Crane rental questions,answered

Are you the crane company? No. Brownsville Crane Service is a free quote-request service. We pass your request to independent local crane operators, and they quote and do the work. We don't own cranes or run lifts.

What's the difference between an operated rental and a bare rental? An operated rental comes with the crane company's operator, who runs the lift. A bare rental is the crane alone; you supply a certified operator and usually your own rigging. If you're unsure, ask for an operated lift. More on the crane rental with operator page.

Which crane do I need? Three numbers decide it: how heavy the load is, how high it has to go, and how far it sits from where the crane can park. The operator sizes the crane from those, the rigging and the ground. The lift sketch on the home page turns them into a request in one tap.

What is a boom truck, and when is it enough? A crane mounted on a truck chassis. It suits lighter, quicker picks: rooftop HVAC units, roofing materials, signs, small steel. For heavier loads or longer reach, operators will point you to a larger mobile crane. See boom truck rental.

Can I get a rigger and a signal person too? Yes, say so in the request and mark "Operator plus rigger / signal person". Riggers attach the load with the right slings and hardware; a signal person directs the operator when the view is blocked. See rigging services.

How far ahead should I ask? As soon as you have a date. Short-notice lifts happen when an operator has a crane free, and nobody can promise that in advance; the emergency crane service page explains what helps.

How much does crane rental cost in Brownsville? We don't publish a number, because no reliable local rate was available to cite. Price depends on crane size, time on site, travel from the yard and crew. Operators quote each job in writing.

What moves a crane quote? Crane size, which comes from load weight and reach rather than weight alone; time on site; travel and mobilization; the crew; and site conditions such as soft ground, mats, power lines, gate rules and night or weekend work.

Is there a minimum charge? Ask each operator whether they bill a minimum, and whether travel time counts toward it. Compare quotes on the same basis: crane, crew, hours and travel.

Do I pay you for the quotes? No. Sending a request is free and carries no obligation. You pay an operator only if you accept their quote.

Do I need a lift plan? Routine picks are planned with the operator on site. Heavy, complex or critical lifts usually need a written lift plan, and many industrial sites ask for one before a crane sets up. Ask the operator what they need from you.

Can a crane work near power lines? Only under OSHA's power-line rules. Before work starts, the work zone is checked for whether any part of the crane, load line or load could come within 20 feet of a line; if so, more precautions apply, and OSHA's table sets wider clearances for higher voltages (29 CFR 1926.1408). Mention overhead lines in your request.

Does the operator need to be certified? OSHA requires operators on construction lifts to be trained, certified or licensed, and evaluated. Certification can come from an accredited testing organization, an audited employer program or a government license (29 CFR 1926.1427). NCCCO is one accredited certification and a common one to ask about.

When is a signal person required? OSHA requires one when the point of operation is not in the operator's full view, when the view in the direction of travel is blocked, or when the operator or the person handling the load decides site-specific safety concerns call for one (29 CFR 1926.1419).

Should I ask for proof of insurance? Yes, ask the operator to send an insurance certificate with the quote. Many contractors and plants require one naming them as additional insured, so check your own site's requirements before the day.

What if a lift goes wrong or a load gets stuck? Stop, keep people clear and don't try the lift again. Tell the operator or crew lead what happened and call a qualified operator to assess it. If anyone is hurt or there is danger, call 911 first.

Do you take requests for the Port of Brownsville or LNG sites? Yes. Site access, badging and safety orientation are set by each project, so say in the request if the job is inside a project gate. See industrial and port lifts.

Which towns do requests come from? Brownsville, Port Isabel, Los Fresnos, San Benito, Harlingen and the wider Rio Grande Valley, including McAllen, Edinburg and Weslaco. The service areas page lists them. Whether an operator can take a job depends on who has a crane free.

Will I pay extra for a job outside Brownsville? Longer drives usually add travel charges or a mobilization line, which the quote should list. Ask for it separately so you can compare.

Can the crew speak Spanish? That depends on the operator. Mark Spanish as your language in the request and we pass that on. The form is also available en español.