FREE TEMPLATE — BS 7121-4 & ALLMI ALIGNED
Lorry Loader Lift Plan Template (HIAB / Loader Crane)
A universal lorry loader lift plan template that scales from Basic through Intermediate to Complex lifts. Written by a CPCS Appointed Person with 35+ years of construction experience and graded against a 17-point lift plan review covering BS 7121-1, BS 7121-4, LOLER 1998, ALLMI and CDM 2015. Download, customise, and use on your projects — completely free.
Why Use This Template?
Most lorry loader lift plan templates floating around the industry are repurposed mobile crane plans with the word "HIAB" pasted into the equipment section. They miss the parts that matter for a lorry-mounted loader crane: stabiliser reaction and pad calculations against actual ground bearing data, ALLMI Lift Plan Calculator integration, lorry-loader- specific hazards (truck overturn, jib stowage, kerbside delivery), and BS 7121-4 — the standard that actually applies. This template has been written from a clean sheet against those requirements and graded against a 17-point review. For the full background on when a plan is required and how lorry loader operations are planned, see our complete guide to lorry loader lift plans.
Universal — Basic / Intermediate / Complex
One template that scales. Categorise the lift under BS 7121-1 Section 6, then complete only the sections that apply — every section is either filled in or explicitly marked "N/A — reason". No deletion of structure, no missed review points.
Built to BS 7121-4 & ALLMI
Every section is tagged with its P01–P17 review point (Scope, Categorisation, Lifting Appliance, Lifting Accessories, Duties & Capacities, Load Details, Utilisation, Personnel, Site Preparation, Stabiliser Loading, Environment, Hazards, Risk Assessment, Attachments, Communication, HS&W Standards). Integrates directly with the free ALLMI Lift Plan Calculator.
Pre-Populated Risk Register
Section 14 ships with 12 pre-populated lorry-loader hazards and a baseline set of controls, scored against a Tier-1-standard 5×5 risk matrix with initial and residual risk ratings. AMBER / RED residual risk triggers senior sign-off automatically.
WHAT'S IN THE TEMPLATE
17-Section Lorry Loader Lift Plan
A comprehensive 17-section lift plan template covering every aspect of lorry loader (HIAB / Palfinger / Fassi / Atlas / PM) lifting operations. Designed against BS 7121-1 Section 6, BS 7121-4:2010+A1:2013, LOLER 1998, PUWER 1998, CDM 2015, the ALLMI Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lorry Loaders, and HSE GS6 for overhead lines.
Download Lift Plan Template (.docx)17-Section Structure (P01–P17):
Cover, Revision History & How-to-Use
Document control table, Standing Rules, revision history, authoring workflow and template conventions. AP details captured at review stage.
Section 1 — Scope of Work (P01)
Description of works, location on site, methodology summary and sequence of lifts. Anchors the rest of the plan.
Section 2 — Lift Categorisation (P02)
Basic / Intermediate / Complex categorisation under BS 7121-1 Section 6 and BS 7121-4. Justification + reference required — no unticked boxes.
Sections 3–5 — Loader, Appliance & Accessories (P03–P05)
Make / model / serial of the lorry loader, condition and safety system check (overload protection, stability monitoring, jib stowage), and a full lifting accessories register with sling angles ≤ 30° and BS EN 818-4 mode factors.
Section 6 — Duties & Capacities (P06)
Worst-case capacity at radius for each lift. Built to integrate with the free ALLMI Lift Plan Calculator (.xlsm), or run manually with chart-lookup working shown.
Section 7 — Load Details (P07)
Load weights with mandatory source (manufacturer data sheet, weighbridge ticket, or calculation with working). Stated weight without source = automatic rejection at review.
Section 8 — Utilisation Check (P08)
Utilisation % against an explicit threshold — 90% default, 80% Tier-1 framework standard, 50% for complex / lifting persons / unstable loads. Critical checks for rigging weight and worst-case radius.
Sections 9–10 — Personnel & Site Prep (P09–P10)
AP details (CPCS A61 / ALLMI), Lift Supervisor, Slinger-Signaller, Operator card type. Site preparation, access, exclusion zones and pre-lift walk.
Section 11 — Stabiliser Loading & Ground Conditions (P11)
Worst-case stabiliser reaction, pad area, point load vs. allowable ground bearing pressure. Spreader pad / mat specification by dimension and material — not "adequate pads".
Sections 12–13 — Environment & Proximity Hazards (P12–P13)
Weather and wind speed limits, overhead lines (GS6), buried services, proximity to excavations, traffic management, kerbside delivery, public interface.
Section 14 — Risk Assessment (P14)
5×5 risk matrix (Tier-1 contractor standard) with 12 pre-populated lorry-loader hazards: truck overturn, stabiliser failure, jib stowage, sling failure, dropped load, snag on overhead lines, public interface, kerbside operation, and more. Initial + residual scoring, senior sign-off triggered by AMBER / RED.
Section 15 — Attachments (P15)
Tick-list of supporting documents — load chart, data sheet, site drawing, exclusion zone drawing, ALLMI calculator PDF output, GS6 calc, permit pack, hand signals chart.
Sections 16–17 — Communication & HS&W (P16–P17)
Communication method, BS 7121 hand signals, and a confirmation tick-list against LOLER, PUWER, BS 7121-1 & -4, CDM 2015, HSWA 1974, the ALLMI Code of Practice, GS6, and the PC's site-specific lift plan.
