SC&RA boosts engagement by taking to the road

As part of a broader effort to strengthen regional engagement and expand member outreach, the Association launches its SC&RA On the Road advocacy tour this June with stops in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Boston, Massachusetts, all in north eastern USA.

Designed as free, half-day regional events for crane, rigging and specialized transport companies, the meetings will provide attendees with updates on current advocacy efforts, regulatory developments and industry issues, while also creating an open forum for members to share concerns and discuss challenges impacting operations in their respective regions.

SC&RA On the Road in Philadelphia, USA. Photo: SC&RA

The Philadelphia event takes place 16 June at the Hyatt House Philadelphia/King of Prussia, followed by the Boston meeting the next day at the Hilton Garden Inn/Boston Waltham.

Ultimately, the initiative is intended to bring SC&RA directly to members and non-members alike, creating additional opportunities for a more comprehensive and localised dialogue surrounding legislation, permitting, workforce concerns and other issues affecting the industry. The concept emerged directly from the Association’s recent strategic planning conversations, where members vocalised their desire for additional engagement and regional outreach.

Chris Smith, SC&RA vice president, transportation. Photo: SCRA

“We developed this ‘SC&RA On the Road’ concept as a way to bring these types of conversation directly to members and potential members alike,” said Chris Smith, SC&RA vice president, transportation. “Through research and data, we determined that the north east was an area most ripe to host an opportunity for a more targeted and regional approach to SC&RA’s advocacy campaigns.”

Beth O’Quinn, SC&RA senior vice president, crane and rigging. Photo: SCRA

The realisation ultimately led to the selection of Philadelphia and Boston as the first two stops on the tour. SC&RA senior vice president, crane and rigging, Beth O’Quinn indicated the initiative also reflects the Association’s effort to better connect with companies that may not regularly participate in national meetings, but are still heavily impacted by the same operational and regulatory challenges facing the industry overall.

“There can sometimes be a misperception that SC&RA only works with or listens to larger companies,” she said. “Part of this effort is bringing the Association directly to members, helping them better understand the resources available to them and reminding them they’re not the only companies dealing with these issues.”

Tremendous activity

Image: SCRA

The locations themselves were also selected strategically. Boston, O’Quinn noted, was chosen in part because of ongoing axle-weight permitting advocacy efforts in the region, while Philadelphia offered strong member concentration, including many smaller companies operating throughout the north east corridor.

Smith acknowledged the north east also boasts a certain member concentration, as well as unique operational and regulatory challenges companies face throughout the region.

Boston, USA. Photo: SCRA

“Massachusetts is a good example because of our superload permitting reform efforts there, but more broadly, the north east is simply a difficult place to operate in many respects,” he said. “There’s tremendous activity there – major breakbulk and project cargo ports facilitating oversize and overweight imports and exports on and off ageing, outdated and heavily congested infrastructure – and the significant operational and regulatory challenges tied to that activity.”

Smith also noted those challenges can vary considerably across the region, particularly related to the small geographic size of the states there. In New England, he said, condensed infrastructure, permitting restrictions and interstate harmonisation are most acute there for this reason, while larger states such as Pennsylvania introduce additional long-haul transport and co-ordination complexities.

“Pennsylvania presents different challenges simply because so many moves pass through the state, even when the origin or destination is somewhere else.”

Having good conversations is what it is all about. Photo: SCRA

At the same time, he emphasised the Boston and Philadelphia events are also intended to strengthen grassroots advocacy efforts by creating stronger regional connections between members and the Association.

“That’s where these relationships become extremely valuable. At the national level, relationship-building only goes so far if lawmakers aren’t hearing directly from businesses in their own communities and states. They want to hear from the companies in their own communities who lift and move the world.”

“By bringing members together regionally,” added O’Quinn, “SC&RA hopes to better identify industry concerns, strengthen communication networks and encourage greater participation in future advocacy efforts when issues arise.”

Shaping the Issues

Jason Bell, SC&RA director, membership. Photo: SCRA

For Jason Bell, SC&RA director, membership, a major part of the initiative centres around accessibility and connection. “If someone can give us a few hours of their time, we can show them exactly what their membership delivers, and the work SC&RA is doing on behalf of the industry every day.”

He noted, while the meetings will follow a structured agenda, the format is intentionally designed to encourage interaction, discussion and relationship-building between members, staff and regional companies facing similar challenges.

“What makes these events unique is attendees not only get a better understanding of the Association itself, but they get to know the staff, connect with companies in their own region and engage in conversations around shared challenges and solutions,” he explained.

“Going on the road gives us an opportunity to hear directly from members about the issues impacting their businesses in specific regions and better understand how we can help address them.”

Bell also highlighted the events are intended to create broader opportunities for engagement across the membership spectrum – regardless of company size.

“It’s important to clarify it’s not about larger companies getting more attention than smaller companies,” he said. “These events are free and open to both members and non-members for a reason. We want to hear from you.”

In addition, he pointed out, the Association’s advocacy efforts are ultimately shaped by the issues members bring forward. “Events like this create more opportunities for us to hear directly from members, understand what they’re dealing with and identify where we can provide more value.”

As for what success will look like to SC&RA, O’Quinn pointed to structure first. “There won’t be any rigid presentations or PowerPoints. It’s also sponsor-free, and no member speakers. A big part of this is listening. Yes, we want to talk about advocacy efforts and industry issues but we also want attendees telling us what’s affecting them at the regional, local and federal levels. The more engagement we get along those lines, the more successful I’m sure it will be.”

Learning about SC&RA’s advocacy efforts. Photo: SCRA

Added Smith, “Obviously a good turnout and good conversations will be great but we’re genuinely looking to learn more about what’s impacting members in those specific regions – especially issues we may not have fully realised were affecting them.”

What SC&RA staff hears in one area, he indicated, may very well be happening elsewhere across the country, “…but we just haven’t had the opportunity to uncover it because we haven’t had these regional conversations.”

O’Quinn reiterated the value of the grassroots component. “We want those in attendance to understand how SC&RA can step in as a partner, whether the issue is local, state or federal. One thing we learned through our recent membership survey was that members were asking for resources around certain issues – and in many cases, we already had those resources available. So part of this is also making sure members are aware of the information and tools that already exist for them.”

“At the end of the day,” she recognised, “success means attendees leaving with a better understanding of the resources available to them and how they can engage with SC&RA more productively moving forward.”

Register today for the upcoming SC&RA On the Road tour at: scranet.org/ontheroad2026