Crane driver
Crane drivers operate lifting machinery at construction sites, quarries, mines, ports and warehouses.
Also known as: Mobile crane driver, tower crane operator, gantry crane operator
- Starter salary£25,000 a year
- Experienced£52,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 45 a week
What you'll do
As a crane operator, you could:
- read the day's lift plan and check anything that's unclear
- set up the crane controls and carry out safety checks
- load and unload materials from lorries, or containers from cargo ships
- move materials around a construction site or quarry
- monitor sensors that measure wind speed, crane stability and load weights
- report problems to the crane supervisor
- keep in close contact by radio with workers on the ground to carry out lifts safely
Working environment
You could work on a construction site, at a port or at a quarry.
Your working environment may be at height and noisy.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- concentration skills
- active listening skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- knowledge of public safety and security
- the ability to work well with others
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
How to become a crane driver
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
College
You could do a college course like construction plant operations.
This would teach you how to operate different types of plant machinery. You could then apply to construction companies for a trainee crane driver position.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Lifting Technician Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship to become a crane driver.
You may do a Port Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, if you're going to work in a port. This would train you on how to operate gantry cranes and lifting machinery in a cargo terminal.
These can take between 1 and 2 years to complete. They combine on-the-job training with off-site study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
Work
You could start as a construction groundworker, labourer or plant operator.
Once you've got experience of using heavy plant machinery like excavators, you could do crane driver training.
You could also work as a slinger-signaller, the person who guides lifting operations from the ground, then move into crane driving after completing extra training.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- have a category C1 or C LGV licence if driving mobile cranes on public roads
Career path and progression
With experience and further training you could:
- become a crane supervisor , directing lifting operations from the ground
- move into crane engineering and repair
- become a construction manager , with responsibility for all site operations
- specialise in working on cranes used in offshore construction or salvage
Career tips
Safety on site is extremely important. Being able to communicate clearly with your slinger-signaller team on the ground is essential.
It's also important to have the confidence to ask questions if any instructions are unclear, especially when starting out.
Registration
- You'll usually need a Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) card or National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS) card to work on a site
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleConstruction plant operator
- Job roleConstruction site supervisor
- Job roleForklift driver
- Job roleConstruction labourer
- Job rolePort operative
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0