When most people think about cranes, they think of the enormous tower cranes adjacent to skyscrapers under construction. Of course, there are other types of cranes that people don’t consider as easily. For example, if you’ve ever seen an electrician working on a telephone pole, you’ve probably seen a telescopic crane and truck. These cranes and trucks have several purposes but on a much smaller scale. Continue reading as we discuss telescopic trucks.

Telescopic Cranes and Trucks

Telescopic cranes are made of a boom that consists of a series of cross-sectional segments that are either trapezoidal or triangular. Once fully retracted, these pieces fit into each other. In several occurrences, telescopic cranes are mobilized by being secured onto trucks.

Once the crane is ready to be used, the tubes extend to the desired length with the help of a powered device. Integrated Publishing discusses telescopic booms and their three types: full-powered, pinned, and a combination of the two. Full-powered booms have segments that are retracted and extended using hydraulics (excluding the base section). Pinned booms have segments that are pinned in retracted and extended positions.

The crane system and telescopic truck can be used for many jobs together. TEREX and Elpers Truck Equipment disclose some typical uses, such as:

• Mining
• Installing cable TV
• Erecting steel
• Maintaining equipment
• Field service and installation
• Park and roadside highway maintenance
• Concrete work

The telescopic handler, another kind of telescopic truck, has the benefits of a forklift. Thackray does a good job describing this piece of machinery. Otherwise known as a telescopic forklift or telehandler, this machine consists of a truck with a boom that can fit several attachments. The ability of the boom to extend allows the attachments, like pallet forks, to attain heights that would be impossible with standard forklifts. Keep in mind that this truck can become unstable as the load is lifted higher. Be sure to use the correct load charts and follow other guidelines in order to comprehend the proper limits.

About TEREX

TEREX, which stands for “Deutsche Maschinenbau AG,” is a crane manufacturer based in Germany. This brand has made history with its legendary crane achievements, including:

• 1950: The first telescopic boom crane with a lifting capacity of 2.5t
• 1990: The most powerful telescopic truck on Earth with a 500t lifting capacity
• 2007: The strongest crawler crane with a lifting capacity of 3,200

TEREX Telescopic Cranes

TEREX cranes are all about delivering success and powerful mobility. Trucks are constructed to demand minimum rigging and positioning, and with a maximum speed of 65 mph on the highway, it is very easy for cranes to move between job sites. The powerful engine and hydraulic system that powers these cranes is built to take on any Jobsite condition, which further decreases downtime. The crane truck itself is made to last so that customers can serve endless clients.

TEREX has various telescopic truck crane models to suit your needs. The T 780 has a 169-foot max height and a 72.6t nominal lifting capacity for the biggest projects around. On the other hand, the T 340- 1 model has a 147-foot max height and 36.3t nominal lifting capacity to take on small jobs.

Have you ever looked up at those huge tower cranes and thought that you would like to be a crane operator? From the ground, you imagine what it must be like moving giant loads around from such a height, but what is it really like?

The day starts early, checking the weather for an idea of the conditions because for tower crane operators, the weather matters. In particular, the wind is the thing that operators are particularly interested in, because high up, wind can have a dramatic effect on the load as it is hoisted and positioned.

Tower cranes are also very much a team effort, the riggers and spotters work with the operator on every lift, and it is the team as a whole working together that makes for a safe operation. So, on-site, the team will meet and discuss the day’s planned work, going over the previous day and noting anything that didn’t work as it should, and how to avoid that issue again.

Then, it’s the long climb up, but the climb itself is also an opportunity to inspect the crane, looking for loose bolts, bad connections, damage or anything else that could cause an issue. The theme with crane operating is safety, both for the operator and for everyone around them. Once in the cab, the operator is on their own, communicating with the team via radio and perhaps taking a phone call or two, but otherwise, an operator is in the cab for 10 hours a day on their own.

It’s busy in the cab though, with lifts of all kinds going on, and every single one requiring real concentration, safety is always at the core of everything being down, taking directions from spotters and riggers, but ultimately, it’s the crane operator that decides the route for the lift. There is a lot of responsibility as a crane operator, and for many, that is part of the attraction. It’s also a rewarding career, with $100,000+ a year wages being an attraction.

For those who are attracted to it, whether it is the self-sufficiency of being alone in the cab, the idea of working closely with a team or the responsibility of organizing lifts, or maybe just the idea of a good paycheck, high-quality training is essential to acquire the skills and qualifications needed to safely operate a tower crane.

We have exceptional experience training tower crane operators, our course includes both classroom and site training, and prepares you for the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) exams that give you the certification needed to build a successful career as a tower crane operator.

If you are from a non-English speaking background then you may feel that crane operator training is not for you. With a little patience, an open mind, and the willingness to learn, crane operator training and a career as a crane operator may be a perfect fit. Understanding English is important – don’t get me wrong. You do need to understand what is being asked of you when given a job to do. However, in most cases, once you have an understanding of what is involved with a particular task, the rest is easy.

Crane operators, whether they are operating a mobile crane or a massive tower crane, hardly speak a word whilst working. Instructions from those on the ground or around the actual lift are generally given through hand signals. These hand signals are the same in every language so whether you speak perfect English, or none at all, if you understand these signals there will not be a problem.

Where there may be a problem is in learning those hand signals. If you don’t have a clear understanding of the English language then you may struggle to get through your training. However, if you do have at least a basic understanding of the language then you should be able to get through the training.

The best option is to find a training organization that has the patience to work with students from non-English speaking backgrounds. ATS Crane Operator School is one such organization. No matter what your background, if you have a reasonable understanding of the English language then we can help you through your crane operator training and into a lucrative career. Contact us to see if your language skills are sufficient to successfully complete a crane operator training program.