Cranes are such important pieces of heavy equipment that they get their own specialized kind of training and certification. National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) is responsible for ensuring crane operators are trained and certified and safe in their operating of these machines. Associated Training Services (ATS) models its training on the NCCCO recommendations on different types of cranes.

There are a lot of different types of cranes on the work site. Which type of crane you’ll be working on largely depends on the nature of the work you’ll be performing. The following four types of cranes are some of the most common you’ll encounter.

1. Hydraulic boom crane – A hydraulic boom crane uses levers inside the operator’s cab to move the boom up and down through a hydraulic mechanism.
2. Lattice boom crane – A lattice boom crane uses a long extension that moves up and down but does not slide in and out like a hydraulic boom.
3. Fixed cab crane – A fixed cab crane has a cab that looks like a truck cab. As the name implies, it doesn’t move, which means the operator can only see what’s in front of him or to the side.
4. Swing cab crane – A swing cab crane allows the operator to get a 360-degree view by swiveling the cab in the direction that he wants to work.

These four types of cranes are not mutually exclusive. In other words, you can have a fixed cab hydraulic boom crane or a swing cab hydraulic boom crane. By the same token, you can have a fixed cab lattice boom crane or a swing cab lattice boom crane. And there are variations of these in terms of size, weight, and load capacity.

ATS will train you on each of these types of cranes, preparing you for certification and lifetime career.

If you’ve been thinking about learning how to operate a lattice or mobile crane, then I can’t think of a better time than now. Christmas is coming up and you can start the new year on a good note. There are several good reasons why you might want to get your crane operator training through Associated Training Services (ATS) and get crane certified.

Here are 5 good reasons to choose ATS:

1. In-the-seat mobile crane training – We actually let you get in the operator’s seat. It’s okay to learn how to operate a crane from a book or by sitting in a classroom, but you’ll learn a lot more by actually doing it – under the care of an experienced operator, or course.
2. Fixed-cab instruction – You’ll learn how to operate a fixed-cab mobile hydraulic crane.
3. Swing-cab instruction – Our professional and experienced crane operators will teach you everything you need to know to operate a swing-cab mobile hydraulic crane.
4. Financial and housing assistance – We don’t just invite you to our training facility and make you pay out the ying-yang. We’ll provide you with housing assistance and financial assistance, if you qualify.
5. Career services – ATS also helps you get your first crane operator job. What more could you ask for?

There is no crane operator training school that takes more of an interest in our students’ future success. You can get your national crane certification from ATS and get your career off the ground in a matter of weeks.

Do you know what a lattice crane is? Chances are, you’ve seen one. You’ve probably seen one and didn’t know at the time that it was called a lattice crane.

A lattice boom is that long arm on the crane with a pedestal mounted on the end of it. It is latticed on the end of the boom, which is the long arm extension that runs from the body of the crane to the end tip. The booms can be varying lengths, giving the operator a little more challenge with every foot of length to maneuver.

An articulated boom crane, or knuckleboom, is a crane where the boom (that long arm) knuckles, allowing the boom to swing like an arm with an elbow, based on the driver’s controls.

A good crane training school will give you instructors who are experts at maneuvering all types of crane. The lattice boom crane is one of the more basic types of cranes. It’s a good one for beginners. It’s also the most common type of crane, so you’ll learn all about how to control it and most likely be using it the first day on your first job.

When you are trained and certified on driving cranes, the lattice boom crane is one that you’ll be trained on.

There are several different types of cranes that a good crane operator should be familiar with. In general, there are two types of boom cranes – lattice boom and telescopic boom.

The boom of the crane is the long arm in the front or back of the vehicle that lifts the load you want to carry.

Lattice Boom

Chances are, you’ve seen lattice boom cranes at work somewhere. They look like a huge machine with a long arm extended in the air. The arm can rotate, move up or down, and move forward or back. They are the most common type of crane on the job site. It makes sense, then, to train on this type of crane since you’ll likely have to use one.

