NCCCO Digger Derrick exam-day guide
NCCCO Digger Derrick · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the same ID you used to register. Name must match the registration exactly. If your name differs slightly (middle name, suffix), confirm with the provider before test day rather than at check-in.
Your scheduled test confirmation / candidate number
Bring the confirmation email or letter showing date, time, location, and any candidate or registration number. Confirm with the provider which document they require at check-in.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Hard hat, safety glasses, and work gloves are standard for practical crane and digger derrick testing. Sturdy work boots with defined heels are typically required; confirm the provider's specific PPE list and whether high-visibility clothing is mandated.
Clothing suitable for climbing and rigging work
Wear clothing that does not restrict reaching, bending, or climbing, and that you can move in safely. Avoid loose items that could snag. Confirm with the provider whether fall-protection harnesses are supplied by the test site or must be brought by the candidate.
Knowledge of the machine you will operate
Practical tests are run on the provider's equipment or a specified machine class. Ask the provider in advance which machine type and configuration is used so you can review the relevant pre-use inspection points, controls, and load charts before arriving.
Current knowledge of the load chart and capacity placards
Be ready to state capacities, boom/derrick configurations, and applicable deductions from memory or from the placard on the machine. The evaluator may ask you to explain how you determined a capacity; know where the chart is stored on the machine.
Hand signals and voice/radio communication review
Review standard hand signals and the site's communication method. Confirm with the provider whether the evaluator acts as signalperson, whether a radio is used, and what communication protocol is expected during the lift.
Pre-use inspection routine rehearsed
Practice a systematic walk-around: fluid levels and leaks, tires, outriggers, boom/derrick, auger, winch and rope, hooks and latches, safety devices, and cab controls. Be able to verbalize what you check and why.
Site-specific safety orientation expectations
Ask the provider whether a site orientation, visitor sign-in, or site-specific rules briefing occurs before testing, and arrive early enough to complete it.
Weather and travel contingency plan
Practical tests can be delayed or rescheduled for wind, lightning, or ground conditions. Confirm the provider's cancellation and rescheduling notification method and keep your phone reachable in the 24 hours before the test.
Medications, water, and food as needed
Testing can involve waiting time outdoors. Bring water and any personal medication. Confirm with the provider whether breaks are permitted and whether the site has shelter and restrooms.
Re-read the candidate handbook / test-day instructions
Requirements for retests, scoring, and disqualifying conduct vary. Read the current candidate handbook and confirm any point you are unsure about with the provider before test day.
Plan the day
Reconfirm date, time, address, and check-in time with the provider, along with the PPE list, the machine type you will operate, and whether a harness is supplied. Rehearse your pre-use inspection out loud on a similar machine if one is available, and review the load chart and capacity deductions. Check the weather forecast and plan your route and arrival buffer.
Lay out ID, confirmation document, PPE, boots, and clothing. Confirm you know the site entrance and parking. Get a full night's sleep and avoid unfamiliar equipment or procedures on test day. Keep your phone on in case the provider cancels for weather. Do not attempt to learn a new machine configuration the night before; consolidate what you already know.
Eat and hydrate. Arrive with enough buffer to complete sign-in and any site orientation. Present ID and confirmation, listen carefully to the evaluator's briefing, and ask clarifying questions before the test begins rather than during a scored task. Do a personal readiness check: PPE fitted, clothing secure, boots tied, and a clear plan for the inspection sequence.
Follow the evaluator's instructions exactly and verbalize your reasoning where appropriate, especially during inspection and capacity determination. Perform the pre-use inspection in a consistent order. Set up deliberately: outriggers, ground conditions, level, and barricades. Use the agreed signals, keep the load/attachment under control, and never rush a step to save time. If you make an error, stop, correct it safely, and continue; do not try to hide it. If you do not understand an instruction, ask for it to be repeated.
Ask the evaluator or provider how and when results are reported and what the retest policy is if a task is unsuccessful. Confirm with the provider whether feedback is given on site or later.
Rules to check
Bring the exact government-issued photo ID used at registration; if your name does not match exactly, confirm the provider's policy before test day. Candidates who cannot produce acceptable ID may not be tested.
Follow all site safety rules and the evaluator's directions at all times. Practical testing occurs around live equipment and lifting operations; unsafe conduct, entering barricaded areas, or operating equipment without authorization can end the test.
PPE requirements are set by the provider and the test site. Confirm the required items in advance and wear them for the entire practical session; do not assume the site supplies helmets, glasses, gloves, or harnesses.
Ask before the test how breaks, waiting time, and interruptions are handled, and confirm the provider's policy on leaving the test area. Do not leave the testing area without notifying the evaluator.
Scoring is based on the evaluator's observation of the required tasks, including inspection, setup, operation, and communication. Confirm with the provider how tasks are weighted, what constitutes a failure of a task, and whether a retest is available and when.
Electronic devices, notes, and recording equipment may be restricted during testing. Confirm the provider's policy and silence or stow devices as directed.
If weather, ground conditions, or equipment problems make the test unsafe, stop and raise it with the evaluator. Rescheduling and refund policies vary; confirm them with the provider in advance.
Treat the evaluator, other candidates, and site personnel professionally. Disruptive or dishonest conduct, including misrepresenting your qualifications or attempting to influence scoring, is grounds for removal; confirm the provider's specific conduct policy.