4 Types Of Cranes

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.