I'm sure that all crane operators have had the same experiences that Mr. Linberg related to and then some, some times it just comes with the job, right or wrong.

I was operating a 888 Manitowoc with 150 foot of main boom and 150 foot of luffing jib for the Ironworkers, on a steel mill contruction job. They wanted me to pick a composite roof joist section weighting 12750, the chart was good for 11600 at a 245 foot radius over the side. I was well out of chart, I said no, they moved the pick closer to the crane with a 80 ton picker and I made it for them.

On a different job, I was operating a 7460 American, a 90 ton truck mount for the Boilermakers, they were erecting a flute water tower with the heaviest pick right at 38500 being the 135 foot support stem. I had 200 foot of boom in the rig for the job. The ground conditions prevented me from moving the rig closer to the pick and would be 1200 lbs. over chart at the 70 foot radius. Because we where in the tipping area of the chart and not the structual I made the pick with the help of a D7 Cat blade on the front bumper of the carrier. It was not the right thing to do, but it was a small company and we helped them out, no one got hurt, no property damage, we made the pick, and that's what we crane operators do.

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