Students got an opportunity to sit at the controls of small cranes during the May 2019 event hosted by Boulter Industrial Contractors Inc.
Lift & Move USA, featuring career paths for specialized transportation, crane, rigging and machinery moving operations, is coming to Texas this fall.
"Lift & Move USA engages students and educators in learning about the skills needed and careers available in this highly technical field, serving construction, manufacturing, power gen, petro-chem, highway and related industries," said Tracy Bennett, director of Lift & Move USA. Entry level jobs have career trajectories that can lead to well-paying, challenging and rewarding positions. Lift & Move USA is organized by the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, SC&R Foundation, the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators and KHL, publisher of American Cranes & Transport magazine.
Host companies BOSS Crane & Rigging and Bennett International Group, promoted career opportunities to more than 400 students from nearly 20 high schools and colleges at BOSS's facility in Longview, Texas.
Liebherr USA hosted another event in Houston, bringing their experience to hundreds of students
"Liebherr, along with the rest of the industry, has seen a significant drop in applicants for hands-on jobs such as technicians, operators and riggers. It is our pleasure to host Lift & Move USA to inspire the next generation of workers to come to our industry," said Jim Laarhoven, national key account customer service manager for Liebherr USA Co., Mobile and Crawler Cranes Division.
"The crane, rigging and transportation community has turned out in full force to support these two events," said Bennett. Equipment and subject matter experts such as Bishop Lifting Products, The Crosby Group and Lifting Gear Hire will manage rigging stations. Simulation stations provided by CM Labs Simulations and Lincoln Electric also are popular. (A full list of sponsors and event partners can be found on the respective Lift & Move USA event pages.)
"Simulators are a great introduction to students about the world of crane operation; they also are one of the biggest influences on how training is delivered today. With simulators, the operator training experience becomes measurably more productive," said Drew Carruthers, CM Labs director of product innovation.
Lift & Move USA showcases the tools and technology that make the crane, rigging and transportation business unique. But it's also about practical, safety-focused education.
One new activity that BOSS Crane & Rigging and Bennett International Group showcased was a blind spot demonstration using a tractor-trailer. The station objective is to communicate the importance of safety in transporting loads, as well as create awareness for the general public about how vehicles on the road can disappear from the truck driver's view.
"Customers expect their freight to arrive at a destination without damages — and the motoring public expects trucks to be safe out on the roads — even when cars aren't always," said Kris Rzepkowski, executive director of marketing for Bennett International Group.
Meanwhile, as a manufacturer, Liebherr will have an opportunity to demonstrate the role service and technical support plays in the industry. Stations include instruction on hydraulic and electronic troubleshooting. The company's training centers turn out service personnel equipped to help owners get the best performance and safety out of their equipment.
Liebherr will showcase Liebherr tower cranes, LRT rough-terrain cranes and LTM mobile cranes, while event partners will round out the event with rigging, transportation, logistics and engineering stations.
Education and training grants provided by SC&R Foundation are available for students pursuing skills or certificate programs at technical or vocational schools. There are six grant application deadlines per year, as well as funding for training through SC&R Foundation's Partners in Education — Associated Training Services, Crane Inspection & Certification Bureau, Morrow Equipment Company, National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators and Industrial Training International. For more information, visit http://www.scr-foundation.org/.
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