Business Issues

Crane Outlook

What this means for crane utilization is that demand in 2026 will be strongest where three forces overlap:

1. Data center clusters with overlapping build schedules 2. Transportation awards converting into active construction 3. Nonresidential starts accelerating at the state level

For fleets, that means planning for long-duration crawler commitments, high utilization of 300 to 600-ton ATs and steady demand for RTs and taxi cranes supporting mechanical,

Megawatts( MW)

2000

1500

1000

500

Major U. S. Data Center Markets- Active Capacity

( MW)

0

Atlanta( Under Construction)

Northern Virginia( Absorption)

Dallas( Absorption)

Chicago( Absorption)

Atlanta continues to lead primary U. S. data center markets in active construction capacity, driving sustained demand for large crawlers and all-terrain cranes. electrical and finishing scopes of work. And while markets tied to data centers and infrastructure are less cyclical— and more predictable— than discretionary commercial work, across the board cranes will stay busy in 2026.

CRANE SAFETY SOLUTION

18

����������������������������������������

����������������������������������������

�������������������� March 2026 • www. cranehotline. com

��������������������