Crane Hot Line

Dismantling a 60-year-old bridge in Yellowstone National Park called for a carefully staged lifting operation in steep canyon terrain.

Mountain Crane used three Liebherr Construction all-terrain cranes to support RLW Construction as crews removed the original Yellowstone River Bridge piece by piece, from the concrete deck to its steel and concrete support elements.

See how the crane fleet supported the phased demolition and surrounding infrastructure work: https://www.cranehotline.com/articles/all-terrain-cranes-work-in-the-wild

Engineering students are putting their design, fabrication, and construction skills to the test. 🌉

The 2027 Student Steel Bridge Competition will challenge teams to design and build scale steel pedestrian bridges, culminating in regional competitions and national finals at the Colorado School of Mines.

Read more:

Engineering Students Take On Steel Bridge Challenge | Crane Hot Line Engineering students will design, fabricate, assemble, and test scale steel bridges in the 2027 Student Steel Bridge Competition.

Not every regulatory change means a major shift in the field.

OSHA’s upcoming amendments to the crane standard are expected to address power line terminology, forklift classifications, knuckleboom cranes, fall protection language, and other technical issues. For contractors, staying informed now can help make compliance updates easier when the proposed rule is released.

Read more in the article from Troy L. Clark on what to watch:

Paying Attention | Crane Hot Line Troy Clark examines proposed OSHA crane standard changes involving power lines, forklifts, knucklebooms, fall protection and other Subpart CC updates.

How do you control a 230-foot, 426,000-pound girder in the wind without conventional taglines?

For Central Bridge, the answer was a two-unit Vita Load Navigator 2.0 system that used air propulsion to control girder rotation and alignment during bridge construction in Oklahoma. The system helped the lifting team position the girders within one degree in winds up to 15 miles per hour.

Read “Air-Power Precision” by Mike Larson to see how Central Bridge, NW Crane Service, LLC, and Vita Industrial worked together to tackle the challenge: https://www.cranehotline.com/articles/air-power-precision

[sponsored] 🏗️ 300-Ton Manitowoc Crawler Crane Selling September 14–16!

A 2004 Manitowoc 2250 III crawler crane with 5,831 hours is selling in JJ Merchant’s September Government / Contractor Surplus Auction.

📍 Iuka, Mississippi
🏗️ 300-ton capacity
📏 140' boom
⚙️ Cummins QSX15-C500 diesel engine
📅 Online bidding September 14–16

The government-owned crane is operational and currently being used to unload steel coils from barges.

View the full listing, photos, details, and register to bid: https://www.jjmerchant.com/auctions/63/lot/23115-2004-manitowoc-2250-iii-300-ton-crawler-crane-5-831-hours?utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign=september_2026_auction&utm_content=facebook_sponsored_post

Sponsored by JJ Merchant Sales & Auctions

What’s shaping the future of crane and rigging? Safety, technology, evolving equipment practices, risk management, and the conversations happening across the industry.

The 2026 Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association Crane & Rigging Workshop brings the industry together September 22 to 24 in Omaha for educational sessions, real-world rigging case studies, committee meetings, networking, and a 96-booth exhibit center.

See what’s on the agenda and what attendees can expect from this year’s workshop: https://www.cranehotline.com/articles/part-of-the-conversation

The crane and rigging industry is heading into a season where preparation, performance, and smart decision-making matter.

The September 2026 issue of Crane Hot Line takes a look at the latest approaches to lifting, from air-powered load control and truck crane versatility to cold-weather operations and evaluating the role of electrification. Plus, get a preview of the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association Crane & Rigging Workshop and explore the latest maintenance resources in our Maintenance Provider Guide.

Read the September digital issue: https://publication.cranehotline.com/crane-hot-line-september-2026/0251826001787860686

Mazzella has expanded its executive leadership team with two new appointments and an expanded role.

Rick Smith joins as executive vice president of service, Mark Erny as executive vice president of cranes, and Dan Carmichael has been named executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Mazzella Adds Executives to Leadership Team | Crane Hot Line Mazzella names Rick Smith and Mark Erny executive vice presidents and expands Dan Carmichael’s role in sales and marketing.

Moving oversize and overweight loads takes careful planning long before the wheels start turning.

See how Mangum’s coordinates equipment, routes, permitting, escorts, and more to keep complex heavy-haul projects moving safely and efficiently: https://www.cranehotline.com/articles/delivering-with-precision

JK Technology Services has acquired 360 Rigging, expanding its crane and rigging capabilities for technology-sector projects.

The acquisition adds 360 Rigging’s experienced team to JKTS as the company continues building its support for data centers and other technology deployments.

JK Technology Services Acquires 360 Rigging | Crane Hot Line JK Technology Services acquired 360 Rigging, adding crane and rigging capabilities for technology sector projects.