The European association of abnormal road transport and mobile cranes’ (ESTA) European Trailer Operator Licence (ETOL) for modular hydraulically suspended trailers (MHST) is on track to be finalised by the end of the year.
As HLPFI reported back in February 2025, ESTA proposed a core three-tier training setup whereby MHST operator training will be split into three separate levels:
Level 1: an e-learning module – a no examination entry level to guarantee minimum knowledge and safety; Level 2: in-class and practical learning, concluding with a theory test by a training provider leading to a trailer users’ certificate, and equivalent to the training offered today by many manufacturers; Level 3: in-class and practical learning, concluding with a combined theory and practical examination by an authorised training provider, leading to a full ETOL operator certificate.
Between Level 2 and Level 3, a 120 working day apprentice period is foreseen, with specific actions to be registered in an ETOL task book.
This training setup was given the go-ahead by the European Crane and Transport Operators’ Licence (ECTOL) expert committee. ECTOL is the body that oversees the operation of both ESTA’s European crane licence scheme (ECOL), as well as the new ETOL.
A glossary is currently being worked on, with definitions across multiple languages, as well as the item bank – the list of questions for the examinations and the answers to go with them to ensure fully competency from operators.
Meanwhile, Spain’s national crane rental association, Anagrual, has rejoined ESTA as an ordinary member. Anagrual was established in 1979 and presently has 263 member companies. Intelliroad, a German transport software company, has joined ESTA as an affiliate member, taking ESTA’s membership to 113 members from across 27 countries.
Last month, ESTA urged Europe’s national regulators to agree a common inspection procedure for mobile cranes.
