8705.10.00 - Mobile cranes

HTS code 8705.10.00 encompasses mobile cranes, a category dedicated to self-propelled vehicles specifically designed for lifting and moving heavy loads using a crane apparatus. These vehicles are distinguished by their primary function as lifting machinery, rather than for general transportation of persons or goods. Their construction typically includes a chassis, an engine, a rotating superstructure fitted with a boom or jib, and hoisting mechanisms.

Unlike sibling categories such as mobile drilling derricks (8705.20.00.00), which are equipped for borehole drilling, or fire fighting vehicles (8705.30.00.00) featuring specialized equipment for emergency response, mobile cranes are solely focused on lifting and manipulation. Similarly, concrete mixers (8705.40.00.00) are designed for transporting and mixing concrete, and the "other" category (8705.90.00) covers special purpose vehicles not falling into the more specific classifications within heading 8705.

Within the mobile cranes classification, further distinctions are made at the subcategory level. The subdivision into 8705.10.00.10 (Cable operated) and 8705.10.00.50 (Other) addresses variations in the method of operation for the crane's lifting mechanism. Cable-operated cranes utilize a system of pulleys and cables for hoisting, while the "other" subcategory would encompass cranes employing different technologies, such as hydraulic or mechanical systems, to perform their lifting functions.