Telescopic Boom

In contrast to lattice booms, telescopic booms are typically hydraulic. They are hinged at the bottom where the arm meets with the body of the crane. The boom is then lifted when the crane operator pulls a switch telling the arm to raise or lower. The hydraulic system, or cables, does all the work.

For a longer and more rewarding career as a crane operator, you’d do well to be trained on both types of cranes. You want your training to be as complete as possible. The more equipment you are capable of using the more in demand you will be on the job.

Learn more about ATS’s crane operator training today.

Many states today now require crane operators to be certified. This should not be seen as a negative or an obstacle. Sure, it might be a little inconvenient, but think of the benefits.

First, crane operators are in high demand. If you are certified to operate a crane, then you’ll be more in demand as an employee and have a leg up in job interviews. Secondly, crane operators make a lot of money. In fact, they are some of the highest paid heavy equipment operators on the work site.

Crane operator certification through ATS includes training on fixed and swing cab mobile hydraulic cranes. The training will prepare you for the NCCCO certification exams, both the written and practical versions. You’ll receive the most rigorous training offered through the industry. In addition, you’ll be trained on special types of cranes, including:

• Rough terrain boom cranes
• Lattice boom cranes
• Articulated and knuckle boom cranes
• Swing cab boom cranes
• Fixed boom trucks
• Fixed cab cranes

ATS also provides OSHA-compliant rigging and signalperson training.

Crane certification training can take place at ATS facilities or on the employer’s job site. Having the training on your job site could be beneficial if you have several crane operators you want to be trained and certified. You can get more details on crane certification training through ATS.

If you are considering a career as a new crane operator, then you will be surprised at how many different types of cranes there are, and how many different types of jobs they do. When you look around many workplaces, there are cranes of some description in use. Some of these cranes include:

• Railroad Cranes that sit on a rail flatbed carriages
• Telescopic Cranes that have a boom that can telescope out.
• Tower Cranes that stand quite tall. These cranes are disassembled and put together on higher floors as a building is being constructed.
• Truck Mounted Cranes are cranes that are mounted on truck flatbeds
• Rough Terrain Cranes have four rubber tires that are designed for off-road and “rough terrain” applications
• Crawler Cranes are mounted on tracks to added stability and mobility
• Loader Cranes are hydraulically-powered cranes that are fitted to a trailer
• Gantry Cranes are used in container ports and rail freight terminals
• Overhead Cranes are suspended from ceilings are very common in factories
• Floating Cranes are generally mounted on barges and used mainly in bridge building and port construction
• Mobile Cranes are trucks that have a separate crane mounted behind the truck driver. These cranes can move quickly from job to job.

Some of these cranes require operators who have had years of experience on smaller or less complicated cranes. There are still many options available to new crane operators who are entering the workforce. One of the easiest introductions to crane operation is through mobile cranes. We can provide the training and certification required to get a start in this industry. You just need to decide on your career goals in crane operations.

It is always wise to undertake training in such a way that you exit the training program with skills that make you employable whilst also providing as broad a base as possible. Crane operator training is a good example. You can train on just one type of crane, and you will become quite skilled in that crane’s operations, however, you will then be limited somewhat to that type of crane when it comes to employment options.

Being able to train on a range of cranes means you will have a wider skills base to take through to employment. This obviously increases your employment options. If you have a particular type of crane you want to operate, that’s fine, however, gaining skills and an employment history in crane operations should be your primary concern. Being selective is a luxury that comes with that history and experience.

ATS have a range of cranes that you can be trained to operate. This range includes:

swing cab boom cranes,
rough terrain boom cranes,
fixed cab cranes,
fixed boom trucks,
lattice boom cranes, and
articulated cranes.

Some of these cranes are fairly similar in looks and operations so it makes sense to gain some understanding of their individual traits. I’ve mentioned employment options, and it’s worth repeating – the wider the range of skills you have, the more job options you’ll have.

With ATS crane operator training, you also have the option to undertake NCCCO certification, a requirement to operate any crane in the workplace. With a wide range of machinery to learn on, NCCCO certification on offer, and long history of successful training under our belt, ATS becomes one of the best training options for anyone looking for a career in crane operations.

