Industry-Specific OSHA Training is Finally on the Way 

We’ve heard that industry-specific OSHA crane certification is moving forward, and it’s exactly what this industry has been asking for. 

For years, members have told us the same thing: the current OSHA-mandated training doesn’t reflect the real work happening in our yards. Operators are being trained on equipment and scenarios that don’t match LBM operations, while the equipment they actually use—articulating cranes and knuckle booms, gets far less attention. 

At the same time, employers have been required to pay for that training, despite it not matching real-world application. 

That’s not just frustrating, it misses the point. 

If safety is the goal, training needs to reflect how the work actually gets done. This new pathway will do exactly that. It creates a separate certification track tailored to LBM operations, focused on the equipment our teams use every day. 

This is a direct result of sustained, member-driven advocacy. You identified the issue, we brought it forward, and now we’re seeing movement toward a practical solution that improves both safety and workforce development. 

Housing: From Industry Plan to Federal Action 

Not long ago, we set out to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing our industry—how to build homes the average American can afford. 

We developed a plan: “Building Homes – Not Costs.” 
We built a coalition: more than 250 businesses, associations, and unions stood behind it. 
We took it on the road: presenting it to state leaders across the country. 
And we delivered it directly to the White House. 

Now, we’re seeing real results. 

The President’s recent executive order on housing closely aligns with the core of our plan. It directs federal agencies to: 

• Review regulations driving up the cost of new homes 

• Quantify those costs 

• Reform or roll back rules that are getting in the way of building 

It also takes aim at one of the biggest cost drivers we hear about from members, permitting delays and local barriers that slow down projects and drive up prices. 

This didn’t happen by accident. It happened because this industry stepped up, backed a real solution, and stayed engaged. 

And it’s worth saying clearly, this is your win.