2015 Crane Operator and Rigger Skills Championship

Altec was honored to host the 2015 Crane Operator and Rigger Skills Championship held at this year’s International Utility and Construction Equipment Expo (ICUEE) in Louisville, KY on September 29, 2015; an ICUEE first. Put on by the Crane Institute of America Certification (CIC) and hosted by Altec on the K-lot during the first day of the show, the championship drew a large crowd despite the pouring rain. The 14 contenders from around the country showed everyone their true talent while negotiating obstacles and running the AC45-127S through the tight course.

The best-in-class Altec AC45-127S boom truck crane was selected for this competition for a variety of reasons. Operators loved the new patent-pending dual-entry tilt cab which provided them the best vantage point to conduct their work during the event. The side-entry of the cab made switching between competitors quick and effortless which helped to keep the event’s momentum going. “One operator commented saying that if it wasn’t for the time-keepers, he would have spent more time in the cab to stay dry,” said Dan Brock, Altec Crane Market Manager. “They really liked the cab’s features and all the room inside of it.”

Dan went on to say that “when Altec was initially approached about supporting the event and providing a crane we knew that these operators were going to be the cream of the crop, and we didn’t want to disappoint. That left us with an easy decision; the AC45-127S which is currently our highest capacity unit. The machine’s solid feel and features like the dual-entry tilt cab and our new Hirschmann LMAP (Load Moment and Area Protection) computer with easy to read, full color display made it an easy choice. From bottom to top, starting with the SafetyTech DICA outrigger mats chosen for the event up to the boom tip, we wanted to make sure nothing was left to question. We are very thankful for the opportunity to show off Altec Cranes at such an important event.”

Crane Institute of America Certification, along with event partners and co-sponsors awarded the top prizes to the Nation’s best crane operators. The returning champion from 2014, Kenneth Bowyer of ALL Crane Rental, took home first place defending his position and received a $10,000 cash prize. First runner-up was Eric Gaut of Craneworks in Alabama receiving $2,000 and second runner-up was Jose Villanueva of Bay Ltd. out of Texas who took home $1,000.

The Crane Operator and Rigger Skills Championship marked one of many highlights for Altec at the ICUEE show this year. Altec would like to send a special thanks to Crane Institute of America Certification for the opportunity to participate in supporting the event and their continued efforts to provide our Nation with safe and confident crane operators. As noted in the keynote speech by Dr. Jeanne Fredericks during the awards dinner the night of the crane competition, “By 2018, it is predicted that the industry will see tremendous shortages of crane operators.” She went on to say that “we need to educate parents about the well-paid, rewarding jobs in construction.” Altec agrees with Dr. Jeanne’s comments and will continue to listen to customers and the industry to ensure the best solutions are available to support safety, productivity, and operator convenience. With these, Altec believes we can continue to build our Nation and set a solid foundation for future crane operators to follow.