If you are looking for a career as a crane operator, then your first step is to decide on what type of crane you want to operate. Crane operations is a large field and includes those monstrous cranes that climb a building as it’s being constructed all the way down to small cranes, which sit on trucks that are used to off-load the cargo. The most popular crane in use is the mobile crane, however, that too comes in a wide range of sizes and configurations.

Don’t even contemplate walking into a highrise fixed crane. You need years of experience to win a job in one of those cranes, and given how few highrise cranes there are, competition for vacancies is fairly intense. Mobile cranes are the better option for novices – they are relatively easy to learn and there are often a lot of job vacancies for these operators. When considering a career as a mobile crane operator, you can look at:

• swing cab boom cranes
• rough terrain boom cranes
• fixed cab cranes
• fixed boom trucks
• lattice boom cranes
• articulated cranes (aka knuckleboom cranes)

To operate a crane, an operator must be certified to gain certification. You need to pass crane operator competency tests. The best way to prepare yourself for these tests is through crane operator training undertaken through a training school that runs a recognized crane operator training program.

ATS is well known throughout the industry as one of the leaders in crane operator training and certification. We are one of the largest and oldest training schools in the nation and deliver training programs that not only prepare students for their certification tests but prepare them for work as well – and there is a big difference. If you’re interested in a career as a crane operator, contact us for details on our up-and-coming crane operator training programs.

One of the big differences between a mobile crane operator and a fixed crane operator is the need for extra skills. Crane operators in general need to know how to stabilize their cranes, and they need to know how to operate their cranes according to local conditions and with a shifting load. Mobile crane operators in most cases also need to have truck driving skills backed up by a commercial drivers license.

As the name implies, mobile cranes are just that – mobile. The crane is a separate unit that has been fixed to the top of a truck. These trucks generally exceed the limit for a standard drivers license, so a commercial drivers license is needed before the crane operator can move their crane from job to job. Whilst an employer could employ two people to do the job – a crane operator and a truck driver – it makes economic sense to have one person who has the skills to do both.

Mobile crane operators may find themselves doing two or three or more different jobs each day, and these jobs will be in different locations. Being able to drive the crane from job to job is therefore a required skill, as is being able to quickly set up their crane so it can safely undertake the job. Setting up includes placing the truck in the best place, anchoring the crane using special lifts – this may lift the truck off its wheels to prevent any rolling and to ensure the crane is working from an even plane. The smallest tilt in the crane will be magnified at the end of the boom, making for a potentially dangerous situation.

When training to become a mobile crane operator, be sure the training includes the skills necessary to gain a commercial drivers license. Without that commercial drivers license, you could well be an unemployable mobile crane operator.

There is a lot to think about for those individuals who are interested in a career as a crane operator. There is of course your crane operator training and then finding that all-important first job. You should also give serious thought to the type of crane you wish to operate, however, don’t expect to undertake training then walk into a job operating one of those large high-rise building cranes – it just won’t happen. They require the skills of very experienced operators. Whilst training and employment are important, you will also need to consider how you intend funding your training, whether or not you can travel each day to attend training, and the impact your training may have on your family.

The easiest path is to find a training school such as ATS that delivers a complete crane operator training program. This includes assistance with finance to cover your training costs, assistance with housing while attending training, and assistance to find that first job after you have completed your training. You will also need to complete the requirements for certification as a crane operator – you will need this certification to be eligible for employment as a crane operator. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can also help you obtain this certification.

By having everything handled under the one training program, you remove any stress from yourself. This means you can concentrate on your training. It also helps to reduce the effect that training may have on your family. It only takes three weeks of training to gain the skills required to commence work as a crane operator, and with crane operators earning lucrative pay checks each month, you’ll very quickly recover the costs of your training.

Crane operator training programs commence every three weeks, and they often fill quickly due to limited class sizes. We believe in giving our students as much in-the-seat training as possible whilst also ensuring they receive classroom-based training in safety and theoretical areas. Looking for a career as a crane operator? Take away the hassles by looking for a complete crane operator training program.