What is a HDS crane? 

HDS crane

An HDS crane is a mobile crane mounted on a truck, between the load bed and the driver's cab. It is also installed on a trailer. It is also called a handling crane. It has a mechanical drive. It is designed for loading and unloading the vehicle. It can be moved from car to car.HDS is the abbreviation for the full name Hydraulic Truck Crane. 

Types of HDS cranes 

The breakdown of mobile cranes is as follows: 

  • general purpose cranes, 
  • timber handling cranes,
  • industrial cranes. 

Legal bases 

Pursuant to the Technical Supervision Act of 21 December 2000, supervision of HDS cranes that may pose a risk to human life or health and to property and the environment is carried out by the Office of Technical Supervision (UDT). 

The Office of Technical Inspection (UDT) is a national institution that has been operating for more than 100 years in the field of safety of technical devices, based, inter alia, on the Act of 21 December 2000 and other legal acts. On the territory of Poland there are more than 9 field branches of the UDT and more than 20 offices. 

In order to legally work with an HDS crane, the operator of this equipment must register it with the Technical Inspection Authority. He can use it provided he has a valid decision authorising its operation.  

Knee lever

HDS operator - Responsibilities 

Only an operator with a licence issued by the UDT may be allowed to operate the equipment. He is also obliged to ensure that regular inspections are carried out by a maintenance technician with a licence issued by the Office of Technical Inspection. He must also inform the UDT of accidents and dangerous damage that has occurred. He should not make any changes or modifications without the approval of the Technical Inspection Authority. Operating equipment without a decision from the UDT allowing legal operation will result in a fine or imprisonment.  

ERGON Repair has qualified specialists and technicians in the field of HDS crane modernisation and repair. Each of them is certified by the Office of Technical Inspection, enabling fully legal and professional service. All of them have undergone training, completed by an UDT board exam. 

Thorough maintenance of HDS cranes by ERGON technicians

Our specialists take great care in the inspection and repair procedures of all components of each piece of equipment, including the HDS crane. These include: 

Reinforcement pads
  • elbow lever, 
  • main boom, 
  • auxiliary boom (telescopic), 
  • telescopic boom actuators, 
  • hook, 
  • crane column, 
  • hydraulic cylinders, 
  • crane column rotation mechanism, 
  • control devices. 

The essential components of the crane column, main boom and auxiliary (telescopic) jib that ERGON technicians pay particular attention to are: 

Crane column Main boom Auxiliary boom (telescopic) 
the joint that connects the column to the main boom arm; reinforcing overlays; Teflon slides. 
plain bearing;   
rolling bearing;   

Our workshop also repairs hydraulic system components. These include: 

  • pump (multi-piston or gear pump), 
  • hydraulic motors, 
  • control and regulation devices, 
  • hoses (flexible and rigid) and fittings (couplings and connectors), 
  • hydraulic tank and filters, 
  • valves responsible for control and regulation.