Sourcing truck loader cranes from China

Vehicle-mounted crane codes and zero duty

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8426 includes cranes designed for mounting on road vehicles. Hydraulic cranes designed to load and unload their vehicle fall under 8426 91 10 00; other cranes designed for road-vehicle mounting fall under 8426 91 90 00. The table separates hydraulic configurations sharing the same code.

Both vehicle-mounting lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff snapshot records no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Standard import VAT is 20%; see import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using the crane's operating purpose and mounting arrangement. A crane supplied for vehicle mounting needs a different classification assessment from a complete self-propelled crane. See the wider crane guide for other crane families.

Specify the crane and its truck installation

Specify folding or telescopic boom, loads at the required outreach, lifting height, stowed dimensions, crane mass, mounting position and stabiliser spread. Send the proposed truck chassis details and ask for mounting drawings, subframe details and hydraulic pressure and flow requirements. Agree who supplies the mounting kit and who checks the completed installation.

For supply in Great Britain, confirm the applicable machinery safety requirements, including any declaration of conformity, marking and English instructions, with the relevant authority. The responsible person must compile the technical file and make it available on request. Arrange UK installation and a competent examiner, and confirm whether equipment whose safety depends on installation needs thorough examination before first use.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative shipment of 4 hydraulic truck-mounted loader cranes under 8426 91 10 00, invoiced at £48,000 free on board, with £5,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £53,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £53,000, so it is £10,600. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Mounting: compare base, fixing positions, subframe drawings and stabiliser geometry with the approved truck installation; check for transport damage on arrival.

Hydraulics: operate boom extension, folding, slew and stabilisers; check hoses for rubbing, cylinders for leakage and connections against the agreed hydraulic specification.

Protection: witness agreed load tests and check overload protection, limit devices, emergency stops and load holding against the approved design.

Documents: match the serial identity, declaration, load chart and English manual to the delivered crane and its configuration. Record findings through quality inspection.

What goes wrong

Buying on maximum lifting capacity alone can leave the crane unable to handle the intended load at the required outreach. A mounting kit that does not match the chassis, inadequate stabiliser clearance or mismatched hydraulic supply can also make the proposed installation unsuitable.

Check for hose damage, leaking cylinders and paperwork covering a different boom configuration. Agree the mounting drawings, acceptance tests and document pack before production, and keep arrival checks separate from any thorough examination that the relevant authority confirms is needed for installation-dependent equipment.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.