North Little Rock: Online Prep for Crane and Rigging Exams

Locomotives, rail yards and shop lifting

Union Pacific's North Little Rock complex includes a large classification yard and the Downing B. Jenks shop, long described as the railroad's main locomotive repair facility. A 2013 KUAR report counted about 500 workers servicing engines at Jenks, and the company paused the shop during the 2020 downturn, so headcounts have moved over the years. The work itself has not changed much: traction motors, trucks, engines and fuel tanks are some of the heaviest components lifted anywhere in the state.

Shop lifting leans on overhead cranes, but mobile cranes and boom trucks show up for yard projects, track panels and facility upgrades. Rigging is the common thread. Anyone hooking a multi-ton component to a below-the-hook device needs to understand sling angles, center of gravity and rated capacities, which is exactly what the rigger level 2 material digs into.

What the 30 Crossing left behind, and what comes next

The I-30 river bridge and the rebuilt approaches through North Little Rock reached substantial completion in late 2024 under Kiewit-Massman, the state's first design-build highway contract. ARDOT has described further funded phases, including the I-30/I-40 interchange on this side of the river. Interchange reconstruction typically means girder sets, sign structures, retaining walls and drainage boxes, all with traffic close by.

Crews coming off highway jobs often find that the written exam questions on power lines, ground conditions and assembly look familiar. The details, such as minimum clearance tables and what an assembly/disassembly director is responsible for, are where focused study pays off.

Building near the levee

Dickey-Stephens Park, home of the Arkansas Travelers, was built close enough to the river that its 2005-2007 construction needed a dewatering system, according to the builder. That is a useful reminder for anyone setting outriggers on the north bank: groundwater can sit high, fill soils vary block to block, and ground that looked firm in August can soften after a week of spring rain.

Argenta, the downtown district, has seen plans for mixed-use buildings around its central plaza. Infill sites there tend to be small, so operators work close to existing walls, parked cars and overhead utilities, and the signal person carries much of the load when the operator's view is blocked.

Courses north-shore crews pick most

• Mobile crane operator for highway, yard and commercial work.
• Rigger level 2 for shop and heavy-component lifts.
• Signal person for congested downtown sites and blind picks.
• Mobile crane recertification for operators approaching their five-year renewal.

Who sets the rules

There is no Arkansas crane license. Private employers here fall under federal OSHA, handled by the Little Rock Area Office, and 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC sets the certification, signal person and rigger requirements. Railroad shop work can also involve other federal rules, so check with your employer about what applies to your task. Details are in our requirements guide.