lifts across different sites in a single shift, reducing idle time and traffic control windows.

3. Urban and tight-access experts
   Compact footprints and outriggers that can be short-spanned allow safe work in laneways and congested downtown streets where larger cranes simply can’t stage.

4. Cost efficiency
   Lower hourly rates than large mobile cranes, reduced permitting, and shorter closures translate into compelling total installed cost—especially for repetitive or smaller lifts.

5. Precision handling
   Modern knuckle-boom and telescopic systems offer fine control for delicate set-downs, ideal for glass, cladding, and MEP equipment.

6. Safety and compliance baked in
   When operated to the Canadian CSA Z150 Safety Code on Mobile Cranes, picker trucks deliver standardized inspection, operation, and maintenance practices that reduce risk. ANSI Webstore

7. Fleet flexibility
   Capacities, jib options, winches, man-baskets, and radio remote controls let you configure for the task—without over-craning.

8. All-season reliability
   Canadian-spec hydraulics, load-moment indicators, and cold-weather packages keep productivity up when the mercury drops.

Safety, Standards, and Canadian Context

Picker trucks are mobile cranes under Canadian standards and must follow CSA Z150 for design, inspection, and operation. This standard is the national baseline used across provinces and territories and is routinely referenced in welding/repair and inspection guidance. Source: ANSI WebstoreCWB Group

Provincial regulators continue to sharpen crane rules. In Ontario, updated technical guidelines require rigorous operator logs, inspections, and documentation under O. Reg. 213/91. In B.C., WorkSafeBC has flagged an uptick in crane incidents alongside the growth in complex, multi-employer worksites—prompting additional safety focus and regulatory change. These developments underscore why partnering with a compliant, well-maintained picker fleet (and trained operators) matters. 
Source: OntarioAWCBCCityNews Vancouver

Industry Facts & Stats

• Mobile cranes are a major slice of Canada’s crane market. Analyst data projects Canada’s mobile crane market to reach ~3,122 units by 2027, with mobile cranes comprising nearly half of total crane demand.
  Source: Arizton Advisory & Intelligence

• Infrastructure is a powerful demand driver. Canada’s Top 100 public infrastructure projects now represent over C$300 billion in total value, with transit leading investment—sustaining ongoing lifting needs nationwide. Source: bennettjones.com

• Federal spending supports the pipeline. The 2024 federal budget framework anticipates C$57.3 billion for infrastructure support from 2023–24 to 2028–29, while the Canada Infrastructure Bank is projected to disburse C$14.9 billion by 2027–28 (CIB total disbursement rising to C$20.7 billion by 2029–30).   
  Source PDF: acec.caParliamentary Budget Officer

• Major projects are active across provinces. Natural Resources Canada lists hundreds of large energy and resource projects; for example, B.C. alone shows 132 projects (2024–2034) valued at ~C$254.6 billion, reflecting strong demand for mobile lifting and logistics.
  Source: Natural Resources Canada

• Transport and transit megaprojects increase pick-and-place work. The federal commitment of C$3.9 billion over six years for planning and early works on a Quebec City–Toronto high-speed rail line (Alto) will generate extensive material handling and construction logistics along the corridor.
  Source: AP News

• Safety expectations are rising. Ontario’s crane-related rules were tightened, and B.C. has highlighted increasing crane incidents as crane counts grow—amplifying the value of operators trained to CSA Z150 and robust inspection regimes. Source: ihsa.caOntarioAWCBC

• National industry representation. The Canadian Crane Rental Association (CCRA) coordinates owners, renters, manufacturers, and suppliers to elevate best practices across the sector.
  Source: ccra-aclg.ca

Where Picker Trucks Outperform

1) Multi-stop construction logistics
A picker truck can deliver rebar, forms, or modular MEP racks and immediately fly them into place—finishing in hours what might otherwise require a delivery crew and a separate crane booking.

2) Utilities & telecom
Pole sets, transformer swaps, and rooftop telecom upgrades benefit from short setup times, precise placement, and fewer road occupancy hours.

3) Industrial maintenance & turnarounds
During shutdowns, speed is everything. Picker trucks trim critical path time by moving small and mid-size components between shops and units without waiting for larger crane windows.

4) Marine and coastal work
Canadian ports and harbours rely on picker trucks for gangway placement, nets, gear, and dockside spools—especially where access changes with tides and vessel schedules.

5) Remote and resource projects
In oil & gas, mining, and renewables, site roads often accommodate truck access; picker trucks bring nimble lifting power without mobilizing crawler or rough-terrain cranes unless needed.

Compliance & Best Practices (Quick Checklist)

• Specify the lift with load weight, radius, height, rigging, and ground conditions—confirm against the truck’s load chart and CSA Z150 criteria. ANSI Webstore

• Verify operator credentials and daily/periodic inspection records (log book, manuals, annual certifications) per provincial guidance. 

• Manage traffic and utility clearances (especially powerlines) and plan outrigger pads for bearing pressure.

• Use certified rigging and slinging methods; conduct a toolbox talk covering load path, pinch points, and communication.

• Keep weather thresholds (wind, icing) conservative, especially for long-reach knuckle-booms.

Why Work With Hercules Crane & Lifting Supplies (and Atlantic Crane)

Nationwide reach, local response. Hercules has crane divisions embedded within the majority of our branches across the country, giving you access to rapid repairs, certified crane technicians, rigging, rigging accessories and training wherever you build. We pair equipment with engineered lift planning, load charts, and CSA-aligned inspection records—so your job stands up to scrutiny and stays on schedule.

Sister company strength. For larger or specialized hoisting programs, Atlantic Crane brings additional fleet depth and project management, from route surveys and traffic management to multi-crane coordination. Together, we scale from “one-truck, one-hour” picks to complex, multi-lift operations.

One call, complete solution. Beyond the crane, you get Hercules’ full catalogue of slings, below-the-hook devices, and on-site inspection, plus training and compliance support aligned to CSA Z150 and provincial requirements. 

The Bottom Line

If you want more lifts per day, fewer moving parts, and lower total installed cost—without compromising safety—picker trucks are the most versatile choice for Canadian jobsites. Their mobility and precision make them ideal for the country’s growing portfolio of transit, energy, industrial, and urban projects. Backed by Hercules’ national crane divisions and the added horsepower of Atlantic Crane, your material handling program gets faster, safer, and easier to manage.

Ready to put picker trucks to work on your next project?
Get in touch with your nearest Hercules Crane & Lifting Supplies branch to schedule a site review and quote today. We’ll help you right-size the crane, rigging, and plan—so your lift lands exactly where (and when) you need it.