Any employee that uses hydraulic cranes on a regular basis needs hydraulic cranes education and training. This training teaches employees the proper use and care of the cranes. Well-informed employees cut repairs and downtime in half. Training employees how to work with a hydraulic crane can become quite expensive. Select the best training option for your company to lower training costs and provide you with a well-educated staff.

Hydraulic cranes education and training is available in three different forms. Simulators are available for companies that need to train a lot of employees on a regular basis. On-site training is good for companies that need to train a group of operators at one time. Seminars and workshops are perfect for companies that need to train one or two employees.

1. Purchase a training simulator for industrial hydraulic cranes.

2. Find on-site training for commercial hydraulic cranes.

3. Locate training seminars or workshops for mobile hydraulic cranes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Train your employees with an industrial hydraulic cranes simulator

Crane simulators are readily available to companies that want hands-on training for their employees. Simulators vary in style and can be purchased either as a small booth that looks and feels like the cab of a crane or as basic computer software controlled by a specialized joy stick. These simulators are the most expensive of the types of training, but they can be used by as many people as necessary for as long as the equipment lasts.

I recommend: Find simulators for hydraulic truck cranes at the North American Crane Bureau. Locate simulation hydraulic cranes for sale at CMLabs Simulations. Simlog sells computer software for a hydraulic truck cranes.

Locate instructor-led, on-site commercial hydraulic cranes training for your employees

This type of training is popular with companies who need to train many people at once. With this training, an instructor comes to your place of business and trains employees on your equipment. With this training you can train as many or as few employees at once.

I recommend: The Crane Inspection & Certification Bureau provides instructor-led training at your location or at their training facility. Visit H&E Equipment Services for information about their Certification of Crane Operators courses.

Attend training seminars or workshops about mobile hydraulic cranes

One and three-day training seminars teach the ins and outs of hydraulic crane operation. These training sessions are led by professionals from the industry and are normally held in a training facility. This training normally requires travel expenses and costs per employee attending.

I recommend: Crane Tech offers a variety of hydraulic crane jack seminars for employees to attend. They also offer certification prep courses. View the calendar hydraulic crane for construction training seminars provided by OVERTON Safety Training. Find a heavy-duty hydraulic crane training seminar at Morris Material Handling.

Hydraulic cranes are just one type of hydraulic equipment that uses fluid to provide pressure measured in pounds per square inch, or psi. All hydraulic equipment uses an incompressible fluid, such as oil, allowing for a great amount of pressure and a quick release of pressure when the equipment is turned off.

Hydraulic crane manufacturers offer heavy-duty and light equipment for all types of industries and for all kinds of tasks, from moving multiton bridge beams on highway job sites to lifting killer whales out of water tanks for relocation from one zoo to another. When shopping around for industrial hydraulic cranes, be sure to select the right hydraulic crane to perform the job required at the specifications you have determined. Consider the following:

1. Weigh the benefits of buying a new hydraulic crane.

2. Consider buying a used hydraulic crane.

3. Check out rental options for hydraulic cranes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase new hydraulic cranes

Over the years, the performance, sophistication and operating pressures of hydraulic cranes has steadily risen, causing older models to become obsolete or, at the very least, comparatively frustrating to use. Keep your equipment - and your business - popping on all cylinders by purchasing new hydraulic cranes from leading distributors.

I recommend: Air Technical Industries offers a wide range of hydraulic cranes to choose from, including floor cranes, truck-mounted cranes and more. Request a quote from the company or get a free catalog. For smaller hydraulic cranes, check out A-Z Factory Supply.

Buy a used hydraulic crane

Save money by considering used hydraulic cranes from trusted dealers or individuals. You can often find great deals on hardly used heavy equipment.

I recommend: Tanner Equipment Co. and Bigge Crane and Rigging Co. are good places to find a good deal on used hydraulic cranes for sale. The Crane Hot Line message board works in the reverse of most classifieds: you can post a message detailing what type of hydraulic crane you’re looking for, and those with a match will contact you.

Rent hydraulic cranes

If hydraulic crane prices just don't fit in the budget right now, explore the many rental options available. Renting is also a great way for your employees to try out a variety of equipment to see what they like before the company invests in a new hydraulic crane.

I recommend: AmQuip offers rentals on various heavy duty hydraulic crane types, including hydraulic truck cranes, mobile tower cranes, hi-rail cranes and hydraulic floor cranes. Check out Maxim Crane Works for even more rental options on commercial hydraulic cranes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure to stay on top of hydraulic crane maintenance and repair - it just might save you a ton of time and money down the line.

Only trained employees should operate hydraulic cranes, and a large part of that training should be safety training. Whether an employee works in the vicinity of a crane or sits behind the controls of the hydraulic crane on a daily basis, he should be trained in proper safety precautions.

Hydraulic cranes safety information can come in the form of training courses, certification programs or just refresher information you provide to employees on a regular basis. All of these safety measures can easily be found on the Internet. Find safety information to:

1. Keep hydraulic truck cranes safety in the minds of your employees with refreshers on safety regulations and information.

2. Provide a safety training background for employees who work in or around cranes.

3. Get your hydraulic crane workers certified as operators and trained in all aspects of operation and safety.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find hydraulic crane safety regulations and information online

Hydraulic crane manufacturers and suppliers are a great place to start when you're looking for hands-on training and safety regulation information to provide to operators and other employees. If you're unable to find safety information from your crane manufacturer, look to the Internet for a few other safety resources to get a better understanding of what training is required.

I recommend: Find specific crane operator requirements at Overton Safety Training. The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration provides specific guidelines to follow when it comes to safety regulations and training requirements.

Contract for heavy duty hydraulic crane training for your employees

All employees, whether on the ground, or at the helm of a hydraulic crane, should be trainined on proper safety procedures when it comes to cranes. Find online training, on-site training sessions or training straight from crane manufacturers themselves.

I recommend: The Crane Safety Institute provides training for operators and ground workers who deal with hydraulic cranes on a daily basis. If you are looking for hydraulic cranes for sale, make sure you have researched the training required before buying them. Associated Builders and Contractors outlines the specific training required and provides safety training and information.

Enroll your operators in commercial hydraulic cranes certification programs

Take your safety one step further and make sure your employees and crane operators are certified through safe operating courses. The government requires operators be certified in operations and safety of hydraulic cranes, but it doesn't hurt to get ground workers and others around cranes certified as well. They will have a lot more knowledge of operations and be able to avoid costly or dangerous safety issues.

I recommend: Hydraulic crane jack operators and other crane operators need certification. The North American Crane Bureau provides links to many certification opportunities. For additional certification resources see the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators.