Maintenance Practices
Managing Maintenance
The company uses its own self-developed software system with a digital dashboard that aggregates fleet-wide information in a central hub that can be seen at every ALL branch.
Guys in the field can open a work order, and track not only the progress of that repair, but also the complete service history of any other one in the fleet.
If a crane shows up at a sister yard, the local service team can immediately see what’ s been done, what’ s coming due, and anything else they need to know as they take over its care.
Commercially Available Maintenance Systems
Crane owners who don’ t have the in-house expertise or budget to develop their own maintenance-tracking software can rely on commercially developed programs from specialist companies such as A1A Software or Fleet Cost & Care.
When maintenance information is spread across paper records, spreadsheets, hour meters, and many departments, it becomes much harder to know what needs attention and when.
“ That is one of the key challenges crane owners are looking to solve when they adopt digital maintenance and fleet-management systems, such as A1A Software’ s iCrane- Trax,” said Tawnia Weiss, president of A1A.
Weiss explains that by centralizing equipment and maintenance information, iCraneTrax helps managers and mechanics better track service requirements, reduce missed maintenance, and improve communication.
“ One customer described the difficulty of managing maintenance when multiple operators were using the same piece of equipment,” said Weiss.“ By digitally tracking the equipment and alerting management and mechanics when service was due, the company gained better control over its maintenance program.”
A major advantage of combining digital management with telematics is the ability to make maintenance decisions based on actual equipment usage.
“ The value is not simply collecting more data, but turning that data into useful information,” said Weiss.“ iCraneTrax organizes maintenance information into schedules, alerts, and reports, helping employees identify upcoming service without constantly checking each machine individually.”
For larger or geographically dispersed fleets, that can be especially valuable because the right information can be communicated directly to the people responsible for acting on it.
Telematics can also help maintenance teams respond more effectively when problems occur.
Diagnostic and operating information may give technicians a better starting point
Inspecting booms for dents, dings, deformation, cracked welds, and other damage is a key part of a comprehensive preventive maintenance program.
before they arrive at the crane and help them determine what tools, parts, or expertise may be needed.
Maintenance also affects more than the service department.
When a crane is unavailable, it can affect dispatch, scheduling, active jobs, and customer commitments.
“ A1A Software’ s iFleetTrax, the next generation of its fleet-management platform, expands on the foundation of iCraneTrax by connecting fleet maintenance with broader operational functions such as scheduling, dispatch, accounting, resources, customers, documents, and reporting,” Weiss noted.
She added that crane owners are ultimately looking for better visibility, fewer surprises, and greater control over equipment availability.
Digital management helps move companies from reacting to maintenance problems toward planning for them.
“ By tracking equipment usage, identifying upcoming service, organizing maintenance information, and connecting it with the rest of the operation, programs like iCraneTrax and iFleetTrax help owners make more informed decisions and keep their fleets productive,” said Weiss.
Fleet Cost & Care’ s preventive maintenance dashboard provides immediate visibility into past-due preventive maintenance across a fleet.
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October 2026 • www. cranehotline. com