HOW TO TEST: PRACTICAL EXAMS
Get complete instructions on how to apply for and take CCO certification practical exams. The information below is specific to the Service Truck Crane Operator program.
SKILLS TESTED
The Service Truck Crane Operator Practical Exam demonstrates crane operation proficiency. It consists of five main tasks that increase progressively in the skill level tested. Skills tested are: inspecting the equipment, hoisting, booming, swinging, following hand signals, and combination (multifunction) operations. Crane operation with load and without load is required.
The following is an outline of the practical testing procedure, as provided to candidates at the time of testing.
CANDIDATE INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
The following sections describe the specific tasks you will be performing when taking the Practical Examination. It is important that you understand these instructions. If there is anything you do not understand, please request clarification from the Examiner.
VIEW CANDIDATE VIDEO:
PRACTICAL EXAM OUTLINE
The following sections describe the specific tasks you will be performing when taking the Practical Examination. It is important that you understand these instructions. If there is anything you do not understand, please request clarification from the Examiner.
TASKS
The tasks that make up the Practical Examination are:
There is also a Pre-Test Briefing, a Crane Walk Around, a Pre-Test Familiarization Period, and a Pre-Task Familiarization Period (prior to the Pole Circle task) with a load. You will be required to complete all phases of the test in sequence.
You must report to the Test Site at the scheduled time. All candidates shall comply with Test Site requirements concerning personal protective equipment (PPE), which at a minimum shall meet federal OSHA requirements.
The Test Site Coordinator is responsible for setting the testing schedule. If you are familiar with the operation of the test crane, you may elect to test first to allow other candidates time to review the operator’s manual and load charts. Otherwise, selection shall be by random drawing or by assignment of the Test Site Coordinator.
If you bring your own crane to test on, ensure that its annual inspections are up-to-date and the crane is in fully working order.
During the practical examination, you are under the direction of the Examiner and must follow the Examiner’s directions at all times.
Once you have completed all of the tests you are taking, you must leave the testing area. Only personnel involved in the administration of the test are allowed in the test area.
OPTIMUM TIMES
For some tasks optimum time limits have been set. If the task is completed within this time period, you receive no time penalty. Other tasks are untimed, as noted below.
Once you exceed this time limit, however, you will lose points on a gradual basis. The optimum time for each task is stated as part of the task descriptions. At one-and-a-half times the optimum time the Examiner may end the task and move on to the next task.
PRE-TEST BRIEFING
While candidates are waiting to take their tests, they will have sufficient time to read this description of the tasks to be performed and review the operator’s manual and load chart for the crane(s) they will operate. In addition, they will be informed of the make and model of the crane, the boom length, and the weight of the test load. They will also watch a short video (above) showing all the tasks they will be required to perform during the examination. Candidates must watch the Candidate Video within 24 hours before their practical exam(s).
Note that:
- The crane’s LMI system (if the crane is so equipped) has been correctly programmed and will not interfere with the proper operation of the crane.
- The crane has been set up and leveled. A spirit level is available if you wish to verify that the crane is level.
- None of the target points have been placed at a radius that exceeds the crane’s rated capacity.
CIRCUMVENTING THE COURSE
Circumventing the course on the CCO Service Truck Crane Operator Practical Exam is defined as when:
- Chain leaves the corridor while on or off the ground and passes more than one pole left still standing on the original string line before re-entering the corridor; you must enter the circles from inside the corridor to avoid this being marked as a deficiency
- Chain leapfrogs from one leg of corridor to another with the chain off the ground, outside the corridor
- Chain passes four or more poles consecutively with the chain off the ground, inside the corridor
All points are lost if a circumvention occurs.
UNSAFE ACT
If, at any time during the Pre-Test Familiarization Period or during the test, you commit an unsafe act, you will be disqualified from continuing with the test. An “unsafe act” is defined as an action by a candidate that is uncontrolled or reckless, and is sufficient to cause safety concern for persons or property damage.
The Examiner has the authority to stop the test at any time for reasons of safety. Please ask the Examiner if you have any questions.
If you are disqualified due to an unsafe act, you will not be permitted to take any additional practical exams that day.
CANDIDATE ID AND SIGNATURE
Prior to beginning the examination, the Examiner will ask you for a photo identification that includes date of birth, such as a driver’s license.
The Examiner will ask you if you have read the Candidate Information and Instructions and will answer any questions you may have. The Examiner will review the weather conditions and ask the candidates to sign indicating that they understand the instructions for the test and that they agree with the Examiner’s assessment of the weather conditions.
WEATHER CONDITIONS/EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS
The Examiner will use an anemometer to check the wind speed and then will record the weather conditions on the score sheet.
The Examiner has the responsibility to determine if weather conditions or equipment problems are such that a test needs to be suspended. If the test is interrupted due to weather conditions or equipment problems, the procedure for restarting is as follows:
- You will resume the test at the beginning of the task he/she was performing at the time of the interruption, except for Task 4, when he/she will go back to the beginning of either Task 4A or 4B, as appropriate.
- You will be entitled to a Pre-Test or Pre-Task Familiarization period before resuming the test.
- If testing resumes on a different machine, you must start the test over from the beginning. The first score sheet will be marked as “VOID” with an explanation and returned to NCCCO.
- If the testing is delayed to a different day, the test must be restarted from the beginning.
CRANE WALK AROUND
- Before you begin operations, you are allowed a couple of minutes to walk around the crane to ensure proper setup.
