Boom trucks in Ontario

R 03 mWho may operate a boom truck here

On Ontario construction projects the certificate depends on what the crane or similar hoisting device is able to move. Section 150 draws two lines, at about 7,257 kg (16,000 lb as written) and about 13,608 kg (30,000 lb as written)¹.

The regulation says "mobile crane or similar hoisting device". IHSA describes a boom truck as a mobile crane on a strengthened commercial truck chassis, telescoping or articulating², so on a plain reading a truck able to move more than about 7,257 kg is covered. For a particular machine, ask the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Industrial establishments. Regulation 851 applies to all industrial establishments and is separate from the construction regulation. A lifting device, any device used to raise or lower material or an object, may be operated only by a competent person, or by a worker being instructed who is accompanied by one³. The sections we read set no operator certificate and do not use the term boom truck; whether the compulsory trade below applies off a construction project was not researched.

Training. Mobile Crane Operator 2, for hydraulic mobile cranes handling loads over 16,000 lb up to 30,000 lb, is a compulsory trade: 1,000 hours, 760 on the job and 240 in school, with a certificate that must be renewed⁴. See operator certification by province.

R 06 mStandards and inspection

Section 151(2) says a mobile crane's rated load-carrying capacity must be determined by the manufacturer or an engineer under CSA Z150-16 or, for articulating boom cranes, CSA Z150.3-17¹. CSA's 2026 edition, Z150:26⁵, is not Ontario law; the regulation still names the older texts.

• The crane log (s.152). The owner keeps a log of all inspections, tests, repairs and maintenance, and gives the operator at least the previous 12 months before use on a project. If the log is incomplete, the owner must inspect to CSA Z150-16 clause 5.3.5 first¹.
• The load chart (s.151(3)). Every crane needs a chart readable at the controls, or a model and serial plate that links to crane-specific charts¹.
• Outriggers (s.156). They must be extended to meet the chart, rest on blocking that carries the crane and maximum load without failure, deformation or settlement, and be set only after the operator has considered ground bearing pressure¹.
• Industrial establishments (Reg. 851 s.51). A competent person must examine a lifting device before first use and then at least once a year, or as often as the manufacturer recommends if that is more often, and a signed record is kept³.

The Ministry's guideline says to consult an engineer where excavated soil or voids are a concern⁶. We give no Reg. 213/91 inspection interval; ask for the log. See load charts and boom truck inspection.

R 09 mPower lines

Ontario writes the distances by voltage into section 188, and they apply to any object, not only the boom tip. No object may be brought closer than 3 m to an energized overhead conductor rated 750 V or more but not more than 150,000 V¹.

Our rows start at 750 V; for lower-voltage lines or a truck travelling under a line, call the utility.

Where a crane could encroach, the constructor must set written measures and procedures, including warning devices, written notice to the operator and a sign at the operator's station¹. A competent worker designated as signaller must stand in full view of the operator, with a clear view of the conductor, and warn each time the equipment or load may approach the minimum distance¹.

Industrial establishments. Reg. 851 s.60 keeps the same three distances for a vehicle, crane or similar equipment operated near a live line carrying more than 750 V: 3 m for 750 to 150,000 V, 4.5 m for 150,001 to 250,000 V and 6 m above that³. A worker must be stationed within the operator's view to warn when the equipment approaches the distance, and clearance allowed for boom angle changes and the swing of cable and load³. Work on transmission or outdoor distribution systems over 750 V follows the IHSA's Electrical Utility Safety Rules instead.

Get the voltage from the line's owner and tell the supplier. The power-line lookup returns the Ontario distance for a voltage; power lines and boom trucks compares provinces.

R 12 mDriving and carrier rules

The licence follows the truck, and Ontario writes it by weight. A Class D licence is required for a truck with a gross weight or registered gross weight over 11,000 kg, with a towed vehicle up to 4,600 kg⁷. Air brakes or air-over-hydraulic brakes also take a Z endorsement⁷. The class for a truck at or under 11,000 kg was not researched.

• CVOR. A commercial vehicle operator's registration is required for trucks with a registered gross weight or actual weight over 4,500 kg⁸.
• Annual safety inspection. Most trucks over 4,500 kg need one, valid 12 months, at a DriveON Vehicle Inspection Centre⁹; it inspects the vehicle, not the crane.
• Permits. An oversize or overweight permit is needed when vehicle and load exceed Highway Traffic Act limits; permits cover King's highways only¹⁰.
• Spring thaw. Reduced load restrictions are published live on Ontario 511¹¹.

CivilConstruction.ca explains how spring road bans work; other provinces are in the licence and NSC guide.

R 15 mPublished rental rates

The Ministry of Transportation publishes OPSS.PROV 127, a schedule of rental rates for construction equipment. The rates are hourly and cover ownership and operating costs, overhead and profit for time and material work. They exclude the operator¹²: bare (operator not included).

Edition. These are the April 2024 rows. A July 2026 edition is a consultation draft and is not in force; it lists the 7,000 kg truck at $131.60 an hour¹³. Check which edition your contract names.

Between listed sizes the schedule interpolates in a straight line, to the nearest five cents¹². Example, computed: a 15,000 kg unit halfway between the 11,000 kg line ($170.40) and the 19,000 kg line ($193.40) is $181.90 an hour¹².

Published rates are benchmarks for public works, not quotes. Ask whether a price is operated (operator included) or bare, the minimum charge and what is extra. Compare quotes with the rental rate converter; see boom truck rental rates.

R 18 mThe market here

Operating revenue of the machinery and equipment rental and leasing industry (NAICS 5324) in Ontario was $5,612.1 million in 2024¹⁴. Ontario is second to Alberta (35.3%), at 31.1% of the national total¹⁵. In June 2026 Ontario had 457 locations with employees in NAICS 532410¹⁶, out of 1,748 in Canada¹⁶: about 26.1% (computed). That code includes excavators and loaders.

Job Bank puts the median wage of boom truck crane operators in Ontario at $40.48 an hour, from $24.50 to $53.94¹⁷; the national median is $42.77¹⁷, a wage and not a billed rate.

R 21 mGST/HST on rentals and leases

Ontario charges 13% HST¹⁸. CRA treats renting or leasing a truck as a supply of tangible personal property¹⁹, so where the truck goes decides the rate. For three months or less, it is the province where the supplier delivers the truck¹⁹; for longer, where it is ordinarily located, or for a "specified motor vehicle" where it must be registered¹⁹.

Example. A bare truck rented for two weeks and delivered to Brampton carries 13% HST: $130 on a $1,000 invoice (computed). Delivered to Gatineau, the place of supply is Quebec, where the GST is 5%¹⁸; Quebec's own sales tax was not researched. Registrants recover GST/HST through input tax credits²⁰; see CCA and tax if you own the truck.

R 24 mRequesting a quote here

Request a quote; it only goes to a company with your consent. With your consent, your request goes to one company that rents, sells or finances boom trucks in your area. That company may pay BoomTrucks.ca for the referral. We do not rent, sell or lease equipment.

An Ontario request is easier to price with the load's weight plus rigging, the radius and height of the heaviest pick, and whether the hire is operated or bare. If bare, say whether your operator holds the certificate for a unit able to move more than about 7,257 kg¹. Add any overhead line and its voltage, the town and the dates.

Size the job first with the boom truck size estimator, then request a quote. Buying or leasing? See buying a boom truck and leasing one.