A crane company that started with one machine
TNT Crane & Rigging began in Houston in 1985 with a single 18-ton crane, according to an industry profile in BIC Magazine. It is still headquartered in Houston, on South Loop West, and has grown into a network of branches in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and other states, with regional brands such as Southway Crane & Rigging. Its fleet includes hydraulic truck cranes, all-terrain cranes, crawlers and tower cranes, and it offers specialized rigging and engineering services alongside crane rental.
Published descriptions of its customers fall into three groups: commercial construction (structural steel, concrete, data centers), industrial work (refining, oil and gas, wind and solar), and infrastructure (bridges, highways and water treatment).
One company, several certifications
Under 29 CFR 1926.1427, an operator's certification has to match the type of crane they run. NCCCO splits mobile cranes into separate designations, and tower cranes have their own program. For a rental company with a wide fleet, that means the training plan is per person and per machine:
- Hydraulic truck and all-terrain cranes fall under the telescopic fixed cab and swing cab designations.
- Crawlers with lattice booms need the lattice boom crawler designation, and lattice truck cranes have their own.
- Tower cranes require NCCCO Tower Crane Operator certification.
An operator moving from an all-terrain to a crawler for a refinery turnaround, or onto a tower crane for a high-rise, is adding a certification, not just learning a new cab.
The industries matter too. Wind work means long lattice booms and heavy nacelle and blade picks where wind speed limits govern the schedule. Data center and steel erection jobs involve hundreds of repetitive picks, where fatigue and complacency are the risks. Refinery jobs put cranes among pipe racks and live process units. The certification is the same in each place, but the habits we stress in the yard, like rechecking the chart when radius changes and stopping a lift when communication breaks down, carry across all of them.
What each course prepares people for
| Fleet segment | Our course | Practical exam in our yard |
|---|---|---|
| Telescopic (truck, all-terrain, rough-terrain) | Fixed/swing cab, 40 or 120 hours | Fixed and swing cab |
| Lattice boom crawlers | Lattice, 20 or 40 hours | Lattice |
| Tower cranes | Tower crane operations, 20 or 40 hours | Tower |
The shorter versions of the lattice and tower courses suit operators who already have real hours on that crane type and mainly need exam preparation. The longer versions add seat time for people crossing over from another type. Tower crane operators usually work by radio, since the load is often hundreds of feet below and out of sight, so clear voice signals get extra attention in that course.
Specialized rigging needs trained people on the ground
Rigging is half of this company's name, and the riggers on a heavy pick carry as much responsibility as the operator. The 28-hour Rigger/Signal Person Certification Level I course prepares for the NCCCO Rigger Level I and Signalperson exams: estimating weights, calculating sling tension at angle, selecting and inspecting hardware, and giving clear hand and voice signals. It is also a sensible step for oilers and drivers who want to move into operating.
Training Houston-area employees in Seagoville
Our only site is 304 Tunnell St in Seagoville, on the southeast side of Dallas, about 240 road miles from Houston. Most people from the Houston area take I-45 north and stay near the school for the length of the course; the Premium Tower Crane Operations 48 Course and the other premium courses offer optional room and board. Employees at Dallas-Fort Worth branches can commute. We do not train at company yards. To set up a group, use company classes, call (214) 763-0513, or send details through contact us.