TASK 1: PRE-OPERATIONAL INSPECTION
- You will be asked to identify five items on the crane that are part of the pre-operational inspection.
- One at a time, you will be asked to describe how you would conduct the inspection and what deficiencies you would look for.
- You have approximately one minute per item.
PRE-TEST FAMILIARIZATION PERIOD
- You will be allowed five minutes to familiarize yourself with the crane and to examine anything on the crane that you feel is necessary to operate it comfortably.
- You will be allowed to get the feel of the controls and run the crane through its functions. The brakes and other devices have been set according to the crane manufacturer’s recommendation.
- You may not interfere with the test course, lift the Test Weight, or shadow the Zigzag Corridor.
- You must finish the Pre-test Familiarization Period with the load hook under control in the Start Circle (Designated Area 1) within the five-minute period.
- The Examiner will notify you when there is one minute remaining.
- If you are ready in less than five minutes, you may indicate this to the Examiner.
- If, at the end of the Pre-Test Familiarization Period, you feel that you are not ready to take the examination, you should notify the Examiner. You will have, in effect, disqualified yourself from taking the examination at this time, and you will be required to sign to that effect on the Candidate Score Sheet.
TASK 2: CHAIN IN CIRCLE
- At the Examiner’s indication to start, at which point timing will begin, raise the chain to clear all obstacles and test personnel.
- Bring the chain from its starting position inside Designated Area 1 (DA-1) over to Designated Area 2 (DA-2) and land the chain fully inside the circle.
- Once the chain makes contact with the ground inside the circle, do not lift the chain off the ground.
- Avoid contacting anything but DA-2.
- Once the chain is under control inside the circle, the Examiner will give you a stop signal.
- Points will be deducted for the following:
a. Dragging chain or contacting ground outside of the circle
b. Hook touching ground either inside or outside of the circle
c. Hook or chain contacting any part of the course or crane
d. Lifting the chain off the ground after it has made contact with the ground inside the circle
e. Exceeding the optimum time
PRE-TASK FAMILIARIZATION PERIOD
- At the Examiner’s indication, bring the hook over the Test Weight located in the Test Weight Area.
- The load will be attached to the crane’s hook by the Examiner or Proctor.
- You will be allowed to bring the Test Weight to the designated area, where you can get the feel of the load before beginning the Zigzag Corridor task.
- You may not swing the load outside of the designated area or shadow the Zigzag Corridor.
- You will be allowed a maximum of five minutes for this Pre-Task Familiarization; by the end of this period you must have placed the Test Weight on the ground in the Test Weight Area with the rigging taut.
- The Examiner will notify you when there is one minute remaining.
TASK 3: TEST WEIGHT IN POLE CIRCLE
- At the Examiner’s indication to start, timing will begin. Lift the Test Weight from the Test Weight Area and place it in DA-3.
- Once the Test Weight is in DA-3, the Examiner will give you the stop signal.
- If your time exceeds twice the optimum time, the Examiner may stop you and move on to the next task.
- Points will be deducted for the following:
a. Load touching ground outside of designated area
b. Knocking ball off pole
c. Knocking pole over
d. Exceeding the optimum time
TASK 4A: NEGOTIATE ZIGZAG CORRIDOR (FORWARD)
- At the Examiner’s direction to start timing will begin. Guide the Test Weight through the Corridor. You will be permitted to use all of the crane’s functions during this task.
- Avoid contacting anything; do not lift the chain off the ground; do not let the Test Weight touch the ground.
- Place the Test Weight inside DA-2. Once the Test Weight is inside the Designated Area, the Examiner will give you the stop signal. If the Test Weight is not within the outside perimeter of DA-2, timing will continue.
- If your time exceeds twice the optimum time, the Examiner may stop you and move on to the next task.
- Points will be deducted for the following:
a. Knocking ball off pole
b. Moving pole base off line
c. Knocking pole over
d. Chain leaving ground
e. Passing poles with the chain off the ground
f. Load touching ground outside of designated area
g. Load touching the outriggers/stabilizers
h. Circumventing the course
i. Exceeding the optimum time
TASK 4B: NEGOTIATE ZIGZAG CORRIDOR (REVERSE)
- At the Examiner’s direction to start timing will begin. Guide the Test Weight through the Corridor. You will not be permitted to use the telescoping function during this task.
- Avoid contacting anything; do not lift the chain off the ground; do not let the Test Weight touch the ground.
- Place the Test Weight inside DA-1. Once the Test Weight is inside the Designated Area, the Examiner will give you the stop signal. If the Test Weight is not within the outside perimeter of DA-1, timing will continue.
- If your time exceeds twice the optimum time, the Examiner may stop you and move on to the next task.
- Points will be deducted for the following:
a. Knocking ball off pole
b. Moving pole base off line
c. Knocking pole over
d. Chain leaving ground
e. Passing poles with the chain off the ground
f. Load touching ground outside of designated area
g. Load touching the outriggers/stabilizers
h. Circumventing the course
i. Exceeding the optimum time
TASK 5: SAFE SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES
- The Examiner will ask you to describe the safe shutdown procedures you would apply to the crane in preparation to leave the site.
POST-TEST PROCEDURES
Once you have completed the practical examination:
- The Examiner will record your performance.
- The Examiner is not permitted to review your score sheet or discuss your performance on the test.
- Exam results will be mailed to you within approximately 12 working days of NCCCO’s receipt of the score sheet.
- If you have made formal applications to test on any other cranes, return to the candidate briefing area.
- If you have completed all of your tests, you must leave the Test Site.