Mobile crane types and certifications
| Crane type | Common use | NCCCO specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Telescopic boom, swing cab | Rough-terrain and all-terrain cranes on plant and construction sites | TLL |
| Telescopic boom, fixed cab | Boom trucks and smaller hydraulic cranes | TSS |
| Lattice boom | Large crawler and truck cranes for heavy lifts and turnarounds | LAT |
Designations from the NCCCO Mobile Crane Operator Candidate Handbook.
What a good course covers
- Load charts. Reading them correctly is the core of the written exams and of safe lifting.
- Setup and ground conditions. Outriggers, cribbing, and checking the ground can carry the load.
- Inspection. The shift inspection items OSHA expects operators to recognize.
- Power lines and site hazards. Encroachment distances and when a lift needs extra planning.
- Signals and communication. Working with a qualified signalperson.
- Practical exam tasks. Precision moves around the test course, with time on the crane before test day.
Picking the right course length
Course length depends on what you bring to it. An operator with years in the seat can be ready after a short prep course. Someone new needs full training first. A provider will ask about your hours, the cranes you've run and whether you've tested before.
Training for a crew
If you're an employer with several operators to certify, on-site training is usually the cheapest per person and avoids travel and lost shifts.