Friday roundup: rough terrain market; Schuster interview; young leaders

The Crane and Transport Briefing started this week with a look at the market for rough terrain cranes in North America. Higher capacity rough terrain cranes are driving the market which is being described as fairly robust, strong, resilient and active, especially in the higher capacity classes. In addition, North American RT manufacturers are reporting “solid utilisation.”

“Although the RT market can be somewhat seasonal, it is still fairly robust with most customers reporting they have solid utilization of their fleets,” said Brian Peretin, Liebherr USA general manager of sales. “The traditional drivers of oil, gas and energy are still very much in play. However, we are seeing a big increase in demand coming from chip plants and data centers.”

RTs are easy to operate and bring high productivity to a jobsite. Commercial construction and infrastructure projects combined with new manufacturing facilities are driving the market for larger rough terrains.

Click for more on this story.

Jennifer Schuster didn’t plan on a career in rigging and heavy haul but she’s now a key leader in one of the industry’s most respected companies.

As president and COO at Edwards Moving & Rigging in the USA, Schuster helps drive complex transport projects and support the company’s continued growth across multiple sectors, including power and steel. Since transitioning from a legal career to the heavy haul world in 2015, she’s been instrumental in evolving company operations and leadership.

Schuster is a strong advocate for industry workforce development and women in leadership. Under her guidance, Edwards has launched apprenticeship programmes and internal development initiatives to attract and retain skilled workers. A longtime SC&RA member and newly elected Board Director, she’s working to increase awareness of career opportunities across the industry. “There are roles for women,”” she said. “We need to raise awareness that there are opportunities for female leadership.”

Click for more on this story.

Each year, SC&RA’s 4 Under 40 award honours four rising professionals under the age of 40 who are making significant contributions to their companies, the Association and the industry at large.

This year’s group brings a powerful mix of operational expertise, safety leadership, strategic vision and workforce innovation to the table. From championing predictive maintenance and safety culture to advocating for driver empowerment and field-level engineering improvements, these young leaders are helping shape a stronger, smarter and more resilient future for crane, rigging and specialized transport. The 2025 4 Under 40 Class includes:

* Jean-François Houde, VP of operations, Guay.

* Allison Hughes, contractor relations manager, Bennett Motor Express

* Cale Smith, HSE manager, Southern Lifting and Hoisting

* Christopher Warshaw, VP of engineering, Deep South Crane & Rigging

Click for more on this story.