Pre-Lift Internal Check & Sign-off
Principal Contractor on-day verification block (LOLER certs, accessory certs, operative cards verified on the day) plus AP sign-off block. Standing Rules built in.
12 Pre-Populated Hazards — review and adapt:
Stability & Set-Up
Lorry overturn during deployment, stabiliser sinkage / pad failure, jib stowage incidents during travel mode, set-up on uneven or soft ground.
Load & Rigging
Dropped load, sling / chain / shackle failure, sling angle exceeding 30°, unsecured load on the bed during travel, load shift during slewing.
Proximity Hazards
Overhead power lines (GS6 exclusion zones), buried services, work adjacent to excavations, kerbside delivery with public footpath / carriageway interface.
Personnel & Communication
Operator visibility / blind lifts, miscommunication between operator and Slinger-Signaller, untrained banksman, exclusion zone breach by site personnel or members of the public.
Environmental & Equipment
Wind speed exceedance, overload alarm / capacity limiter interference, hydraulic failure / hose burst, defective or out-of-date LOLER certs not caught on-day.
RISK ASSESSMENT REGISTER
5×5 Matrix with Initial & Residual Scoring
Section 14 is a fully populated lorry-loader risk register using a Tier-1 standard 5×5 matrix (Severity × Likelihood). Each hazard is scored twice — once for initial risk (existing controls only) and once for residual risk (after additional controls). The residual score drives the sign-off requirement: any AMBER or RED residual rating triggers senior sign-off before the lift can proceed.
Action Levels (Residual)
ALLMI INTEGRATION
Designed to Run Alongside the ALLMI Lift Plan Calculator
The Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers (ALLMI) publishes a free Lift Plan Calculator (.xlsm) which is the industry standard tool for sizing a lorry loader lift against capacity at radius. Section 6 of this template is built around that calculator — run the calculator, attach the PDF output, and transcribe the worst-case figures into Section 6.2.
For lifts where the ALLMI calculator is not used, Section 6.3 captures the chart-lookup working manually — capacity figure, row / column reference, rigging weight, total suspended load, and utilisation percentage. Either way, the figures sit in one consistent format that a 17-point reviewer can audit in a single pass.
Standards & Guidance Referenced
BS 7121-1:2016
Safe Use of Cranes — Part 1: General
BS 7121-4:2010+A1:2013
Safe Use of Cranes — Part 4: Lorry Loaders
LOLER 1998
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
PUWER 1998
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
CDM 2015
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
HSWA 1974
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
ALLMI Code of Practice
Safe Use of Lorry Loaders
HSE GS6
Avoidance of Danger from Overhead Power Lines
BS EN 818-4
Short Link Chain for Lifting — Sling Mode Factors
Important Notice
This template is provided as a starting point for your lorry loader lifting operations documentation. It is your responsibility to review, adapt, and complete it for your specific project, vehicle, loader crane, load, site conditions and lifting operations. A competent Appointed Person must prepare or review the completed lift plan before operations commence — AP name, card type and registration number are required at review stage; AP signature, lifting appliance serial number, LOLER thorough examination certificates and named operative card numbers are on-day verifications by the Principal Contractor.
As per BS 7121-1:2016, BS 7121-4:2010+A1:2013, CDM 2015 and LOLER 1998, the user must ensure they properly risk assess and plan their own lifting operations to discharge their legal duties. No liability is accepted for incidents resulting from the use of this template.
Lorry Loader Lift Plan Template — FAQs
Do you need a lift plan for a lorry loader / HIAB?
Yes. Under LOLER 1998 every lifting operation must be planned by a competent person, and that includes routine lorry loader and HIAB deliveries. The level of detail should be proportionate to the risk, but a plan is required whenever the crane lifts and moves a load — including offloading materials to the ground.
Which standard applies to lorry loader lift plans?
BS 7121-4:2010+A1:2013 (Safe use of cranes — Part 4: Lorry loaders) sits alongside the general BS 7121-1:2016, LOLER 1998, PUWER 1998 and the ALLMI Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Lorry Loaders. This template is structured against all of them.
Is this lorry loader lift plan template really free?
Yes — the template is free to download and use on your projects in Microsoft Word (.docx) format, with a PDF preview also available. It is provided as a starting point; you must adapt and complete it for your specific vehicle, load, site and lifting operation.
Who can write or sign off a lorry loader lift plan?
The plan must be prepared or reviewed by a competent person — in practice a CPCS or ALLMI Appointed Person. The lorry loader operator typically holds CPCS A36 (or the ALLMI equivalent). AP name, card type and registration number are required at review stage, and operative card numbers are verified on the day by the Principal Contractor.
What is the difference between a Basic and a Complex lorry loader lift?
A Basic lift is low-risk and routine; a Complex lift involves higher-risk factors such as tandem lifts, lifts over the public highway, proximity to overhead lines, or loads close to the loader’s capacity. This universal template scales across Basic, Intermediate and Complex — you categorise the lift in Section 2 under BS 7121-1 Section 6 and complete the sections that apply.
Need a Professional Lorry Loader Lift Plan?
This template is great for straightforward Basic lifts. For Intermediate or Complex lifts — tandem loader lifts, kerbside deliveries near overhead lines, lifts over the public highway, or anything sitting close to the loader's capacity envelope — get a professional lift plan from a CPCS Appointed Person with 35 years of experience.
Fast turnaround. Tier 1 contractor approved. LOLER and BS 7121-4 compliant.