This article is an extract from an editorial feature within Cranes and Lifting publication.

Johnson & Young Cranes (JYC) is a prominent Australian crane hire and operations company that has seen exponential growth since its inception. Starting with just two cranes, the company has evolved into a multi-million-dollar operation, providing crane services across some of Victoria’s largest and most complex infrastructure projects. With a fleet of over 50 cranes and multiple depots across the state, JYC is a market leader in sectors including road, rail, renewable energy, and large-scale construction projects.

The Challenge

As Johnson & Young Cranes expanded its operations and fleet, the need for specialised insurance solutions became increasingly critical. Managing a diverse fleet of mobile and crawler cranes, each with varying capacities, along with a fleet of trucks and trailers, required a tailored approach to risk management. The company faced several key challenges, including:

• Complex insurance needs: A growing fleet with a range of high-value equipment, including Liebherr LTM1750-9.1 cranes (with an 800-tonne capacity) and Liebherr LG1750 SX cranes, required bespoke coverage to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Managing risk across multiple locations: With depots spread across Victoria and a diverse range of projects, JYC needed insurance that could respond quickly to incidents and mitigate downtime.
• Minimising operational risks: Ensuring the company had adequate protection against potential liabilities, including risks associated with crane operations, transport, and employee safety.

The Solution

Leveraging PNO’s deep expertise in the crane sector, we crafted a comprehensive insurance package to meet JYC’s unique needs. The solution included:

• Tailored coverage for high-value assets: We ensured that JYC’s extensive crane fleet was fully covered, from large mobile cranes to crawler cranes, with specific focus on downtime cover, liability protection, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Customised ‘lay-up policies’: To manage the risk associated with cranes when not in operation, we provided JYC with ‘lay-up policies’ that reduced premiums while maintaining full coverage during operational periods.
• Rapid claims management: PNO’s in-house claims team ensured quick and efficient handling of claims, minimising downtime for JYC’s cranes and maintaining the company’s competitive edge on high-stakes projects.
• Industry-specific risk management advice: We worked closely with JYC to assess and mitigate risks, providing insights on insurance gaps and offering proactive solutions to address potential exposures.

The solution provided to Johnson & Young Cranes contributed to minimised downtime, saved costs through tailored coverage and risk management strategies, and supported JYC’s growth by quickly adapting insurance as their fleet expanded, ensuring continuous protection for their projects and assets.

Brent Young, Director of Johnson & Young Cranes, shared his thoughts on the partnership with PNOinsurance and Director, Dean Bassed:

“When I bought my first crane, it was insured through another insurer. I met Dean at a couple of CICA events and he was obviously knowledgeable about the industry and easy to get along with. Come policy renewal time I engaged Dean and PNO and he explained not only what I was insured for but what I wasn’t insured for.

“Dean made it very easy to understand what the minimum requirement was to operate in our space, as well as making very clear the value of add-ons for other types of insurance we would need as the business grew. That was seven years ago,” said Brent.

“When there have been incidents the response from Dean and his team has been immediate. They are very helpful with generating the claims but also in assisting with the repairers of choice. We had a significant claim that had to be dealt with through an OEM and it was managed seamlessly by both PNO and the loss adjusters, which made getting the crane back on site so much quicker and easier,” said Brent.

The partnership between PNO and Johnson & Young Cranes exemplifies how industry-specific expertise and personalised service can help businesses navigate complex risks and achieve continued success.