Mobile cranes education and training is important for anyone working with or near a mobile crane. Mobile cranes come in a variety of sizes and styles and are very heavy pieces of equipment. They create a safety hazard if not operated correctly.

Mobile crane education and training is essential for transporting and operating a mobile crane. One must safely maneuver mobile cranes from one job site to another. Servicing mobile cranes for sale also requires a good education. In addition, those working around the mobile crane must take caution and understand the crane’s movements. When thinking about gaining mobile crane education and training for your employees, consider the following options:

1. Training courses offer information from a certified mobile crane instructor.

2. Seminars offer mobile crane education in a shorter time period than courses.

3. Videos allow mobile crane operators to view safety precautions and the movement of the mobile crane.

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

Enroll in a mobile crane training program course

Training courses are the most intensive way to gain mobile crane education and training. Experienced portable mobile crane operators teach courses. Most allow supervised hands-on learning opportunities for students. Courses relay information on several different types of mobile cranes and mobile cranes usages.

I recommend: Crane Tech offers mobile crane programs for those wishing to learn more about the operation of mobile cranes and mobile crane safety measures. Mobile Crane Training also offers a program on crane training including the operation of mobile cranes.

Attend an industrial mobile crane seminar

Seminars are a quicker way to gain mobile crane education and training. However, seminars are often directed toward one aspect of mobile cranes. Seminars are a great way for those already experienced with mobile cranes to increase their knowledge.

I recommend: Atlantic Crane Inspection offers an eight-hour seminar for mobile crane supervisors and managers. OSHA offers training seminars pertaining to mobile cranes. Most seminars are two days and hands-on.

View educational mobile crane videos or read educational mobile crane articles

Videos and articles are one way to increase mobile crane education and training. One watches videos and reads articles at his or her own convenience and pace. One may review a video or article as many times as needed. Videos offer more visual effects on a mobile crane for construction than articles. However, articles often offer more details.

I recommend: SCIF offers a safety article pertaining to commercial mobile cranes and their operation. Work Force Safety offers a variety of videos about heavy duty equipment including several articles about mobile cranes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When gaining mobile crane education and training, be certain to include education on rules and regulations. Some heavy duty mobile cranes are appropriate for road use and others are not. Knowing the regulations for a mobile hydraulic crane saves your business from possible tickets and fines.

Mobile cranes no doubt add to the construction and delivery options you can provide to your customers. Whether you want to add to your company's delivery capabilities with one of the many configurations of heavy duty mobile cranes, or expand your installation capabilities by getting an industrial mobile crane, you provide better, more comprehensive service to your customers.

When you look for mobile cranes for sale, you not only want to look for quality and functionality, you also want to choose the right acquisition method and financing options so your company's expenditures keep in check. Here are some acquisition options available:

1. Purchase new mobile cranes: This allows you to own the equipment, but you also must pay for all maintenance costs.
2. Purchase used mobile cranes: This allows you to cut some initial overhead costs, but be sure you have cash reserve for larger repair bills.
3. Lease mobile cranes: This allows for low steady overhead costs, but you build no equity in the equipment.
   

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

Find the best mobile crane prices when you buy new mobile cranes

No matter if you are looking for truck cranes small enough to make neighborhood rooftop deliveries, or mobile container cranes to move dockside freight, you want the most reliable equipment for the best price. New crane dealers also want you to get years of great service from their product, and often include incentives to help you in your purchasing decision.

I recommend: Champion Crane & Tractor and Bigge Equipment are two excellent sources for your new mobile and truck crane needs. They have strong customer service and a sales staff ready to meet your company's specific needs.

Locate the best selection of used mobile crane sales

When you buy used, you want mobile cranes with low hours that were well maintained. To find this selection, you need to look at trusted mobile crane sales or find listings of individual sellers you can trust.

I recommend: Machinery Trader offers excellent descriptions and sales information to potential buyers of their listings. EC21 has a communication link directly on their listings so you can contact their listing providers quickly and easily.

Determine when to rent or lease your mobile crane

Many crane dealers also have renting and leasing options available, or you could select a business lease financing company to address your needs. When your company is not equipped to handle mechanical failure or general maintenance of your mobile crane equipment, renting or leasing may be your best option.

I recommend: Harbour Capital Corporation specializes in financing your next business purchase. They have an easy online application and lease any equipment used for business. For short term use, finding a mobile crane to rent at RentalSite is the best option. You may want to rent a few different mobile cranes first to determine the best investment to make in a purchase situation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Develop a personal relationship with your mobile crane sales staff and be sure to let them know what additions you may consider adding to your fleet in the future. If a problem arises with your equipment, the sales staff that knows you is more likely to put your needs first.

Mobile cranes have followed the trend of other construction equipment, becoming more and more complex over time. Specialized training is required to safely operate these powerful pieces of machinery.

Having a basic understanding of certain key terms and concepts relating to mobile cranes is one of the best ways of making sure you've got qualified help on the job. The following key terms will give you a knowledge base from which to start.

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

Mobile cranes

Mobile cranes are a type of crane mounted on an independently mobile platform, which allows them to move to a load and transport it. Truck cranes, cranes mounted on the bed of a truck, are the most common example of mobile cranes.

I recommend: Industrial101 gives a detailed explanation of how mobile cranes compare to other types of cranes.

Hydraulic systems

Hydraulic systems, or simply hydraulics, are a system of components that use fluid to transfer pressure from one piston to another, resulting in movement of the equipment. The force produced by this transfer is what allows a hydraulic crane to move heavier loads.

I recommend: HowStuffWorks gives a detailed explanation of how hydraulic cranes work.

Power take-off

Power take-off units, drives and shafts all are essentially the same thing: a drive shaft connected to a power-driven piece of equipment, designed to take power from that equipment and transfer it to an accessory or additional piece of equipment. Power take-off units are used to drive many types of mobile cranes, such as truck cranes.

I recommend: The National Ag Safety Database gives a detailed explanation of how power take-off units work. Their primary purpose is the same in any given piece of equipment, whether it's a tractor or a truck crane.

Load chart

The load chart is a chart located in the cab of a crane, providing the crane operator with vital information about which loads are safe to lift.

I recommend: The Crane Tech Newsletter explains the different elements of the load chart and how it directly applies to the operation of a mobile crane.

Load Moment Indicator

The Load Moment Indicator, or LMI, is an electronic device that gives a graphical representation of how the crane's actual load and positioning relates to the specifications and limits of its load chart.

I recommend: Construction Equipment gives an overview of electronic LMI units and what they do.

Standard hand signals

Hand signals may be your only way of communicating with the crane operator to provide instructions and direction regarding the crane's load. These signals are especially important for mobile cranes, as they are operated in diverse conditions in which the crane operator may have an obstructed view, or no view at all, of the load being manipulated. Using standardized signals helps to ensure that there is clear communication.

I recommend: SS Crane & Rigging Corporation provides a helpful chart of standard hand signals, including when and how they should be used.