NCCCO Foundation Publishes Recruitment Playbook for Crane Industry

The NCCCO Foundation has released a new recruitment playbook designed to help crane companies and contractors strategically attract and retain skilled employees. Developed in collaboration with communications and consulting firm SmallBox, the playbook aims to move the industry from traditional word-of-mouth hiring toward scalable, long-term recruitment strategies.

“The playbook is a first for the crane industry by providing not only well-founded and tested strategies for recruiting quality employees, but also sharing free messaging, images and videos to implement the strategy,” said T.J. Cantwell, executive director of the NCCCO Foundation. “It’s intended for anyone recruiting for the crane industry, including contractors, crane companies, training providers, unions and other workforce partners.”

The playbook emphasizes core operator attributes such as problem-solving, focus, accountability and attention to detail rather than focusing solely on job titles or credentials. It provides tailored recruitment strategies for three key audiences: women in trades, truck drivers with CDLs and construction workers transitioning to crane operations.

Grounded in research, operator insights and real-world testing, the tool offers a practical framework for expanding outreach while maintaining the profession’s skill and safety standards. The resource includes messaging, visuals and videos to help employers implement the strategies effectively.

The NCCCO Foundation also hosted a webinar featuring industry experts who shared recruitment tips and an overview of the playbook. A recording of the session is available on the NCCCO Foundation website.

The recruitment playbook is available for free download at the NCCCO Foundation’s workforce awareness site.