When I launched Up! Up! Lifting three months ago, I had big hopes and realistic expectations—or so I thought. My plan seemed solid: start a local crane truck company serving Asheville and Western North Carolina, find clients who needed heavy lifting and hauling, and grow steadily from there.
But reality hasn’t followed my timeline. Growth has been slower than expected, and I’ve learned that launching a service business—especially one involving specialized equipment—comes with more complexity than most startup guides ever mention.
Check out other articles in this “Crane Truck Startup” series, chronicling my efforts to get an Asheville crane truck business off the ground.
Starting a Crane Truck Business in Asheville: What I Learned Fast
Before purchasing my crane truck, I spent weeks researching the market and speaking with local businesses that could benefit from crane delivery. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Most said they’d gladly hire a local crane truck to move, lift, or place their materials.
That confidence carried me forward. But once I was ready for work, only a couple of those same companies followed through. The rest didn’t call—at least not yet.
Why Local Interest Doesn’t Always Mean Immediate Business
Looking back, I realize I validated interest, not buying behavior. I asked if they needed heavy things lifted—but not how often, under what conditions, or what challenges I might encounter onsite.
Crane work is full of variables. Early on, I didn’t fully understand how terrain, ground firmness, slope, weight, and reach distance could make or break a job. My crane truck, with a 16‑foot flatbed and knuckle boom crane, weighs about 13,000 pounds. Even a soft lawn or gentle slope can turn a simple lift into an impossible or unsafe one.
Crane Truck Job Challenges: Terrain, Weight, and Safety Considerations
I learned the hard way that not every “yes” should be accepted sight unseen.
On one job, I was hired to move a large tree root ball said to be “right by the side of the road.” It turned out to be over thirty feet away. In trying to make it work, I pushed the truck beyond its limits and ended up damaging the crane—three weeks in the shop and several thousand dollars in repairs.
Another time, I backed down a steep driveway to place a boulder in a customer’s yard. The yard was flat, but grass under the tires left me spinning, unable to climb back out. A fellow contractor towed me to safety. That job ended fine, but it reinforced that terrain and access matter as much as payload weight.
Essential Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Crane Truck Job
Now, I qualify every lead differently. For each new job, I think about:
- How heavy and large are the items to be lifted?
- How far from the truck will the lift point be?
- What is the ground surface and slope like at pickup and drop‑off?
- How high do I need to lift—ground level, second floor, beyond?
- What’s the total payload weight and route terrain?
Asking these questions up front minimizes surprises and protects equipment, property, and schedules.
From Early Mistakes to Smarter Lifts: Building Experience in WNC
This morning, while finishing this piece, a customer called for a new job. I walked through all the questions above, ran the numbers, and determined it’s a good fit. The project is now booked—and for the first time, I feel genuinely confident about the logistics before I even arrive onsite.
Running a crane truck business in Asheville has been humbling, but every challenge has sharpened my judgment and shown me how to better serve customers.
Safer, Smarter Crane Truck Services for Asheville and Western NC
At Up! Up! Lifting, every job now starts with clear communication, safety checks, and realistic planning. Whether lifting materials for a construction site or delivering landscaping boulders, my goal is to ensure every lift is a success.
If you’re planning a lift or heavy delivery in Asheville or anywhere around Western North Carolina, contact Up! Up! Lifting for an honest, experience‑based assessment before scheduling your crane job.
