In this packed solo episode of Crane Talk, Ron and Gean dig into the Texas legislative session and what it means for crane operators, contractors, and heavy equipment companies. With nearly 8,000 bills under review, the team spotlights critical legislation that could impact everything from payment timelines and contract fairness to venue jurisdiction and incorporation-by-reference clauses.

They also take on the issue of nuclear verdicts—disproportionately large legal settlements that are spiking insurance premiums across Texas. From discussing inflated medical costs and the role of plaintiff attorneys to calling for legislative reforms like caps on non-economic damages, the crew outlines the economic ripple effects on businesses big and small.

About the Show

Crane talk is a podcast hosted by Ron Thompson and Gene Greiner, 2 highly successful insurance producers in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

About Ron:

Ron has been specializing in the heavy iron insurance world as a broker since 1992. In the complex world of heavy iron risk exposure, Ron’s expertise is in contractual risk transfer, contract review, fleet safety management where “rubber meets the road” and keeping clients updated on legislative issues that effect the crane & rigging industry and maximizing profit for his clientele.

About Gene:

Gene Greiner is Vice President of commercial insurance for CoVerica with 15 years of focus on heavy construction risk. Based in Dallas, TX, he is deeply embedded in serving this industry’s risk transfer needs and, enjoys active advocacy though the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association and the Texas Crane Owners Association.

New episodes drop the first Tuesday of each month. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at podcast@coverica.com. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

The tower crane industry is feeling the squeeze—rising costs, increasing competition, and the ever-evolving world of construction are putting companies to the test. In this episode of Crane Talk, Craig Martin, from Sun Crain & Hoist, joins the cast to discuss the state of the tower crane market, including the impact of rising interest rates, tighter financing requirements, and shifting demand for high-rise buildings.

From safety innovations and liability concerns to the struggles of staying competitive in an overcrowded market, this conversation sheds light on what it really takes to run a successful crane business today.

Follow Craig:

Linkedin

www.suncraneandhoist.com

About the Show

Crane talk is a podcast hosted by Ron Thompson and Gene Greiner, 2 highly successful insurance producers in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

About Ron:

Ron has been specializing in the heavy iron insurance world as a broker since 1992. In the complex world of heavy iron risk exposure, Ron’s expertise is in contractual risk transfer, contract review, fleet safety management where “rubber meets the road” and keeping clients updated on legislative issues that effect the crane & rigging industry and maximizing profit for his clientele.

About Gene:

Gene Greiner is Vice President of commercial insurance for CoVerica with 15 years of focus on heavy construction risk. Based in Dallas, TX, he is deeply embedded in serving this industry’s risk transfer needs and, enjoys active advocacy though the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association and the Texas Crane Owners Association.

New episodes drop the first Tuesday of each month. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at podcast@coverica.com. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.

In this episode of Crane Talk, Billy Smith, Executive Vice President at NBIS, takes listeners through his extraordinary career in the crane and rigging industry. From his early days as a crane operator to leading safety and risk management initiatives across the U.S. and Canada, Billy's wealth of knowledge provides valuable insights into navigating the complexities of the industry. He explains how insurance premiums are shaped by jurisdictional differences, liability laws, and social inflation. Billy also highlights the critical role of contracts, training, and technology like telematics in mitigating risks and controlling costs.

Connect with Billy:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-smith-3416476

Website: https://www.nccco.org/

About the Show

Crane talk is a podcast hosted by Ron Thompson and Gene Greiner, 2 highly successful insurance producers in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

About Ron:

Ron has been specializing in the heavy iron insurance world as a broker since 1992. In the complex world of heavy iron risk exposure, Ron’s expertise is in contractual risk transfer, contract review, fleet safety management where “rubber meets the road” and keeping clients updated on legislative issues that effect the crane & rigging industry and maximizing profit for his clientele.

About Gene:

Gene Greiner is Vice President of commercial insurance for CoVerica with 15 years of focus on heavy construction risk. Based in Dallas, TX, he is deeply embedded in serving this industry’s risk transfer needs and, enjoys active advocacy though the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association and the Texas Crane Owners Association.

New episodes drop the first Tuesday of each month. Please drop us a line if you have a question or suggestion; you can reach us at podcast@coverica.com. Finally, if you like the podcast, we encourage you to subscribe and leave us a review.