What's included
A certified operator who runs the crane and is responsible for the lift plan on site. Most companies also bring rigging gear sized to the job: slings, shackles, spreader bars for longer loads.
You are still responsible for telling the company the truth about the load and the site. The operator cannot safely plan a lift on bad information, and a wrong weight or reach called in ahead of time is the most common reason a quote changes on site day.
Who this fits
Facility and plant managers setting a rooftop HVAC unit, swapping a transformer, or placing equipment during a maintenance window. HVAC and sign companies that need a crane a few times a year but do not own one. Roofers setting trusses or roof-mounted equipment. Homeowners with a one-time lift, a hot tub, a shed, a tree limb over a structure, who need real help, not a guess.
Rough crane size in 20 seconds, then send it for a quote.
Size my liftTypical mobile crane classes used for operated work
Most operated jobs in the Tulsa area use a mobile hydraulic truck crane in the 15 to 100 ton range. Heavier industrial lifts at the Port of Catoosa or around Sand Springs refining and chemical sites sometimes call for larger cranes; see the full cost guide for the ranges by class.
Our free crane size tool gives you a starting class based on the weight and reach you enter. It is a starting point only. The company you book with will confirm the real class against the operator's load chart before they move anything.
What to have ready when you call
The weight of the item, its dimensions, the pick point and the set point (including height), how far the crane has to reach from where it can set up, and how many days the job runs. See the full quote request guide for the complete list, including the hourly rate, overtime rate, and fuel surcharge questions that matter on multi-day jobs.
What an operated rental generally does not include
An operated rental covers the crane, the operator, and usually basic rigging. It typically does not include things like a City of Tulsa right-of-way permit if your job touches a public street, specialized rigging for unusual loads, or engineering review for a complex lift. Ask the crane company directly what is and is not in their number, especially on a job that might need any of these.
It also usually does not include ground prep. If the setup spot is soft, sloped, or unpaved, you may need to arrange mats or plate under the outrigger locations yourself, or confirm the crane company will bring and place them.
Questions
Do I need to be on site for an operated crane rental?
Someone who knows the job needs to be there to point out the exact pick and set locations and answer the operator's questions. It does not have to be the person who called it in, but it should be someone who knows the site.
Does the operator bring rigging gear?
Most operated crane companies bring standard rigging (slings, shackles, basic spreader bars) sized to common jobs. Unusual loads, long pipe or odd-shaped equipment, may need rigging you supply or a company that specializes in that load. Say so when you call.
Can I get an operated crane for just a few hours?
Yes, but most companies have a minimum charge, often a half day or full day even for a short lift, because of drive time and setup. Ask about the minimum when you get your quote.
What if the job runs longer than planned?
Ask for the overtime rate before the job starts, not after. Multi-day industrial jobs especially should have the overtime and any fuel surcharge spelled out in the written quote up front.