Cranes and trucks with a crane arm mounted on them (also known as boom trucks) are designed to lift and maneuver objects in ways other machines, like forklifts, can’t. These vehicles require a commercial driver’s license to operate and present an interesting, dynamic career opportunity within the trucking industry. Cranes and boom trucks work alongside many other industries, like construction and oil and gas. Some companies, such as local flatbed delivery operations, may even put a boom truck on their fleet to expand their range of services.

Drivers in this sector drive the vehicles, load and unload boom trucks, help set up cranes, and may even operate the equipment for lifting tasks. People interested in becoming riggers—tradespeople who operate cranes—often need or find it useful to have a commercial licence.

  • Seasonality

    In this sector, work is nonseasonal, but some companies that serve specific industries will have busier and slower times.

  • Method of Pay

    A crane operator is generally paid by the hour. A boom truck operator is often paid hourly as well, but pay could also be based on productivity (like the number of loads delivered or distance driven).

Equipment and Tasks

Crane and boom truck drivers may use a range of equipment and perform the tasks of both a commercial driver and a rigger, all during the same shift.

  • Equipment

    Common equipment in this sector includes:

    • Day cab and sleeper highway tractors that are equipped with cranes
    • Straight trucks with cranes
    • Dedicated cranes of various sizes
    • Flatbed trailers
    • Vehicles that are meant to support larger cranes on big jobs
  • Tasks

    Crane and boom truck drivers can expect to perform common driving-specific tasks: city and highway driving, pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections, cargo securement, and customer service-related responsibilities. Drivers will be required to drive cranes and boom trucks of different sizes, sometimes alone and sometimes as part of a crew. This may mean the majority of their time is spent working on a job site with driving only taking place when the crane needs to be moved.

Lifestyle in the Industry

The lifestyle of a crane or boom truck driver can be very different from other drivers in similar positions. This varies and is based on the specific operations of the company and the needs of its customers. This makes it especially challenging to predict a certain type of industry lifestyle.

  • Work Shifts

    If driving is the primary focus of the position, shifts could be up to the maximum allowable hours for a commercial driver (14 hours of work in a 16-hour shift). However, if crane work is the primary focus of the position, shifts are more similar to those seen in construction. Shifts are generally during the day.

  • Physical Demands

    Drivers in this sector can expect a relatively physically demanding job when loading and unloading trailers and setting up cranes. This is because cranes and boom trucks often require the physical manipulation of equipment like outriggers and their mats.

  • Work/Life Balance

    Drivers are often close to home and home at night. However, larger and more specialized cranes may be scheduled for specific work in distant locations where the crew stays for extended periods. As a result, the operations of the individual employer greatly influence work/life balance.

  • Predictability

    Work/life balance and predictability depend on the type of work the employer does. Large cranes are often scheduled in advance, whereas boom truck drivers, who are employed with trucking companies that offer various services, may find themselves with a varying work routine based on changing customer needs.

  • On-Call

    On-call work is common in this sector but varies by employer.

  • Unionization

    Unionization is common for crane operators but uncommon for boom truck operators.

Getting Started

Crane operators, or riggers, have a specific apprenticeship path, as rigging is a recognized trade. As a result, there’s a long but structured process to become a rigger. Given the usefulness of a Class 1 licence, it makes sense for riggers to obtain their Class 1 at some point in their professional journey.

A boom truck driver may start driving trucks and tractor-trailers and gain driving experience before moving on to vehicles with attached cranes. Both crane operators and boom truck drivers can expect a series of pre-hire safety checks when applying at a new employer. Drivers in this sector may also get their start indirectly by applying for a labour position, working at an employer to build trust, and then discussing moving into a driving role.

  • Mandatory
    Requirements

    The correct licence class (generally a Class 1 or 3 with airbrakes) is a requirement. Drug and alcohol testing are common.

  • Preferred Skills &
    Previous Experience

    Employers in this sector appreciate previous work experience in construction, professional driving in lighter vehicles, oil and gas, and farming. It’s important to have a good level of literacy and the ability to understand mathematics since crane work often requires calculations to ensure lifting is done safely.

Red Flags

Crane and boom truck work presents various hazards to workers, especially the risks involved with working around loads that are being lifted and understanding the limitations of equipment. People interested in starting a career as a driver in this sector should be on the lookout for these potential red flags (aka signs that an employer may not be operating safely):

  • Equipment and vehicles that are in poor condition.
  • Being pressured to become an owner-operator early into one’s career or any other signs of employee misclassification.
  • A lack of safety training by an employer, including transportation-specific training for the vehicles being driven and training on how to operate crane attachments.
  • Being pushed to operate cranes under dangerous conditions, such as high winds or during electrical storms.
Quick Facts:
  • Crane operators, also known as riggers, are tradespeople who operate cranes of various sizes; cranes do not haul cargo and, if self-propelled, only drive for the purpose of moving between job sites.
  • A boom truck driver is a professional driver who drives trucks that are equipped with cranes to assist with loading and unloading.
  • Learning to operate booms and cranes is an exciting opportunity for those in the commercial driving industry.
  • Interested individuals need to research companies of interest to understand what might be required of them in a driving position.

More Help

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