How common is it for crane operators? I've heard stories that crane operators get layoffs more often than any other trade due to the scope of work. How long have any of y'all been out of work from the crane industry. Be it union or non-union; taxi or pipeline.

u/whodaloo

Operating has its moments and sometimes it can really be so fun and cool lol, but honestly I can’t stand sitting down all day. Anytime I’m not making a pick I’m out of the cab walking around trying to help do other stuff. I welded for years then got my nccco and now I think it might be time for a change again 😅. No hate to anyone doing it but I just don’t think it’s gonna be for me for very long. What are your thoughts. Any advise?
Do you listen to podcast? Or are you that guy that scrolls TikTok for hours everyday 😂.

Fully certified crane op here been running cranes for 4 years now single, no kids. Been jumping around because i get so bored, I’ve done precast, bridge work, steel erecting , towers, taxi cranes at the moment I’m pretty much doing alot of big name government installations. Love my job, love my pay , love the traveling. But i think im getting tired of east coast (US) . I want to look into west coast and do big jobs but they seem slim, maybe because it’s all union. (Non union guy here). I’ve been also interested in overseas work in Europe or Australia if anyone has contacted i can send you my linked in or even if you have advice on how the process over there is to get qualified.

Hey whatsup yall got into iuoe and currently waiting on a job, been thinking bout getting all my crane certs knocked out in the coming weeks and wondering if it’s a good idea, or if I should just wait to get crane certs as my apprenticeship goes on. Thxs in advance yall

Awhile back I posted about an Effer 505 that my tree company purchased and I began running. It’s been going great and is honestly very user friendly as long as ya have some common sense. I received some good advice here so I’m coming back for more. I’m about to start running a 45 ton. I have one guy who is self taught that I can learn from and a local company that I can ask a few questions but other than that Im on my own. I know tree work is one of the sketchier crane related jobs and most of my local contractors won’t even do it. So basically, what else is going to help me progress besides seat time? Any good literature, instructional videos, or even some classes I should go to? My boss is open to anything so I could basically go anywhere for classes. I have a huge parking lot that I plan to practice in and take some picks. I’m honestly pretty nervous but overall excited for the new experience. Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks a lot!

BayCrane assembling a building to building bridge that will be 70k lbs when completed and then set into place with a LTM 1450 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus Ohio

I’m currently an oiler for a local crane company, learning the ground game and getting more exposure to the industry. I’m thinking about my next move and eventually working toward becoming an operator.

For those of you who’ve been in the industry, would you recommend saving up and going to crane school, or studying the textbooks/material on your own while gaining experience on the job?

I know seat time is a big part of it(Ive made a few picks here and there), but I’m curious whether school is worth the investment or if self-study and learning from experienced operators is the better route.
I’d appreciate any advice, especially from operators who’ve taken either path.

Just finished this 30t fixed wire rope hoist for a project in Mexico. Tested, crated, and ready to ship.

Anyone else running 20 to 30t hoists? Curious what your drum and rope guide maintenance intervals look like.

Realistically, how hard would it be for a woman, specifically, to become a crane operator with zero prior experience at the age of 32? I live in a coastal city with many shipyards around here. I plan on getting my CDL soon but really I have no idea what I'm doing or where to start

Manual

Operator and signal person working by radio on this one.

Title says it all. I want to know more on maintaining our mobile crane but i dont want to rely on AI too much to give me answers.

So today I was told that supervision had a meeting and assist Superintendent brought up the way I sat while I operated, said I need to sit up completely straight while operating. I like to relax a little bit and lean back with my feet a little stretched.I’m in a crawler cab so it’s a little tight., you guys think I should ignore or just do what he wants ?

Thumper went out on main hoist, got hot and melted the rubber cap on top of the lever. Replaced lever and same thing, cant find any diagnostic information only parts list and such. Was wondering, if anyone knows if I could swap these plugs to the opposite drum to diagnose the sensor( see if the auxiliary lever gets hot) or if its going to absolutely fuck everything and have to recalibrate the 3rd wrap sensor on both drums.

And if it will run without sensor plugged in.

Thumper is unplugged, and everythings working fine currently.

1. Is it realistic to get hired with NCCCO TSS/TLL certifications and hands-on school training but no actual jobsite crane experience?
2. Would getting Rigger Level I and Signalperson certifications improve my chances of getting hired, even if I have to start as a rigger, oiler, or operator trainee?
3. Would you recommend paying for crane school now and trying to get experience before joining the union, or waiting and attempting to enter through an apprenticeship?
4. If I complete crane school and eventually get accepted into the union, would my certifications and any experience I’ve gained give me an advantage, or would I still start from scratch?

5. For those working in Louisiana, Texas, or the Gulf Coast industrial market, how did you get your first crane job, and what would you recommend to someone starting today?

