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Are boom trucks covered by the crane rule?
Yes, in construction. The scope section of Subpart CC, 1926.1400(a), names mobile cranes including "commercial truck-mounted" and "boom truck cranes" among the equipment it covers. That brings in the operator certification and employer evaluation duties of 1926.1427, the power-line rules, ground conditions, inspections and the rest of the standard. In Alaska those federal rules are enforced by the state program through its adoption of Part 1926.
There are boundaries. Cranes rated at 2,000 pounds or less follow the simpler requirements of 1926.1441 instead of the full certification rule. A boom truck used only for general-industry tasks, such as moving stock in a yard, falls under general-industry standards. And there are specific exclusions for some delivery work, covered below. When a truck does any construction lifting, plan for the full rule.
Telescopic boom trucks with a fixed operator station
Most boom trucks have a straight telescoping boom and controls at a fixed station, often at the rear of the truck or on a stand-up platform. For these, the NCCCO certification is TSS: Telescopic Boom Crane, Fixed Cab. A TSS card covers fixed-station telescopic cranes, including boom trucks.
NCCCO once offered a separate Boom Truck, Fixed Cab (BTF) certification. In 2021 it announced that BTF would be discontinued and that TSS would continue to cover those machines. Older cards may still show BTF until they expire, but new candidates test for TSS. A restricted TSS option limited to short booms was also offered at one point and is no longer available, though NCCCO's card code list shows it may still appear on older cards.
If your practical exam is taken on a crane that does not meet NCCCO's minimum boom configuration, your card may carry a short-boom restriction. Check the current candidate handbook before you book a practical so the crane at the test site suits the work you do.
Swing-seat boom trucks and larger truck cranes
Some boom trucks and truck-mounted cranes have an operator seat that rotates with the boom. Those are swing-cab machines. NCCCO's TLL: Telescopic Boom Crane, Swing Cab specialty is the matching certification. A fleet with both styles may need both specialties, or the TLL alone if that is what the employer requires.
Larger truck cranes and all-terrain cranes with a separate upper cab also fall under TLL, while lattice-boom truck cranes use the LAT specialty. Look at where the operator sits and what kind of boom it is, not at the word "truck" on the bill of sale.
Knuckle booms and service trucks
Articulating (knuckle-boom) cranes fold at a hinge and are common on building-supply delivery trucks. NCCCO's Articulating Crane certification covers them, with categories for articulating boom cranes and articulating boom loaders. Under 1926.1400(c)(17), articulating cranes delivering materials to a construction site are generally excluded from Subpart CC when they simply transfer the material from the truck to the ground. The exclusion has limits: it does not cover holding material in place while it is attached to a structure, and handling certain prefabricated components, such as trusses or precast pieces, brings the crane back under the rule. Separate, narrower provisions apply to placing packaged building supplies onto a structure. Read the exact text, or assume certification is needed.
Service truck cranes are the small telescopic or articulating cranes on mechanics' trucks, used to lift engines, pumps and tires. NCCCO's Service Truck Crane certification fits this equipment. Field mechanics on Alaska mine sites, oil fields and road crews often run these, and many employers want them certified even when the job falls outside construction.
Pole-setting digger derricks are another truck-mounted machine with their own exclusion when used for utility work under the electrical standards. See the digger derrick course.
Matching your truck to a card
Use this quick guide, then confirm against the certifier's current handbook:
- Straight telescopic boom, controls at a fixed station: TSS.
- Telescopic boom, seat rotates with the boom: TLL.
- Lattice boom on a truck: LAT.
- Knuckle boom used beyond ground delivery: Articulating Crane certification.
- Small crane on a mechanic's truck: Service Truck Crane certification.
- Rated 2,000 lb or less: training and evaluation under 1926.1441, certification usually not required by OSHA but sometimes by employers.
Getting the card from anywhere in Alaska
The written exam can be taken by online proctoring, so a driver in Kodiak or Nome can sit it without travel. The practical requires the right type of crane at a test site, which in Alaska usually means a trip to a larger town. Plan the practical around the season and your work schedule.
Our service truck crane, articulating crane and mobile crane operator courses prepare you for the written exams, self-paced on any device. Employers can enroll several drivers at once through get started. For how the state applies the federal rules, see the Alaska requirements guide, and for power-line safety, which matters a great deal for boom trucks working along streets, see our power line clearance guide.
Questions people ask
My card says BTF. Is it still valid?
A BTF card remains valid until its expiration date for the equipment it covered. When you recertify, you will move to the current categories. Check NCCCO's current recertification guidance for what applies to your card.
Does a CDL count as boom truck certification?
No. A commercial driver's license covers driving the truck on public roads. Crane operation is separate and requires its own certification for covered construction work.
Is a TSS card enough for a truck crane with a cab on the upper?
Usually not. A cab that rotates with the boom makes it a swing-cab crane, which matches TLL. Some operators hold both TSS and TLL to cover a mixed fleet.
Can an employer evaluation replace certification for boom truck operators?
No. Under 1926.1427 the employer evaluation is in addition to certification, not instead of it, for equipment the rule covers. Both are needed before the operator works independently.