Check any crane company before you book it. In Chicago, that means asking for the operator's City crane operator license, a certificate of insurance and a written quote, and asking who pulls the permits. Here is what to ask and why.
How do I check a crane company?
Ask the company for the operator's City of Chicago crane operator license card, a certificate of insurance and its Cook County crane operator registration if it applies. The City licenses crane operators for the equipment types on the card. If the company also works as a general contractor, check it on the City's licensed contractor lookup. We found no public City lookup for crane operator licenses, so seeing the card matters.
What insurance should a crane company carry?
At least general liability, and enough of it for your job. Some local rules set floors you can use as a guide. Cook County crane operator registration asks for a $1,000,000 general liability certificate. Chicago's Bureau of Forestry asks tree contractors for at least $1,000,000 per occurrence. City general contractor licenses carry minimums from $1 million to $5 million per occurrence by class. Ask your own insurer what you need.
Should I ask for a certificate of insurance?
Yes, always ask for a certificate of insurance, or COI, before the crane arrives. Ask for it to come from the insurer or the agent, with you as certificate holder and the job address. Check the dates and the limits. If your building has a manager or an association, they may want to be named too.
What is the difference between operated and maintained and a bare rental?
An operated and maintained rental comes with the operator, and the crane company keeps the crane in working order and is in charge of running it. A bare rental is the crane without an operator, and the renter supplies a licensed operator and takes on much more of the responsibility. For a homeowner or a small contractor in Chicago, an operated rental is usually the right choice.
Who is responsible if something is damaged?
It depends on the contract, so read it before you sign. Crane rental contracts often say who is liable for damage to the property, the load and the crane, and who must insure what. Some put a lot on the customer. Ask what happens if a driveway cracks, a lawn is rutted or the load is damaged, and get the answer in writing.
What should a crane quote include?
A crane quote should include the crane size or type, the operator and crew, the minimum hours, how travel is billed, the hourly rate after the minimum, permits and who applies, mats or ground protection, overtime and weekend rates, standby and cancellation terms, and payment terms. A quote that only gives one number makes it hard to compare.
How many quotes should I get?
Get two or three quotes for anything beyond a small lift. Give every company the same facts: the load, its weight, the address, photos of the set-up spot and the date. Then compare the crane size, the hours, travel and the permit plan, not only the total.
What are the red flags with a crane company?
Red flags include a company that will not show the operator's City license card or a certificate of insurance, a price given without asking the weight or the reach, no written quote, no mention of permits for a crane in the street, pressure to pay in full in cash up front, and a plan to lift near power lines without a word about clearance.
Do you give free estimates?
Yes. Estimates are free. Call or text (312) 964-8313 with what needs to move, roughly how heavy it is and photos of the site, and we will look at the access and the set-up spot and send a written quote. We work in Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Oak Park, Cicero, Berwyn, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Elmhurst, Oak Lawn, Schaumburg and Naperville.
This is general information about Chicago, Illinois and federal rules, not legal or engineering advice. For your own lift, check with the office named or a qualified engineer.