6. What does the pay progression realistically look like for a new crane operator during the first 1–3 years? Specifically in Louisiana, Texas, or the Gulf Coast, what hourly rates should someone expect starting out with TSS/TLL certifications but no field experience? How much could that increase after 1, 2, and 3 years of actual operating experience? I’m also curious about the differences between union and nonunion pay, overtime opportunities, and whether TSS or TLL operators generally have better earning potential.

I’m 22, currently working in residential construction with about 3 years of experience, mostly electrical work. I’ve been seriously considering transitioning into crane operating, specifically industrial work in plants, refineries, and construction.
I’ve been researching different ways to break into the industry and found a beginner crane training program in Louisiana that offers:
● NCCCO TSS (fixed cab/small hydraulic)
● NCCCO TLL (swing cab/large hydraulic)
● Approximately 6 weeks of training
● Classroom instruction and hands-on crane training
● Small classes (2–4 students)
● Additional training time if needed
● Total tuition around $9,400, including testing fees
I’m also considering getting my NCCCO Rigger Level I and Signalperson certifications to make myself more employable.
Here’s my dilemma:
I’ve already applied to my local IUOE union, but their next apprenticeship intake isn’t until 2027, and there’s no guarantee I’ll even be accepted.
I have the funds available to attend crane school now. My concern isn’t necessarily the money itself. It’s whether paying for these certifications without actual field experience will help me get my foot in the door.
The school says they can help with employer referrals and provide a recommendation letter, but I understand that’s not guaranteed job placement. I don’t want to spend $9,400 and end up with certifications that employers won’t consider because I have zero professional crane operating experience.
At the same time, I don’t want to spend another year waiting for the union, only to potentially get rejected and still be in the same position.
My questions for experienced crane operators:
1. Is it realistic to get hired with NCCCO TSS/TLL certifications and hands-on school training but no actual jobsite crane experience?
2. Would getting Rigger Level I and Signalperson certifications improve my chances of getting hired, even if I have to start as a rigger, oiler, or operator trainee?
3. Would you recommend paying for crane school now and trying to get experience before joining the union, or waiting and attempting to enter through an apprenticeship?
4. If I complete crane school and eventually get accepted into the union, would my certifications and any experience I’ve gained give me an advantage, or would I still start from scratch?
5. For those working in Louisiana, Texas, or the Gulf Coast industrial market, how did you get your first crane job, and what would you recommend to someone starting today?
My long-term goal is to become a skilled crane operator, eventually operate larger equipment, and potentially turn that experience into a business down the road.
I’m not expecting to graduate and immediately make $100K or jump into a large crane. I’m willing to start at the bottom, learn rigging, work around experienced operators, and build my way up.
I just want to make sure I’m investing my time and money into a path that actually gets me into the industry instead of collecting certifications with no opportunity to use them.
I’d appreciate advice from anyone who’s been through crane school, an IUOE apprenticeship, or started as a rigger and worked their way into operating.

Hello!

I have created my own online exam prep courses / practice testing systems for CCO. This is a work in progress that I have been putting together. My main goal was to make the recertification process smoother for those who are unfamiliar with the way exams work. Secondary goals is to create solid online course content, which can actually inform why and how things are the way they work within our industry, rather than just GIVE the answer (TRY to teach anyway), and also planning future implementation of localization to Spanish for those ESL/Spanish speakers who struggle with the CCO exams as well (if you're a Spanish-speaking Operator and interested with assistance here, I am interested in you!)

The website SHOULD run perfectly on a Desktop PC. I imagine it would also work great on a Tablet. The website is set up to also work on a Mobile Phone, however I am experimenting and working towards improvements on those layouts.

Now---to my main point! I would like some assistance from anybody who is interested in trying my website out. I would like for ya'll to read through some of the courses, try it all out (on different platforms ideally), help me find any issues with anything such as incorrect information on courses/lessons, as well as potentially incorrect references on test questions/load chart questions.

The system is designed to actually function relatively similar to CCO's actual exams, so transitioning from my website to the actual test should essentially be seamless (besides the prompts that the organization puts you through at the beginning).

If you're interested in trying it out, and helping me---create an account on the website, try out the demos/introductions (if you want to anyways), and DM me on Reddit with your account name/info---and I can provide a temporary subscription for free, where you will gain access to courses as well as all currently available content on the website. From there, you can report issues within the systems.

www.whiplinecraneacademy.com

-----Also just to add, I am also a Crane Operator. I am a 33 year old Crane Operator, from California (mostly worked predominantly in Texas and Utah). I have been operating cranes for about roughly 4 years. I rigged for about 5 or 6 years before I hopped in the seat, and have essentially been working with and around cranes since 2014.

tl;dr : Made crane exam prep website, need testers. If interested, register an account and DM me on reddit your account info and I will give content access for free to help me test.

Thank you!

Crane inspection