One interstate, door to door
From Round Rock the route is about as simple as a 190-mile drive gets. Head north on I-35 past Georgetown, Salado, Temple and Waco. At Hillsboro the interstate splits; stay on I-35E toward Dallas. On the south side of the city, take I-20 east and exit toward Seagoville. With clear roads it's around three hours. Leave extra time on Sunday evenings and Friday afternoons, when I-35 fills with weekend traffic in both directions.
How a training week usually runs
Because the distance rules out a daily commute, Round Rock students plan their weeks around the class hours:
| Day | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Drive up, check into your room |
| Monday to Thursday | Class from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM: classroom, simulator and yard time |
| Friday | Class from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, then the drive home |
On a 40-hour course that's typically a single week. On the 120-hour course you repeat the pattern for several weeks, which is why some people from here prefer to stay over a weekend rather than make the round trip twice. Exact days depend on the start date, so check the training schedule.
A room for the week
The premium courses include a room and board option, so you aren't hunting for a hotel near a town you've never visited. The Premium Mobile Crane Operations Fixed/Swing Cab Course matches the 40-hour fixed/swing cab course hour for hour, which makes it a natural pick for a Round Rock operator who needs a single week of training and certification prep. If you'd rather arrange your own stay, the standard courses cost less, and you can book lodging along I-20 in Mesquite or Balch Springs.
Crane work around Williamson County
The I-35 corridor from north Austin through Round Rock and Georgetown keeps filling in with distribution buildings, office campuses, schools and apartments, and a lot of that construction calls for mobile cranes setting tilt-wall panels, roof trusses and rooftop units. East of town, the large semiconductor fab going up in Taylor has brought heavy industrial construction into the county, with the steel erection, equipment setting and rigging that comes with it.
For most people here, telescopic cranes are the starting point, and NCCCO fixed cab or swing cab certification is what contractors tend to ask for. On industrial sites, crews also look for workers who hold rigger and signal person credentials.
Funding through the Rural Capital Area board
Round Rock sits mainly in Williamson County, which is served by Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, the board covering Williamson and eight neighboring counties. (A small piece of Round Rock lies in Travis County; residents there would start with Workforce Solutions Capital Area.) Ask the board about WIOA training funds before enrolling, since eligibility and approved providers are its call.
If you're a veteran, our courses are approved for Post-9/11 GI Bill® and VR&E benefits. Many students have an employer covering tuition; for a group, see company classes. Prices for every course are listed on the funding page.