Is There Such a Thing as a HIAB Licence? What Your Lorry Loader Operators Actually Need

“HIAB licence” is one of the most searched phrases in the lorry loader world, and it causes a lot of confusion. There is no government-issued HIAB licence, and no category on a driving licence that covers operating a crane. What your operators do need is recognised training and proof that they are competent. If something goes wrong on a lift, that proof is what you will need.

This guide explains where the phrase comes from, what the law actually expects, and how ALLMI training gives you the evidence you need.

Why There Is No “HIAB Licence”

HIAB is a manufacturer’s brand name that has become everyday shorthand for any lorry loader crane, in the same way people say “Hoover” for a vacuum cleaner. Even ALLMI, the industry body, uses the term on its operator training page because that is what people search for.

A driving licence allows your driver to drive the vehicle. It says nothing about whether they can operate the crane mounted on it. That competence has to be shown separately, through training and assessment.

What the Law Expects Instead

Health and safety law puts the responsibility on you as the employer. You must make sure the people operating lifting equipment are trained and competent, and that every lift is properly planned. The HSE’s guidance on planning lifting operations says each stage of a lift needs people with sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge of the work and the equipment. It also says supervision should be in proportion to the risk.

When this goes wrong, a lack of training is a common finding. National Grid was fined £334,000 in 2019 after a worker was killed while using a remote-controlled lorry loader crane. The HSE found he had not received adequate training on the crane or its remote control, and that the lift had not been properly planned or supervised.

ALLMI: The Industry’s Recognised Training Standard

ALLMI (the Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers) sets the training standard most of the industry works to. Its operator course has 15 modules and ends in written and practical assessments.

• Experienced operators complete a one-day course; novices need at least two days.
• Successful candidates receive an ALLMI identity card and certificate, and are registered on ALLMI’s operator database.
• The card states the categories of crane and attachment the operator is trained on.
• ALLMI operator training is recognised by Build UK and approved by CSCS, so it is accepted on construction sites.

Operator or Slinger/Signaller: Which Do Your People Need?

The operator controls the crane. The slinger/signaller attaches the load and directs the lift. On many deliveries, your driver does both jobs alone, so they need to be trained for both roles.

If you are not sure which course fits each of your drivers, look at what they actually do on a typical delivery. The answer is usually clear from that.

When ALLMI Cards Need Renewing

ALLMI cards and certificates are valid for five years. To renew, your operators take a one-day refresher course and assessments, in the fourth year of their card or sooner. It is easy for renewal dates to slip, especially across a large driver team.

Check the issue dates on your operators’ cards now. You can also check any card on ALLMI’s Verify a Card tool. Anyone in the fourth year of their card should be booked onto a refresher now, before it expires.

How Total Compliance Delivers ALLMI Training

• Training at your premises, using your own lorry and crane, so your operators are assessed on the equipment they use every day.
• Private courses for up to four candidates at your premises, anywhere in the UK, or a place on our open novice course in Milton Keynes if you only have one operator to train.
• Novice (two-day), experienced (one-day) and conversion courses for both operators and slinger/signallers.
• Courses can be registered as Driver CPC periodic training, so one course can count towards two qualifications.
• A free toolbox talk on the safe loading and use of lorry loaders, plus free reminders when cards are due for renewal.

See our ALLMI lorry loader training and ALLMI slinger signaller training pages for full course details, or see course dates and book online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a HIAB licence a legal requirement?

No. There is no legal licence called a HIAB licence. The legal requirement is that your operators are trained and competent, and that lifts are properly planned. ALLMI training is the recognised way to show that.

How long does an ALLMI card last?

Five years. Renewal is through a one-day refresher course and assessments, taken in the fourth year of the card or sooner.

Does ALLMI training count towards Driver CPC?

It can. Our ALLMI courses can be registered as Driver CPC periodic training, so one course counts towards both.

Can the training take place on our own vehicle?

Yes. Our instructors come to your site and train and assess your operators on your own lorry and crane.

Need to train or renew your lorry loader operators?