The Overhead Crane Industry in Saskatchewan: A Hard Truth

After years of working in the overhead crane industry in Saskatchewan, one thing has become clear: this industry is undermining itself.

Despite being one of the most technically demanding industrial trades, overhead crane work remains among the lowest paid. This is not because the work lacks responsibility or risk, but because of internal infighting, unsustainable pricing, and the absence of meaningful regulatory enforcement.

A Division of Venter Cranes

To be CSA-qualified in overhead crane inspection, a technician must complete a minimum of 8,000 documented hours working specifically on overhead cranes. To perform repairs, the requirement is still 4,000 hours, in addition to holding a recognized trade certificate. Beyond that, technicians are expected to provide inspections, training, maintenance guidance, and technical documentation directly related to crane systems.

These requirements far exceed those of most journeyperson trades.

Yet across Saskatchewan, many companies compete for service rates of $95 or less per hour while claiming to provide CSA-qualified technicians, fully equipped service vehicles, OEM training, insurance, PPE, and compliance documentation and crane-related training. The reality is simple: the math does not work. The mechanic's billing rate for our vehicle is often higher than the Overhead Crane Company's, keeping the equipment above the mechanic's head in a safe, reliable condition.

For legitimate companies, service work alone is often unsustainable, forcing them to rely on other revenue streams just to remain operational. At the same time, local companies are undercut by out-of-province firms that promise everything, underdeliver, and move on—leaving customers disappointed and incurring massive costs for out-of-province maintenance teams to maintain their new crane warranties.

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Many times, over the years, I have reached out to competing crane companies to work collaboratively and keep work built and supported in Saskatchewan, as is done in other provinces. In those regions, crane work supports local fabrication, manufacturing, and service ecosystems. In Saskatchewan, however, many firms operate satellite offices only, while steel production is performed out of province—and in some cases, the crane system structural steel is manufactured outside of Canada altogether. This model may reduce short-term costs, but it ultimately suppresses local industry growth, neglects the future of our trades and weakens the Canadian economy.

Unfortunately, those outreach efforts are often left unanswered—largely out of fear of losing customers. Ironically, that fear has opened the door to other industries, including NDT and engineering firms, now claiming to provide overhead crane inspections, qualifications, and training without meeting the technician experience and competency pathways outlined in CSA B167-16 and referenced by Saskatchewan Occupational Health & Safety. This further blurs the line between compliance and convenience and places additional pressure on companies that are actually training technicians as required.

Venter Cranes, your local service, support and OEM parts provider

At SafeLift Crane Aid, we have chosen a different path. We invest in properly training journeyperson staff. We send technicians to OEM factory training. We carry the required insurance, provide the equipment, and operate in full alignment with CSA B167-16—while still fighting for rates that reflect the true cost of qualified expertise.

Competing against companies that deploy semi-skilled workers or apprentices at reduced rates—while presenting them as fully qualified repair technicians or inspectors—creates false market expectations and increases safety risk. Many of these businesses rise quickly, price unsustainably, experience high staff turnover, and eventually collapse—giving the industry a bad name—when in reality it is the acceptance and tolerance of neglected industry standards that lie at the root of the problem.

The overhead crane industry across Canada needs regulatory enforcement of existing qualification and training requirements. Proper oversight would remove unqualified repair technicians and inspectors, raise safety standards, protect workers and facilities, and allow legitimate companies to compete fairly.

Until that happens, those committed to doing the work correctly will either press on or walk away. This industry deserves better—because safety, compliance, and integrity are not optional.

SafeLift Crane Aid is a division of Venter Cranes.