Business Issues
Crane Outlook
Where Cranes Will Stay Busy in 2026
Data centers, heavy civil and states will be driving growth
If you’ re planning fleet positioning for 2026, the signals are getting clearer: data centers, transportation infrastructure and select nonresidential building markets will continue to anchor crane utilization across the U. S.
Data centers remain the most crane-intensive growth story. For crane owners and rental houses, this translates into sustained demand for crawlers and large all-terrains( ATs) for site development and steel, followed by mid-capacity rough-terrains( RTs) for mechanical, electrical and repeat-build phases.
Heavy civil work is providing a foundation for ongoing utilization. These projects favor large crawlers, ATs and RTs, often tied up for extended durations— an important consideration for fleet availability and rental rate discipline.
State-level nonresidential starts highlight where growth is accelerating the fastest. These spikes often coincide with large industrial, energy, institutional or civil packages— the types of jobs that quickly absorb crane capacity.
The challenge won’ t be finding work— it will be having the right machines in the right markets at the right time. For example:
• According to CBRE, recording the largest total and a 195 % year-over-year increase in the second half of 2024, Atlanta has moved firmly into the top tier of U. S. data center markets, placing the region in the top five nationally alongside Northern Virginia and Dallas.
• According to ARTBA, U. S. highway and bridge contract awards were at a record level in 2024. The largest markets by award value were Texas, California, Florida, New York and Illinois— states where major bridge, interchange and corridor projects translate into multi-year crane demand rather than short cycles.
• According to ConstructConnect, a comparison of nonresidential construction starts from January to September 2025 vs the previous year shows the fastest percentage growth concentrated in a mix of Gulf Coast, Mountain West and Northeast states.
Award Value( Billion USD)
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
U. S. Highway & Bridge Contract Awards
2023 2024
Record highway and bridge awards in 2024 signal continued heavy civil crane utilization into 2026.
Percent Growth(%)
500
400
300
200
Top States by Nonresidential
Construction Growth
100
0
Louisiana Arizona Montana Massachusetts North Carolina Utah Delaware Nevada Rhode Island Idaho
Fast growth in nonresidential construction starts highlights where crane demand is accelerating fastest at the state level.
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March 2026 • www. cranehotline. com