There are many different types of cranes in use around the country. They range in size and weight from small overhead gantry type cranes to large tower cranes.

Tower Cranes:
Frequently referred to as Construction Cranes. They are used in the construction of high-rise buildings. These cranes generally don’t have a movable base. These are the tallest cranes and have to be assembled piece by piece. Tower cranes are used to construct tall buildings, and in the case of skyscrapers, these cranes are often assembled inside the building during construction.

Floating cranes:
These cranes are mounted on barges or pontoons and used within shipping industry. They are used to construct ports, salvage ships, build bridges and unload ships. They can often handle very heavy loads and awkwardly shaped containers.

Loader cranes:
These cranes have hydraulic powered booms fitted onto trailers. They load goods onto the trailer and the jointed sections of the boom are folded down when not in use. You can commonly see these where housebuilding bricks are delivered.

Stacker cranes:
Frequently seen in warehouses where they work with an automatic retrieval system.

If your interested in a career as a crane operator then your first step has to be to get some training. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can provide you with a start to a great career as a crane operator.

Being a crane operator can be a very interesting and diverse career. Most people consider crane operators as construction workers, working on building sites helping to move heavy steel and concrete parts of the construction into the place. Careers in crane operation are far more diverse than that.

Most of our ports would come to a standstill if it wasn’t for the work of crane operators. They lift goods in and out of ships holds all day everyday. Special cranes are used to lift containers out of ships and placing them onto rail or road freight cars.

The mining industry relies heavily on crane operators for much of their work. Mine operations can be a dangerous field so reliable well trained operators are always in demand.

Some of the unusual career options include those involved with emergency work. Helping to get rail cars back onto their tracks after a derailment; helping to get semi-trailers back onto their wheels after a roll-over; and helping to lift vehicles of all shapes and sizes out of lakes and rivers can all be a part of a crane operators job description.

Qualified reliable crane operators are always in heavy demand. Because of the pivotal roll that this position has in many industries, good operators can be well paid with good fringe benefits paid to ensure they stay with the one business.

If the roll of a crane operator appeals to you then the your first step is to acquire the skills required to get your foot in the door as a crane operator. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can help you get that start as a successful well paid crane operator.

I recently read that statement and it has stuck with me ever since. Operating a crane takes a degree of finesse, dexterity and certainly plenty of coordination – a little like to trying to herd cats.

Imagine yourself 140 feet up in the air trying to lower a concrete block into 40 foot hole in the ground. The directions you have is from some guy on the ground flapping his arms is a variety of gestures, all having a particular meaning, and a meaning you need to follow. Why? That concrete block could weigh a couple of ton and they want it placed precisely where it is needed. A little like trying to fit a jigsaw puzzle piece exactly into place, from 140 feet in the air.

Yet crane operators do this all day everyday and they slot that jigsaw puzzle piece in first time, every time until that building is fully constructed – then it’s off to the next construction site to start all over again. boring you say, never. When you have to be that precise, you don’t get the chance to be bored.

Learning to operate a crane is definitely a challenge, but a challenge worth taking on if you are interested in getting into the construction in well paid position. If this all sounds exciting to you then consider training to be a crane operator through ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools.