Training & Certification for

Rough Terrain Mobile Crane

Product Information

Three Different Types of Trainings

Whether you want training and certification in as little as two hours with our online training or a more robust, customizable option like you get with our DIY training kits or on-site training, we can help you get the training certificate you need in the way you want it and at a price you can afford.

Online Training

Online is for those who prefer self-paced training from any location or for employers who need to assign and monitor employee training progress and exam scores. Online training is also eligible for bulk pricing discounts for groups of 16+ trainees.
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Training Kits

The kit is for those who want to do the training themselves. It’s a reusable training presentation that is used to train groups of people all at one time in one location. If you need to train a trainer to use the kit we offer a train the trainer online course.
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Train the Trainer

Train the trainer courses are online and meant to certify a single individual to use the training kit to train others. The kit is included with the train the trainer online course for no additional cost and is reusable. The result is a lifetime certification.
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What's in the Training?

Our safety training course is regulation-compliant, and our online version fulfills Canada’s classroom training requirement. Each class contains sections on weight, angles and stress, the center of gravity, sling hitches and types, and the hardware and lifting devices these workers can expect to work with.

This presentation includes intermittent practice quiz questions to prepare for the final written exam included with the course. In addition to the written exam, this course also includes a checklist for employers to use when administering a practical exam as required.

Though you will still need to familiarize yourself with all other applicable federal, state, provincial, territorial, and local standards, this training encompasses the following standards:

Canada Standards

  • CAN/CSA-Z150-11 – Safety Code on Mobile Cranes
  • CAN/CSA-Z150.3-11 – Safety Code on Articulating Boom Cranes
  • CAN/CSA-C22.2 – Safety Code for Material Hoists
  • ISO 16715:2014 – Hand Signals Used with Cranes
  • ASME/ANSI B30.1-29 – Cranes, Slings, Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices
  • ASME/ANSI B30.5 – Mobile and Locomotive Cranes
  • ASME/ANSI B30.22 – Articulating Boom Cranes

Why Do I Need Training?

In line with regulations, anyone who works with or around heavy machinery must receive training prior to working on their own. While requirements for refresher training are very specific, most safety trainings don’t have such specific requirements. However it’s wise to follow the same guidelines.

When it comes to refresher training, Canada’s standard in some instances is very specific: operators must be re-evaluated every three years to see if they are still competent to operate the equipment. Best practices say to apply this same rule to all types of equipment. A so-called “free-pass” cannot be awarded based on experience, age, or time on the job. The extent of the evaluation is to be determined by the employer but should include a written and practical examination that proves continued competency.
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Stay Informed On All Things

Did You Know?

From 2011 to 2015, about 220 people died in crane-related accidents per year.

Of those deaths, 40 of them occurred in Texas, the most in any state in the US.

About 27% of workers killed during that five year period of time were killed by objects falling from the crane. (Source: BLS)

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need Rough Terrain Mobile Crane training?

Canada requires rough terrain crane training for rough terrain crane operators–on that there is no question. Where confusion exists is how often operators need rough terrain crane  refresher training or recertification. Outside of the initial safety training class, it is common to see companies set recertification at every three years. We are one of them.  And here’s why:

As far as this 3-year rough terrain mobile crane training certification goes, Canada regulations are very specific when it comes to forklifts and a couple other pieces of equipment. However, on everything else they are not so clear. They just state the employer must regularly provide safety training for their aerial lift operators. Following industry best practices, we’ve adopted this 3-year term in order to help employers comply with the general standard of regularly providing and proving rough terrain mobile crane training. Ultimately, it is up to the employer to determine how frequently their rough terrain crane operators need to be trained. Many of our customers require it more often, annually even. Others may stretch it out a bit. In working with Canada, though, it is our experience that they like to see employers adopt the strictest standard when the regulations are not clear. For instance, we know of companies that didn’t train every three years and were reprimanded by Canada for not offering additional training more often. It is not uncommon for Canada to refer to the forklift standard as the pattern by which training should be carried out for other pieces of equipment. On a side note, Canada is slowly but surely making training requirements specific for other pieces of equipment so there are no gray areas. Mobile cranes and aerial lifts, for instance, are all undergoing potential changes to the regulations that will reference training specifically.

So, with that in mind, we say rough terrain crane operators must be re-evaluated every three years to determine if they are still competent enough to operate. We also state that this every-three-year rough terrain crane evaluation is the maximum time that should be allowed to pass before an operator receives rough terrain crane recertification. According to Canada, there are several instances that will require additional rough terrain crane training and observation before the three year period is up:

  • Rough terrain crane operator is observed in an accident or a near miss
  • Rough terrain crane operator received a poor evaluation or is observed driving in a dangerous manner
  • The rough terrain crane operator is assigned to drive a different type of rough terrain crane or the workplace has changed significantly enough to require additional rough terrain crane training (such as being transferred from operating a rough terrain crane used to hoist signs to a rough terrain crane used for trimming trees).

I’ve operated Rough Terrain Cranes for 20 years. Do I need to take a class, a written exam, and a practical exam still? Can I just take a written test?

No matter how long you’ve been on the job, Canada requires rough terrain mobile crane training, a RT Crane written exam, and a practical RT Crane evaluation. There is no way around it. This goes for other types of mobile cranes too. The extent of the classroom RT Crane training can be adapted by the instructor according to student needs. The written exam proves mental competency and understanding of the safety principles taught. And the practical evaluation proves the RT Crane operator not only understands but is capable of operating the machine safely. In the opinion of many, the practical evaluation is of the greatest overall value, but all components are necessary.

I received rough terrain mobile crane safety training at a different job. Do I need to be trained again by my new employer? Is my RT Crane training portable? And what about the NCCCO certification?

This is a common question, especially among laborers-for-hire who may sub out from job to job. Technically, it is your current employer who is responsible for saying whether or not you have been trained specifically for the type of mobile crane and job. If you bring a rough terrain mobile crane certification or rough terrain crane operator license (wallet card) to your new employer, they do not have to accept it. It is their right to require you to take their own training class. This is because if there is an accident, they will likely be responsible and need to prove to Canada that they trained you on RT Crane operations.

Having said that, Canada is considering enacting a law that would require every mobile crane operator to pass a set of additional mobile crane exams before being considered mobile crane certified. For now, this requirement has been postponed until November at 2107, and maybe longer. There are some organizations (NCCER, NCCCO, CIC) that still offer these written and practical exams and, yes, if you pass them, they are portable, recognized across the country. There are also some states that require it now. However, they simply prove you have passed the exam. It is still the responsibility of the employer to see you receive training. Many employers may simply accept your card, but if an accident were to occur they would still need to prove training. Just telling Canada that an operator had a mobile crane certification card will not suffice, nor will it undo the accident.

Can you explain rough terrain crane certification? Who can train, evaluate, and certify operators?

This, above all, causes a lot of confusion. Bottom line, Canada states that employers are responsible to train their employees. Generally speaking, there are three ways they can do this:

In terms of using a 3rd part of an employee safety training companies materials (like our RT Crane training PowerPoint kits or our RT Crane training classes onlineCanada does not recognize one company over another. They simply state that ‘training needs to occur’ and ‘here are the things an aerial lift operator should be trained on.’

When we do live training or offer aerial lift training online, people often assume we are the ones certifying the trainees. This is not true for any training company. We are simply assisting the employer by providing live aerial lift training or the training materials needed to help them aerial lift certify their employees.

Do I need to receive rigger signal person training too?

Yes. Like mobile crane certification, there is a lot of confusion about rigger signaler certification. Bottom line, you need to receive rigger training and signaler training before handling rigging in any manner. There are organizations that offer federal certification which is portable, meaning if you leave one job for another your rigging card will be accepted. However, these more expensive classes are not required. The responsibility to see everyone receives rigger signalperson training falls on the shoulders of the employer. They can train their employees in one of three ways: by themselves in-house, using a 3rd party such as ourselves, or by using another’s rigger training materials such as ours.

The RT Crane PowerPoint presentation in our rough terrain mobile crane safety training kit and our online rough terrain mobile crane safety training classes cover rigging, but we also have made our specific rigger signalman training materials available in a kit. They come with both a basic rigger class and an intermediate/advanced rigger class. They also have a signaler class.

How do I take the Rough Terrain/Hydraulic Crane practical evaluation if I take rough terrain mobile crane safety training online?

The online rough terrain mobile crane training class covers Canada’s requirements for the classroom portion. Many employers prefer online training because they know exactly what mobile crane safety training the operator will receive. In live classes, the training sometimes varies. A written exam is included at the end of our online training courses. After the rough terrain/hydraulic crane class and exam are finished, you and your safety managers will have immediate access to a practical evaluation checklist. This can be printed off and used by your supervisor to help him or her evaluate you on the mobile crane. When done, they can sign it and file it with your exam. This will satisfy Canada’s requirements for rough terrain mobile crane certification.

My trainee scored 80% on the exam. Did he pass or fail?

Contrary to popular belief, Canada does not dictate what a passing score entails. That is ultimately up to the employer whose responsibility it is to certify, or authorize, their employee to operate a Rough Terrain Mobile Crane. If you want to pass him at 80%, fine. But what if a question or two among the 20% missed could lead to an accident or death? Is it worth it? Our recommendation is that you always go over any missed questions with your trainees—even if they just missed one. Once they understand the principle missed, have them write their initials by the correct answer. That way, you are protecting them and those around them from potential accidents in the future.


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