Finally got my first solo lift job done yesterday in Houston after 3 years of second sticking

Ngl I was sweating bullets when that first beam came off the truck, but once the pick was set and the signalman gave me the thumbs up I felt like I could breathe again. Any other operators remember that first big moment when you knew you had it?

2 comments

2 Comments

jakem9812d ago

I used to think second sticking was where you really learned the trade, but that moment you described about the first beam coming off the truck changed my mind. It's different when you're the one with the crane controller in your hand and everyone's looking at you to get it right. I remember my first solo pick was a bunch of steel stairs for a parking garage in Austin, and my hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the load line. Once that signalman nodded at me though, something clicked and I knew I could handle it. That feeling of being trusted with a job is what makes you a real operator, not just having the hours.

sandra91612d ago

Man, you're not wrong about the shaking hands thing. @jakem98 made a good point about that click moment, but I think the real test is what happens after you set that first load down and the ground guy says "good job." That's when it hit me that my insurance rates were based on me doing that right every single time, not just once.