HiSKill: The Future of Crane Training

Validated by ABC Supply, North America's #1 building-material distributor.

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Industry Takeaways
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HiSkill Training Simulator

Transforming Crane Operator Training with HiSkill

ABC Supply - North America's largest building-materials distributor with 1,000+ branches—needed a safer, faster, and more effective way to train crane operators without sidelining equipment or senior drivers. With Hiab's HiSkill virtual reality training simulator, new hires build control familiarity and safety awareness in a risk-free environment before ever working with a live crane. The results: reduced downtime, standardized training across the network, and first-time NCCCO pass rates improved from 65% averages to 85-90%. Hiab's HiSkill is redefining crane operator training—delivering safer, faster, and more consistent results across the industry. Discover how HiSkill can elevate your training program and team performance.

HiSkill Success Showcase

Modernizing Crane Training

For years, training a new crane operator meant tying up a boom truck and a senior operator while a new hire learned the basics - slow, costly, and risky. ABC Supply flipped that model with Hiab HiSkill: trainees start in a risk-free virtual reality environment, building control familiarity and safety awareness before they touch live equipment. Senior operators stay on jobsites, and training takes place in a safe, controlled setting.

📌"Guarantee you, if you do this every day for 2 weeks for half an hour, you will see results - and I have." -Matt Bowen, Director of Safety, ABC Supply

65% → 90% Pass Rates

NCCCO Certification has long been a hurdle in crane operator training, with average pass rates averaging 65-70% nationwide. For ABC Supply, the introduction of HiSkill changed the game. By practicing exam-aligned scenarios in a risk-free environment, operators can focus on building skills without the fear of damaging material, equipment, or property. Mistakes aren't setbacks - they're opportunities to reset and try again.

📌"In a risk-free environment, it alleviates a lot of the stresses - it helps make better, safer, more effective operators, and it will yield results." -Matt Bowen, Director of Safety, ABC Supply

The Future of Crane Training

When ABC Supply first tested HiSkill, they saw something the industry had never offered before: a safer, more engaging way to train crane operators. By partnering early with Hiab, ABC Supply helped shape a training tool that removed the fear of first-day operation, while delivering real safety and operational gains. It quickly proved to be a game-changer for both operators and leadership alike.

📌"After just 10 minutes in the headset, one of our executives said "I get it. It's powerful. We're in." -Matt Bowen, Director of Safety, ABC Supply

Train Anywhere, Anytime.

HiSkill VR Crane Simulator delivers portable, subscription-based training that helps operators build skills faster, safer, and more cost-effectively.

Meet Matt Bowen: Director of Safety at ABC Supply

For the past 18 years, Matt has dedicated his career at ABC Supply to building a culture where people come first. As Director of Safety, he works closely with teams across the country to make sure every operator goes home safe at the end of the day. ABC Supply, founded in 1982, has grown into North America’s #1 building-material distributor — and Matt’s leadership helps ensure that growth is matched with a commitment to training, safety, and care for its people.

Industry Takeaways

ABC Supply’s HiSkill journey highlights challenges every fleet faces: keeping equipment in service, preparing new hires, and improving certification pass rates — all while making the safety of operators and those around them the #1 priority. Their success proves that when safety comes first, efficiency and scalability follow, creating a stronger, more resilient fleet. Schedule your FREE HiSkill demo, below.