Mobile crane op here, mentally exhausted at the end of the day as well.

Morality and safety aside lets take time to appreciate all crane operators! They can lift a crib with a sleeping baby inside it and lift it 400 feet in the air, place it and tuck the baby in without even waking the baby up. All that steel and swinging hooks and they are that gentle! Its a level of class and skill that i feel goes largely unnoticed and underappreciated! I can never get anywhere close to that level plus the factor of heights... yeah definitely not for me but MAD respect to all the crane operators!!!!

Thank You for making this video , I am sending it to my company's safety coordinator ! I can't tell you how many guys have walk by the crane and looked up and said " You Got It Made " ! I will quickly tell them to go get their CDL license , and get their NCCCO certification and join the fun ! End of conversation ! I'm in my 70's and still running mobile cranes . It's better to "wear out" than to "rust out " ! Have a good week and be safe ! NCCCO certified operator .

add to the list of cons for mobile cranes: Staring into the sun all day long lol

IUOE 115 out of Vancouver here! I’m 26 years old and have been running heavy equipment for 5 years. (OE member for 1.5 years) Excavator is my main but I run loader, skid steer etc. as well. Majority of my jobs have been in heavy construction, drilling, and pipeline. Being a woman on site has really increased my burnout the last few years. Seems like each job is worse than the last. I know I don’t have to explain to you the extra challenges that come with being a woman in trades. My spirit has been broken countless times and I feel very discouraged. All I want to do is move dirt, make money and come home safe. But it’s never that easy. After all of the work I’ve put into this career I really don’t want to leave it behind but branching off to something new within the industry has been on my mind. I requested tower crane training today at our local centre. I really pride myself on my lifting/rigging abilities and think it could be a good new challenge and change of scenery. Just as you explain to the audience in this video, it won’t change the mental exhaustion, being trapped in a cab all day and trying not kill anyone. I’m no stranger to swinging for 10-12 hours straight trying to eat a sandwich and throwing it in your lap in between loading trucks and whatnot. but I’m at a crossroads. I love being in my seat. Firing up my hoe in the morning is one of the best feelings. But the politics, constant scrutiny, competition and favouritism have got me down bad. The grass isn’t always greener (as we all learn) I don’t think I’m so much asking for any advice as much sharing my experience..I know starting a crane apprenticeship would just be another beast to conquer. But maybe getting out of the dirt world and up into the sky could be a new adventure. Thanks for any feedback :) Jess

I’m stressed just looking at how high up you are. Much respect to you. 😩💪🏾

I just subscribed! I’m going to start tower crane as an apprentice but I was wondering pros and cons for both and this video helped me finalize my decision so thank you.

Great video..u missed ur calling.. And so very true most never understand the stress it takes us to do what we do without killing good men..that's why I drive fast cars..to blow off steam after work..

As someone who does both, i’d recommend everyone to try both. I’d much rather be in the tower however 98% of the work my employer does, is on mobile 🤷🏻‍♂️ the happiest i’ve been is when i can do both bc it gives you time to miss the other. The shittiest part about any crane is taking the time off to go recertify 😂😂😂 someone petition to make recerts like CDLs at the DMV, you show up, pay the fee, get a new one 😅

As a mobile crane operator myself, i find myself in awe when seeing a tower and imagining myself swinging that bad boy but like you said, i do enjoy the travel (in state travel - NJ/NY area) and different location each day where I'm working. I get audiences all the time too like you said where people walking by the work site or in a nearby building and they are recording the crane pick(s) on their phones mesmerized by the crane that I'm running doing its thing. Love being a crane operator. Much respect to you brother 🙏 keep swinging strong

like any trade you end up in each has its own plus and minus great information for those looking at your job. take care and have a great day dusty and family

Well done, sir. I’m a tower as well. Haven’t been in one in over a year do to work needs all around. I’m at the Rodeo refinery. Doing the bio diesel fuel update. I too, have seen and heard the chatter you speak of,” all you do is sit on your ass and pull sticks!” I tell them, “ Hay! They don’t pay me to pull sticks, they pay me to pull them at the right time and moment so I DON’T K*LL YOU! It helps, but the stress they just can’t know until they do it…. So few won’t even try. Those are my friends down there! They have family and friends I know. Their safety is my most precious concern and I am hard core to maintain it! Slow is smooth, and smooth, is fast! And yes, the view is AWSOME!

It makes a world of difference in having actual signal persons and not just any hehaw. Safe pickings my friend ✌️

I love my RT and crawler cranes. 😊

Awesome explaining of the difference in crans

Awesome video.

Mobile you have to constantly be looking out for above ground power lines too I imagine.

I drove around tacoma knocking on doors last week trying too find a way in.checked in with 612 dispatch. All seats were filled at this time. I got a couple contacts though. I love your channel! Thanks for the information.

