P&L Machine Moving and Rigging: Precision in Motion

At the core of P&L Machine Moving and Rigging lies a commitment to precision, safety, and reliability. Founded in 1997 by late Phil Lucas, the company began as a small, family-run business rooted in a passion for machinery moving and rigging. Today, under the leadership of his son, Gareth Lucas, P&L has grown into one of South Africa’s most trusted names in the industry, operating from a 21,000m² facility in Benoni, Gauteng.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Gareth Lucas, Director of P&L Machine Moving and Rigging, to learn more about the company’s journey, its specialised services, and why Mercedes-Benz Trucks has become a key partner in their continued success.

“P&L was born from my father's deep knowledge in rigging and his dream to build something of his own," Gareth shares. “What started as a small family business has transformed into one of the leading machine moving and rigging companies in Southern Africa. We are constantly involved in numerous large projects across Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as our day to day, machine moving and abnormal transport. P&L is proud to be involved with local and international customers who rely on our vast understanding and expertise to do an astounding job time and time again.”

Mastering a Niche, Powering Key Industries

Machine moving and rigging is a highly specialised field—one that demands not only technical expertise but also meticulous planning, coordination, and the right equipment. P&L handles everything from abnormal load transport to complex rigging operations, often in high-stakes environments and under tight deadlines.

Their typical projects include the transportation of abnormal and specialised loads across various sectors, including mining, engineering, construction, industrial, energy, military and railway, as well as collaborating with numerous freight forwarding agents and shipping lines.

“This is a niche sector,” Gareth explains. “It requires a unique blend of skills, experience, and accuracy, all of which are essential for the success of the industries we focus on and specialise in. Our clients rely on us to safely and efficiently transport crucial, high-value machinery and equipment; and we take that responsibility very seriously.”

While P&L initially focused solely on machine moving and rigging, the company has since evolved into a turnkey solutions provider. Today, they manage the entire process in-house, from loading and transport to offloading and final positioning.

“We made the decision to insource road transport after being let down by external partners who didn’t deliver on time,” Gareth says. “Now, we control every step of the process, which means better reliability, faster turnaround times, and greater peace of mind for our clients.”

Why Mercedes-Benz Trucks?

As P&L’s operations expanded, so did the need for a fleet that could keep up with their high standards. Choosing Mercedes-Benz Trucks was a strategic decision, one that aligned with their values of performance, reliability, and innovation.

“Mercedes-Benz has a reputation for building trucks that go the distance,” Gareth says. “But what really stood out was the professional advice, from the first consultation to ongoing support. Their team took the time to understand our business and tailor solutions that keep our fleet running at peak performance.” One standout feature has been the intelligent maintenance system, which allows trucks to signal when they need servicing—rather than relying on fixed intervals. That makes a huge difference in uptime,” Gareth adds. “We’re not taking trucks off the road unnecessarily. We’re responding to real-time needs, which keeps our operations efficient and our clients happy.”

Whether navigating tight urban spaces or hauling oversized loads across long distances, the Mercedes-Benz fleet has proven to be a dependable partner in P&L’s mission to deliver excellence.

Moving More Than Machines

For Gareth and his team, machine moving is more than just logistics—it’s about building trust, solving complex challenges, and keeping industries moving.

“We’re not just moving equipment,” Gareth concludes. “We’re moving businesses forward—safely, efficiently, and with confidence.”

Thanks to their partnership with Mercedes-Benz Trucks, P&L Machine Moving and Rigging is well-positioned to continue leading the way in this demanding industry—one move at a time.