Safety Spotlight
Workforce Development
ITI’ s crane and rigging digital boot camp familiarizes Buckner’ s operators with fundamental crane operations. The structured courses prepare them for recertification exams and reinforce proper inspection procedures and highlight common hazards.
events, Buckner is using ITI’ s crane and rigging catalog as a digital boot camp, familiarizing new apprentices and sales hires with fundamental crane operations while ensuring operators complete critical courses in fall protection, first aid in construction and personal protective equipment awareness.
The structured, easy-to-follow courses not only prepare them for recertification exams but also reinforce proper inspection procedures and highlight common hazards, helping operators avoid dangerous shortcuts.
Providing Incentives
To further drive participation and engagement in training, especially among seasoned operators, Buckner also introduced an incentive program that’ s tracked on ITI’ s platform. Through the Buckner Bucks initiative, employees earn $ 40 for each completed safety course, up to 22 courses per year. The rewards can be redeemed for high-value items such as tools, electronics and branded gear, encouraging ongoing learning while recognizing employee effort, Rhew related.
While new employees quickly adapted to online training, Buckner needed to encourage adoption among seasoned operators less familiar with the latest technologies.
To overcome this, the company introduced structured support programs, including group training and peer mentoring.
Once operators saw how digital training supported certification, reduced travel time and allowed self-paced learning, adoption increased, Rhew noted. The ability to reference digital materials on demand also reinforced key concepts between hands-on sessions. And beyond operator recertification, the approach is also playing a key role in onboarding and career development.
“ For companies spread across the U. S. or even globally, online training is essential,” Rhew said.“ It’ s made a huge impact on our operations. There’ s no need for us to develop these courses ourselves, manage a production team or update content. Everything is kept up to date for us, saving time and money.”
Measurable Value
For Buckner, the results of strategically leveraging online training include:
• Crane operators have achieved a 98 % pass rate for CCO recertification
• CCO recertification costs have been lowered by 87 % every five years compared
The Buckner HeavyLift Cranes fleet handles projects in wind power, stadium construction, refineries and industrial development. The company, with the fifth-largest crawler crane fleet in the U. S. fields a range of Liebherr models. The largest is the LR 13000 with a maximum lifting capacity of 3,300 tons and hoist height of 774 feet. to sending all operators to traditional in-person training, excluding additional exam fee, travel and lodging expenses
• Safety training completion rates have risen from 75 % to 99 %
There are indirect cost savings as well, according to Rhew. For example, automated reminders and progress tracking help ensure timely recertification without overburdening Buckner’ s administrative team. Additionally, digital training minimizes operational downtime, keeping operators certified without leaving jobsites, which could cost Buckner up to $ 3,300 per day per unmanned crane if replacements were unavailable or operator certification lapsed.
“ The ability for our crane operators to prepare for their CCO recertification remotely supports consistent training across geographically dispersed teams,” Rhew said.“ Before, we struggled with getting the right study materials to our team on time, and there was no easy way to track it. Now, everything is in one place, and we can ensure operators are well-prepared.
“ ITI’ s digital training catalog has been a key resource for us,” Rhew added.“ Safety and risk management are critical and providing our team with industry-leading technology and advanced training has been a huge advantage.”
That success is now helping further Buckner’ s expertise in heavy lifting and complex crane projects, and their commitment to safety, efficiency and cost-effective and timely project completion.
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October 2025 • www. cranehotline. com