Setting roof trusses on a new Albuquerque house
A truss package goes up fastest with a truck crane and a ready crew. The crane size depends on how far the farthest truss sits from where the truck can park, and the bill depends on how long the crew keeps it busy.
How much does it cost to crane trusses onto a house in Albuquerque?
On a published rate sheet, a 25-ton truck crane runs $190 an hour with a 4-hour minimum, plus a 10% fuel charge. A typical house package set in 5 hours comes to about $1,045. A larger home or a long reach over a garage may call for a 40-ton crane at $200 an hour.
- The farthest truss from the truck sizes the crane.
- Have the trusses dropped where the crane can reach them without moving.
- Keep the framing crew ready so the crane clock is not running while they wait.
- Spring wind makes long, flat truss bundles hard to control, so plan morning sets.
Where the trusses go up
The Albuquerque metro authorized 2,830 new homes in 2025 and 2,575 in the first nine months of 2026, about 13.5% ahead of the same months a year earlier. Much of the single-family building sits on the West Side, in Rio Rancho and down the valley toward Los Lunas, on lots with open ground on at least one side.
That open ground helps. A truck crane that can park on firm dirt or a finished driveway next to the house reaches the far wall with less boom, which keeps the crane size down.
Sizing the crane for the package
- One-story house, simple gable. A 14.5 to 25-ton truck crane, set at the side of the house.
- Two-story house or a big garage. A 25 to 40-ton truck crane, since the far trusses sit higher and farther away.
- Girder trusses and long spans. Heavy single pieces can push the crane up a size. Send the truss layout so the operator sees the heaviest pick.
Many New Mexico houses have flat or low-slope roofs with parapets, framed with long, nearly flat trusses. They are light but long, so a gust on a bundle matters more than the weight.
Staging the delivery
The crane bills from the time it leaves the yard. The biggest savings come from a ready site:
- Drop zone. Have the truss company set the bundles inside the crane’s reach, on blocks, in the order they go up.
- Crew ready. Walls braced, layout marked and the framers on site before the crane arrives.
- Licensed operator. New Mexico requires its own crane operator license, so confirm it when you book.
Sample bills
| House | Machine | Rough bill with 10% fuel |
|---|---|---|
| One-story, simple roof | 14.5-ton truck crane, 4 hours | $792 |
| Typical two-story package | 25-ton truck crane, 5 hours | $1,045 |
| Large home with girders | 40-ton truck crane, 6 hours | $1,320 |
These come from the published rates. Drive time beyond the minimum and overtime are extra.
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Other questions
Do I need a crane for trusses on a one-story house?
Not always. Small packages on a single-story house can go up by hand or with a forklift. A crane saves time on larger packages, girder trusses and two-story houses, and it is safer for the crew.
Can the truss truck crane set them?
Some truss deliveries come on trucks with a small loader crane that can place bundles on the walls. Setting each truss in place usually needs a truck crane or a stinger with more reach.
How long does a truss set take?
For a typical house with the crew ready, a few hours. Complex roofs with hips, valleys and girders take longer. The minimum on the published sheet is 4 hours for a truck crane.
Where the Albuquerque numbers come from
- U.S. Census Bureau, building permits survey
- NWS Albuquerque, high wind climatology
- NM Regulation and Licensing Department, crane operator program
- Advanced Crane, published rate sheet
Have this lift priced by a New Mexico operator
A rough description is plenty.
Keep reading
-
Albuquerque truck crane and stinger ratesA posted rate sheet from 14.5 to 100 tons, the 4-hour minimum, the fuel surcharge and early-start overtime.
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Lifting a swamp cooler or rooftop unit in AlbuquerqueCraning an evaporative cooler or rooftop HVAC unit in Albuquerque: stinger or truck crane, the barricade permit, spring wind, power lines and posted rates.
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Taking down a big cottonwood in Albuquerque with a craneCrane-assisted tree removal in Albuquerque: the City Forester rule for street trees, block walls and alleys, power line distance, wind and posted rates.