Commercial vehicles play a key role in the global economy, transporting goods around the world and assisting in the development of infrastructure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposal in 2023 to revise the current standards that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with commercial vehicles and set new, more stringent standards. Meeting these ambitious targets requires major change. As a result, businesses of all sizes in this industry need to rethink how they operate.

Chinese manufacturer LGMG has launched a new 80ft articulated boom lift with diesel or all electric power packs - the AR24J diesel and lithium battery powered AR24JE. In North America they become the AR80J and AR80JE.

“Most engineering students spend their time studying engineering standards and math,” says Doug Houseman, Principal Consultant at Burns & McDonnell. “They need that knowledge, but they also need knowledge of equipment. They may get an hour of class time for that, which leaves a giant gap in their knowledge base. They don’t know a bucket wheel from a backhoe. The Utility Expo is where they can get that gap filled.”

While spreader beams and lifting beams are the most popular below-the-hook lifting devices, there is still confusion concerning the differences between the two, in terms of how they’re designed and what they’re used for. Jenny Eagle reports.

Niftylift has started trials of a new harness attachment sensor for its boom lifts which it expects to launch later this spring.

The device - to be known as the ‘ClipOn’ - will initially be trialled by UK rental company Speedy.

The next generation of workers (Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2013) is poised to overtake Baby Boomers in the full-time workforce in early 2024, according to Glassdoor’s 2024 Workplace Trends report. With unprecedented spending taking place to support a clean energy transition, utilities need to sharpen their focus on attracting and retaining this next generation of workers.

Working in utilities poses numerous risks. Electric shock, working with toxic substances, falling from a height, trench collapse, and confined spaces are some of the regular dangers utility workers face.

Companies must proactively approach safety, regularly train staff on safety hazards and procedures, and equip them with adequate safety equipment.

International heavy lift and transport specialist Mammoet is innovating with zero-emission lifting and transport on site to help its customers reduce the carbon footprint of their projects.

Mathias Hoogstra, head of sustainability at Mammoet

Mathias Hoogstra, head of sustainability at Mammoet. Photo: Mammoet

Who better to have the first word on this than Mammoet head of sustainability Mathias Hoogstra, “If you ask me what my main vision is, I want us to redefine the construction site – at least at small scale initially – where we have electric or hydrogen cars, electric cranes, electric trucks, and have all this equipment cross-link and charge each other.

Watertown, S.D. – (March 4, 2024) – Terex Utilities announces that new FLEX Pro controls are available as an option on all Commander digger derricks. The company will feature a Commander C4047 in Booth 1229 at TechAdvantage, March 3-6 in San Antonio, Texas, and recently released a new video about the Commander Series.“FLEX Pro can be configured to communicate with the control stations according to the utility line crew’s needs. It supports below rotation controls like a corner mount swing away operator console, plug and play radio controls and dual command post joystick controls,” said Joe Caywood, Director of Marketing and Product Management.

Aerospace manufacturers are increasingly turning to cranes and other hoist systems to precisely place critical equipment. Overhead cranes add increased flexibility, reliability, precision and safety not only to aircraft production but all types of large construction projects. Jenny Eagle reports.

Navigating the currents of the insurance market has always been complex, requiring businesses to maneuver through a range of challenges. In recent times, the landscape has become even more daunting due to a confluence of factors. From the relentless grip of inflation to the soaring costs of claims, the industry finds itself in the midst of unprecedented times. As businesses strive to secure coverage that aligns with their needs, understanding the intricacies of the current environment is not merely advantageous but imperative.

Rope manufacturer Teufelberger-Redaelli has achieved a new Guinness World Record for making world's heaviest steel rope. Its Flexpack steel rope weighs 495.9162 tonnes and has a diameter of 160mm. Its minimum breaking load is 2166mT and the rope is over four kilometres long.

Even in construction deepfakes are a very real, very costly issue. The result of a fake video or image could be lost income, employees walking off the job or even an indefinite halt to the entire project. Getting out in front of the deepfake as soon as you can is the key to saving not only your company's reputation but the bottom line.

Tree topping is a method often used to reduce the size or height of a tree. With this method, the top of some or all of the branches from a tree’s crown are cut straight off, leaving large stubs. Unfortunately, tree topping hurts trees, causing stress and irreparable damage. Given the harm it can cause, this is not a practice we recommend.