Training Spotlight
By Maggie MacHale
From Classroom to Crane
GCI’ s real-world approach to crane training
Certification is only part of the equation in crane training; real-world experience often determines whether operators are truly job-site ready. That perspective guides the crane and rigging education at GetUpOnIt Crane Institute( GCI), based in Farmville, Virginia, where instruction emphasizes hands-on learning and practical application.
Formerly known as Glenn’ s Crane Institute, GCI recently rebranded while retaining the acronym to reflect a broader focus on education, training and compliance within the load-handling industry. GCI offers a range of NCCCO-aligned courses, including rigger levels I and II, signal person and mobile crane training. All instruction is led by industry professionals with some having 20 years of field experience.
Built Around Real-World Experience
The crane and rigging industry relies on skilled operators, and training plays a key role in keeping work sites safe and efficient. At GCI, operator education is treated as more than a box to check for certification. Classroom lessons are paired with hands-on practice so trainees can build skills they’ ll actually use on the job.
Hands-on operation is central to the curriculum. GCI has the cranes and equipment on-site to allow trainees to practice under conditions that will prepare them for certification. For most candidates, working on actual equipment better prepares them for the challenges of the field in comparison to simulators.
“ We don’ t call it training,” noted K. C. Wallace, subject
30
February 2026 • www. cranehotline. com