Workforce Development
By Devon Van de Kletersteeg
Upskilling at Scale
How one multi-state utility contractor is building safer, smarter crews
As sitework operations expand, contractors face dual workforce challenges of attracting new talent while upskilling existing crews across a wider geographic footprint. For the Sellenriek Family of Companies, those challenges became more urgent as its footprint, fleet and field demands grew more complex.
Rooted in the Midwest and built on decades of field expertise, this family-led organization supports fiber installation, overhead electric distribution and underground utility construction in more than 16 states. One project may run through a rural corridor with minimal traffic while another unfolds along dense urban streets.
The company’ s fleet reflects that range of work, from bucket trucks, horizontal directional drills, mini excavators, skid steers and track loaders to digger derricks and support trucks. Experience levels vary just as widely, with new hires often working alongside operators with decades in the field.
As Sellenriek expanded, hiring alone wasn’ t enough to keep pace. The company needed a more systematic way to upskill the crews already in the field.
Beyond training, CM Labs simulators generate reports that give Sellenriek a way to document development, evaluate performance and reinforce common standards.
Building Consistency
Workforce pressure in construction is often framed as a hiring problem, as labor demands continue to outpace the available workforce across much of the industry. In practice, the greater challenge often
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July 2026 • www. cranehotline. com