How to hire a crane?

Hiring a crane can seem overwhelming. After all, what happens if you order the wrong crane for your job?

The first piece of advice we can give you: “Make sure you talk to a Crane Specialist.” You do not need to know everything about a crane to hire one. Working with a crane specialist helps identify your needs by leveraging their expertise.

What information do I need to provide?

Before you talk to anyone, gather the following information as best you can:

• What do you want lifted?
• How heavy is the heaviest item?
• Where will the crane need to park to make the lift?
• Will the crane block any road lanes, sidewalks, driveways, or laneways?
• If yes to blocking, is traffic control required?
• How far will the crane need to reach from where it is parked?
• Are there any obstacles that might interfere with the lift? (trees, powerlines, etc.)
• What day(s) would you like to use the crane?
• Are there any time constraints that they should be aware of?
• Do you need to take some digital photos of the product or job site to show the crane specialist?

Once you have this information, a qualified crane specialist can provide a rough estimate of the crane type and size that would be best suited to your situation.

What type of pictures should I take?

Remember that a picture is worth a thousand words.

The better the quality of your pictures, the easier it will be for the crane specialist to see what is needed.

Take pictures of the item being lifted

Some pictures of each side of the object(s) being lifted would be very helpful to the crane specialist. This helps identify which straps, chains, shackles or other specialized equipment may be required to lift your item.

Take pictures of the job site

When taking pictures of a job site, broad shots from different directions are really important. Especially up in the air, where the crane operator will need to lift. Most people zoom in on the final destination. That is helpful, but the last picture required. Wherever you normally take a picture, step back 10-20 steps and ensure you capture the sky in your shot. You can always zoom in on a picture. You cannot zoom out. The wider the view, the better.

The crane operator/specialist will want to see:

• Where the crane is being parked. and the air above it.
• From where the crane will be to where you are craning to.
• The area where the item is going and the air above it.
• If there are any obvious obstacles. Pictures of the concerns or obstacles from different directions.

Good-quality pictures can get you quick answers. They will also allow the specialist to identify any immediate concerns regarding your lift. If your job appears to be an easier lift, you will get that assurance that much sooner once they see your pictures.

Crane rental near me

Most mobile crane companies work out of major urban centers. For example, in Ontario, Toronto is the largest city in the province. Your best selection of cranes is located in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). So, when searching for a crane near you, search by the largest city closest to you or your crane project.