Hi mate, come across a few of your videos, good content, explained well. I've recently retired after 4 decades in the building industry in Australia, 35years as a scaffolder. I worked on many big projects with a lot of tower and mobile cranes, i got to know many crane crews as we need a lot of lifts on the job. I found the guys fun to work with even giving the dogman a hand landing a load or hooking up. What i do regret is not going for a dogman's ticket then moving on to a crane ticket while i had a chance, probably wouldn't be as stiff and sore now😂 Stay in the industry as long as you can because i miss the comradeship. Respect to you mate. 🇦🇺🇺🇲

Greetings from the UK bro, I've just become a Crawler Op, and a lot of the points you mentioned are well received, great video and definitely essential for those who may be considering it. I decided on basically anything but tower due to the want of freedom, hot food, breaks to stretch my legs & a toilet. I have a lot of respect for you guys who can sit up in the sky all day, I'm not built for it personally👊🏼

Thanks for the video. I want too do this so bad!!!lol

Very informative I learned something every day thank you for sharing your job and your experiences

Awesome video! I just joined my local 953 and I subscribed Im looking forward to learning watching these videos

These are so helpful. Thanks so much. Looking into starting my apprenticeship soon. Need a change and I love operating stuff. Looks like an exciting and challenging career!

Your correct it can be stressful I think that if you focus on setting up tower cranes as a rigger assembly Disassembly or working as a helper/oiler meaning real oiler set up crane then right after go signal run the fork lift for plates etc do that everyday for about 2 years push to learn everyday your at work etc by the time you start operating it will be easy to transition into operator I did that for 2 years and the rest is history

hey Dusty, you should be an instructor at training center, i just finished my 1st week in Ellensburg for cranes and the instructor is horrible, all he's done is is hand us some books, had us highlight some stuff, go operate 1 crane for a bit but he's not really teaching us, and even said its up to us to read the material and study it, all your videos you are very articulate and thorough in what you are saying, i think you would be great instructor, i'm not sure i'm going to pass the written or the practical based off this instructor lol

I was a friction crawler crane/dragline operator and it can be mental and physically tiring

tôi rất thích cách làm việc của nước bạn “rất sạch sẽ và an toàn chúc bạn luôn khỏe mạnh và an toàn

love those videos keep them up. Did you ever refuse to pickup a load with a Tower crane?? Because you thought it was not hocked up right or something like that?? For example when you can't see the load and your rigger screwed up? Or do you have complete trust in your rigger? Who is the one that gets the blame for that if something happens?? I would assume the rigger?

This was a great video. Thank you. What other jobs besides construction work sites are available to crane operator? Are there other jobs that provide a bit more stability as far as location etc? Example: maritime work? Ports? Shipyards? Other work places? How do you get those types of jobs? What are the typical working hours? Days?

Would love to see a video guide explaining further into the tower crane test

Hello Mr. Dusty, I'm in a big rush, but real quick, can you please tell me everything I need to know about lightening and tower cranes? Am I safe in the cab? So many questions: I"m on a Potain 109, the base is set in concrete and there's a ground rod. What's the point or good of the grounding rod when the entire base of the crane is in the ground? What do I do if lightening is in the forecast? What if I see lightening nearby? What if I'm caught in the storm? Is there a safe way to climb down? Rubber boots and gloves maybe? I'd really appreciate it. Gotta run. Thanks so much.

Very informative. Thank you. Where does one go to get certified and how long does that take? Do you have the final say as the operator on say weather conditions?

Can You Make A Video On Your Tower Crane Inspection Walk Thru When U Prepped For The Physical Tower Crane Test?

I like watching you I have one question the bottom of the crane is in cement when the crane is being dismantled how do you get the bottom of the crane up the very last piece

In 2 months I will start school to be a crane operator I really like this I been looking into this for the past month but I wanna make sure it’s worth it and I wanna make sure I’ll be stable….can you give me your best option on this crane operators??

Hi Mr. Dusty I have a question about the crane. I myself want to be a crane operator but I would like to know what advice or help would you be able to give me to become a crane operator a tower crane operator because that has been my dream job ever since I was a child. Please respond to me. Thanks

Sky hermit lolol

How often do you have to travel for tower work?

I know this video is a bit old to be throwing comments on now, but I want to ask someone who seems open and knowledgeable... I am 32, and I am feeling too old to try and get into the trade having wasted a lot of my life on things that didn't pan out, and I don't want to try and be in a space I shouldn't be in... what do you think? 32 too old to try and start in a trade?

How does someone with no experience very started in mobile cranes? Just get my CCO and CDL b? Can i really get it in 5-7 days?

Hello .iwant to knwow betwen mobile crane operator and tower crane whos get more paid.................bcz the mobile crane operator must have a driving licence code 14 and qualification for mobile crane operator with tower crane operator whos can get more paid

hey what are the steps I need to become a tower crane operator what are all the classes I have to take step by step to get a certificate and the requirements

Mobile or tower which one pay more

are you in local 302 still?

That why if your running a tower crane and not getting top pay your setting your self short….hello your putting up a building worth millions how could you not demand top compensation…

What do you prefer tower or mobile crane ?

My name is Janet bangura am from Sierra Leone am a Excavator Operator please can you help how to operate Crane please Sir kindly help me.

con #1: terex

Mobile crane pros. You get to go to many different places. In B.C. they are all nice places. Cons. Crane rental means you have no schedule. Bigger the crane the bigger the pain in the ass to get set up. Tower crane pros. Nice view. Quiet. That's a big one for me. Peaceful and quiet. And once your up there you can put your slippers on if you want. Cons. All the trades are fighting for the hook. So proper breaks to stretch your legs and get some exercise are hard to come by. Also, if your pouring concrete for 10 hours your mind starts to go if you don't get a break. So I would say fox holler got it pretty well explained.

I was told that a trainee gets paid very low for the first 3 - 4 years but after 4 years the pay increases significantly.

where are the crane jobs that pay 200k a year?