Trusses where your framers need them
Hand-setting trusses is slow, tiring and risky once spans get long. A crane picks them off the stack and flies them up to the top plates so your framing crew can spend its energy on bracing and nailing, not wrestling lumber up a wall.
We lift trusses for:
- Room additions and casitas
- Detached garages and RV garages
- Patio covers and ramadas
- Barns, shops and ag buildings
- Remodels where the roof is being reframed
Every lift is different. Call with the size and number of trusses, how far they need to go and where the truck can park, and Don will confirm the lift.
Before the crane shows up
Truss days go best when the site is ready and the crew is on hand.
- Walls ready. Walls framed, plumb and braced, with top plates laid out and marked.
- Trusses delivered and staged. Ask the supplier to drop the stack where the crane can reach it, ideally close to the building and not behind it.
- Crew on the walls. Have enough framers to receive, set and brace each truss as it lands.
- Bracing plan. Follow the truss manufacturer's or designer's bracing instructions. Temporary bracing is your crew's call and an important one.
- Clear access. Keep the truck spot and the path between the stack and the building free of vehicles and material.
Typical setups
On a residential addition or garage, the truck usually sets up in the driveway or street with the stack nearby. The operator picks one truss or a small bundle at a time and swings it into place for the crew on the walls.
On open lots, barns and shops, the truck can often get closer and set up alongside the building, which keeps the reach short.
Tight infill lots, backyards behind a house and lots with overhead lines take more planning. Photos of the site, the truck access and anything overhead help Don confirm the setup. Text them to 602-615-0712.
Communication with the crew on the walls
Truss sets depend on clear communication between the operator and the person directing the load. Before the first pick we agree on one signal person and the signals we will use.
OSHA requires a signal person when the operator cannot see the point of operation or the view in the direction of travel is blocked (29 CFR 1926.1419). With trusses landing on a wall the operator may not be able to see, that is common.
Tag lines keep a long truss from spinning in the breeze. Nobody stands under a truss in the air, and the crew on the wall only reaches for it once it is close and under control.
Beams, sheathing and the rest of the framing package
Trusses are rarely the only heavy thing on a framing job. While the truck is set up, we can also lift:
- Beams and headers that are too long or heavy to carry up by hand
- Bundles of roof sheathing, landed where your crew wants them once the framing is braced and ready to take the weight
- Roofing materials for the next trade, so the roofer is not hauling bundles up a ladder (see roofing material lifts)
Tell us everything that needs to go up when you call. Planning the full list ahead of time lets Don confirm each pick and keeps your crew from waiting on a second trip.
Safety notes
- Wind. Trusses act like sails. The operator will hold the lift if wind makes it unsafe to control the load.
- Power lines. Long trusses swing wide. OSHA's minimum clearance for cranes near power lines up to 350 kV is 20 feet unless specific procedures are used (29 CFR 1926.1408).
- Fall zone. Keep the area under the load clear except for workers hooking, unhooking or guiding it (29 CFR 1926.1425).
- Ground. Fresh fill and trenches near the truck spot can be soft. Tell us where they are.
See how a crane lift works for the full lift-day rundown.
Frequently asked questions
Can you lift trusses for a garage or room addition?
Yes. We lift trusses for additions, casitas, garages, patio covers, barns and shops. The crane picks them from the stack and sets them on the walls for your framers. Call 602-615-0712 or text 623-258-8361 with the number and size of trusses and where the truck can park, and Don will confirm the lift.
Where should the truss supplier drop the trusses?
As close to the building as practical and in a spot the crane can reach, usually between the truck setup and the walls. Avoid having the stack dropped behind the building or under power lines. If you are not sure, call us before the delivery and we can talk through the best spot.
Does your crew brace the trusses?
No. Bracing is the framing crew's job and should follow the truss manufacturer's or designer's instructions. We handle the crane and work with your crew on rigging and signals so each truss lands where it needs to be and stays under control until your framers have it secured.
What happens if it is windy on truss day?
The operator watches the wind throughout the lift. Trusses catch a lot of air, and if gusts make it unsafe to control the load, we hold the lift until conditions improve or reschedule. It is better to wait than to have a truss swing into the crew or the walls.