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When you need to get up in the world for a construction project without a heavy equipment investment, you need W.O. Grubb Crane Rental. Although many general contractors, subcontractors and construction managers own cranes, sometimes a special project or a high number of projects necessitate crane rental. At times like these, W. O. Grubb Crane Rental is the solution in much of the United States.

W. O. Grubb Crane Rental is headquartered in Richmond, Va., with branch­es in Portsmouth, Fredericksburg and Alex­andria, Va., and Baltimore. The company also has satellite offices that extend its range into the Midwest and even Alaska.

Since its founding in 1967, W. O. Grubb has been committed to being a crane service company with the latest equipment and properly trained personnel dedicated to customer satisfaction.

Its rental fleet is upgraded continually with the latest equipment technology available in the industry and is the largest rental fleet in the Mid-Atlantic region, the company says. Its inventory includes everything from six-ton carry decks to a 550-ton all-terrain crane and more than 200 cranes that average less than six years in age.

W. O. Grubb’s service staff inspects each piece of equipment before it leaves the company’s facilities to ensure it is in top condition and meets all ANSI and OSHA standards, the company states. Its  safety management system includes lift planning, crane selection, personnel train­ing and certification, as well as performance monitoring.

The company also offers heavy hauling, tractor trailers, heavy-duty lowboys, flats, drops and extendable trailers, hy­draulic platform trailers with capacities up to 1,000 tons and crane transportation, erection and breakdown.

Steel Erection

Besides crane rental, the company performs steel erection and rigging services. W. O. Grubb is a member of the Steel Erectors Association of America and is recognized by the American Institute of Steel Construction and the Precast Con­crete Institute as an “Advanced Certified Steel Erector” of structural steel and precast concrete.

In April 1999, W. O. Grubb was the first member of the Steel Erectors Associ­ation of America to receive these coveted industry certifications. W. O. Grubb’s erection capacity ranges up to 20,000 tons annually, with large projects of 3,000 tons or above, and average projects from 500 tons to 1,000 tons or more.

The company offers structural steel erection, precast erection, tilt-wall erection, metal stair installation, welding metal deck, nelson studs and miscellaneous metal.

Rigging/Machinery Installation

W. O. Grubb offers machinery-moving services for manufacturing facilities and contractors. The company is equipped to handle small, delicate machines and large tonnage machinery. Its riggers are experienced in operating in a variety of manufacturing plant environments. The company has the capability to provide safe, timely and efficient service to move one machine or an entire plant.

The rigging devices W. O. Grubb owns and operates assist company employees in properly handling machinery – such as forklifts, carry decks, lift systems, jacking systems and neoprene rollers – and provide the best possible means to meet customers’ handling requirements. The company claims to have the largest crane fleet in the area and that, along with its steel erection capabilities, add to the resources it offers customers.

A staff of experienced field representatives are available during the planning phase to discuss technical details and handling options or at any point during a job to assist in the project. 

Safety First

Providing and maintaining a safe working environment for employees and customers always has been mandatory at W. O. Grubb. In 2004, W.O. Grubb made major strides in upgrading its safety program. A long-time employee with Grubb was designated the safety director. Safe­ty committees consisting of management and labor were established, along with an incentive program initiated to reward employees for working safely. These im­provements along with other changes have resulted in a safer work en­vironment and an EMR and DART well under the industry averages.

The company regularly updates its safety manual to use as a guideline to complement current safety regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and state occupational safety and health programs in Virginia and Maryland. Along with weekly toolbox meetings, company managers also require employees to attend onsite contractor safety orientations. Site visits conducted by the safety department ensure all employees adhere to strict safety guidelines.

W. O. Grubb has a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy, and a complete background check program. The company’s crane fleet is inspected daily and certified by a third-party, OSHA-qualified inspector annually. “We are adamant in keeping our equipment in top-notch shape to minimize the inherent dangers of our business,” the company declares.