Below the Hook- Rigging Competition
essential for success in the field.
Modeled on Industry Standards
The Below the Hook competition was modeled after professional rigging standards and developed in partnership with Train For The Crane. The event’ s structure included in-person training sessions led by NCCCO-certified instructors in the months leading up to competition day.
“ This event started as a whiteboard brainstorming session, following a discussion with an industry partner about the Golden Shovel Competition, a civil construction trade skills contest that we support,” said Meagen Kehrt, operations director of workforce development at Train For The Crane.“ My team was tasked with a question:‘ Why not cranes?’ One thing led to another, and I took the lead to build what we now know as the Below the Hook competition.”
Below the Hook participants competed in five categories designed to test technical knowledge and hands-on ability:
• Personal Protective Equipment( PPE)
• Signaling( Hand Signals)
• Radio Communication
• Connect Cards – Scenario-based rigging, knots and load calculations
• Corridor Crane Operations – Barrelto-barrel and Z-pattern exercises Each school entered five participants, with team and individual scores tallied using a cross-country format. The top seven finishers received individual medals, while the highest-scoring school earned both a traveling trophy and a permanent trophy for display.
Powering Education
Below the Hook was made possible thanks to the support of leading industry sponsors, including Mazella, MacAllister, Tenstar, Indiana Constructors and Train For The Crane. Each participating school received a box of rigging equipment— provided free of charge by Mazella and Train For The Crane— for ongoing practice and instruction.
Beyond the competition, Below the Hook served as a bridge between education and industry, showing students how technical training translates into high-demand careers. Lunch, awards and industry-branded gear added excitement and recognition for participants, while networking with professionals gave students a glimpse into potential futures within the trade.
This event also marked a milestone in the Heavy Highway Pathway, a specialized career-education track for Garrett CDP students, who continued their learning journey at the Golden Shovel Competition in Anderson, Indiana.
The success of the Below the Hook competition highlights the growing movement to introduce crane and rigging education earlier in career development. By combining simulation technology, hands-on rigging experience and direct industry mentorship, programs like this help close the skills gap and inspire the next generation of lifting professionals.
“ Watching these students rise to the challenge was unforgettable,” said Kehrt.“ Most had never even stepped inside a crane before that day, yet they worked and trained together with the focus and confidence of true professionals. Seeing their determination and teamwork reminded me why we do what we do— to spark something bigger and help build the next generation of crane and rigging leaders.”
Whether you’ re new to the field or a seasoned professional, Train For The Crane offers proven training methods designed to help participants earn NCCCO certification. For more information, contact Meagen Kehrt, Operations Director of Workforce Development, at meagen @ trainforthecrane. com or 317-727-3656.
www. cranehotline. com • November 2025 39