The 6-Week Path to an $80K Career | Luke Humphrey, Train for the Crane

On today's show I sat down with Luke Humphrey, CEO of Train for the Crane, a central Indiana construction training company that prepares candidates for crane operation, rigging, signaling, inspection, lift director work, and OSHA training.

Humphrey shares his construction background, how OSHA crane certification requirements became federally required in late 2018, and how a workplace fatality he handled as a safety professional shaped his focus on safety and training.

He discusses Indiana's crane operator shortage, noting that 71% of certified crane operators in the state are 50+ and average pay is around $80,000. Train for the Crane has certified over 1,000 people since starting in 2017–18, offers a 4–8 week program, helps with job placement, works with high schools via crane "rodeo" events and grants, and supports financing through payment plans, workforce grants, and GI Bill eligibility for veterans.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about:
- The Purpose of Train for the Crane
- The Demand and Pay for Crane Operators
- Indiana's Crane Operator Shortage
- Train for the Crane's Training Program and Crane "Rodeo" Events

Check out these great clips from the show:
00:00 College Isn't the Only Path
00:27 Guest Introduction: Luke Humphrey, Train for the Crane
01:50 Luke's Construction Journey
03:30 OSHA Rules Change Everything
05:58 The Accident That Drove Safety
09:07 From Expert to Trade School
12:16 Demand, Pay, and the Gray Wave
14:40 High School Pathways and Crane Rodeos
20:04 Six Weeks vs. Union Apprenticeship
23:12 Job Placement and Student Fit
26:57 Career Advice and Crane Basics
28:59 How Big Are Cranes
30:57 Certification Demand Surge
32:48 Paying for Training
37:33 Jobs and Big Projects
39:17 Company Sponsorship Deals
41:39 Why Indiana Home
43:10 Wildest Trade Jobs
44:46 Crane Skills and Tech
46:57 Work Ethic and Safety
49:07 Indiana Hidden Gem
51:28 Hoosier to Watch
53:31 Favorite Indiana Memory
56:03 Wrap Up

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.