National Crane NTC45-2 earns its keep in New England tree removal

Perry Crane Services builds a tree removal business around one National Crane NTC45-2 boom truck

When a tree is dead, leaning over a house or standing where no other machine can reach, Perry Crane Services of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts sends in its National Crane NTC45-2, a 45 USt boom truck with a 127 ft main boom.

A niche with little margin for error

Owner and operator Travis Perry founded the company in 2023 after 20 years in tree removal, 15 of them as a crane operator. The firm specialises in removals that conventional equipment cannot touch: constrained access, steep terrain, and trees positioned directly over homes and buildings.

“Most of the work we handle involves extremely difficult removals where access is constrained, or the terrain is too steep, or other equipment simply can’t reach the tree. Many of these trees are dead, structurally compromised, or positioned over homes and buildings, making them very dangerous to remove by hand. The NTC45-2 gives us the reach, capacity and compact footprint we need to complete these jobs safely and efficiently.”

— Travis Perry, owner and operator, Perry Crane Services

Perry had run a previous-generation National Crane model before setting up on his own and followed the development of the NTC45-2 closely. When the time came to buy a crane for the new company, he says the decision was easy. “I knew I needed a crane that combined strong lifting performance with a compact package,” he says. “The NTC45-2 checked every box. The longer outrigger stroke, super-compact configuration, counterweight design and overall versatility make it an incredible machine for the type of work we do. I haven’t had a day off since I put the license plates on it.”

127 ft of boom on a 38 ft truck

The 127 ft boom gives the crane the reach to work over structures while keeping a usable chart at long radius, which matters in tree work. Typical picks are tree sections of 3,000 to 5,000 lb, while larger base logs run to nearly 18,000 lb against the crane’s 45 USt rating. At just under 38 ft overall, the short-wheelbase carrier gets into confined sites and travels between jobs without the permit restrictions larger cranes face, a real advantage when crews mobilise after storms.

Roadside work is another regular challenge. Using the four-position outriggers and two-camera system from the NTC Performance Package, Perry’s team can often keep one lane of traffic open on lifts that would otherwise need a full road closure.

Dealer support from Shawmut Equipment

Dealer Shawmut Equipment guided the purchase and still carries out the annual inspections on the crane, from software updates to repairs and component replacements.

“From day one, Travis has been focused on providing high-quality service to his customers, and the NTC45-2 is an excellent fit for that mission. Its combination of reach, lifting performance, mobility, and compact dimensions makes it particularly well suited for demanding tree care applications, and we’re proud to support Perry Crane Services as the company continues to grow.”

— Joe Vergoni, VP, Shawmut Equipment