Crane Service: Prep Questions

Whatever a crane can help you with, arranging for the equipment to reach your site isn't something undertaken lightly. You're probably renting the machines required, but prep activities should be accomplished to facilitate successful crane work that is unaffected by delays, fuel shortages, or damage. This short list of relevant questions could ready you for the job ahead:

Who's Driving This Machine?

Your own workers may have a few crane operator credentials among them; however, that isn't an indicator that you should just draw from your own employees when finding a driver. Their skills may be somewhat fuzzy or their skills are more greatly needed on other activities.

If, however, you do agree to a rental company's driver, there is more you must know. Can you see their physical license? What is their availability? When is the last time they've done work similar to what your team is doing? Can they drop into a planning meeting in the days before their work is necessary? The more details you can assemble about the driver, the better the joint venture can be.

What Site Work is Needed?

If the site's soil has been flattened, leveled, and cleared, it's ready for the crane. However, if weeds, trees, rocks, or bushes are still there, delay the crane delivery unless you're willing to pay extra rental costs so the crane can sit in a corner of your site while clearing occurs. The ground on the entire site may not need to be completely empty but ensures that the crane will meet no resistance.

The soil underneath the machine is just one part of the site requiring preparation. Power lines both above and below the soil surface must be secured or shut down. Tree branches should be sawed. You might doublecheck the weather forecast for work days too, if possible.

What is Our Transport Plan?

With so many machines on a project, coordination has to be planned. This is especially true when you're renting cranes and vehicles. Your project needs a clear transport plan everyone agrees to. This plan should be circulated among all drivers and managers so no one is surprised. If any problems are noted, the plan can be changed to suit all relevant players.

These questions and their answers can prep you, the site, and your team for rigging the cranes and working with them. The perfect partner for such work is a crane service contractor you can call on during each of your projects for guidance and crane assistance.

Contact a company like Youngs Rigging for more information and assistance.