JJ Curran Crane Company has been in the crane equipment rental and lifting equipment business since 1950. When you call us, you can be sure you will receive high quality equipment and service. For more than six decades we have worked to bring our customers a fleet of equipment that is second to none.

MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS

To do this, we constantly reevaluate our customers’ needs and invest in the latest technology. Our fleet consists of all terrain and rough terrain hydraulic cranes from 8 to 450 tons. Combine this with our unique ability to supply mobilifts, boom trucks, shooting fork lifts, as well as our ability to source a full range of crawler and tower cranes you will agree: JJ Curran Crane Company is the only company that can handle all of your lifting needs in southeastern Michigan.

OUR HISTORY

At JJ Curran Crane Company, we owe everything to John J. (JJ) and Jacquelyn Curran—our founders and the proud parents of five Curran children. Their commitment to family and each other made it possible for JJ Curran to become a thriving business in metro Detroit for over 60 years.

THE EARLY YEARS

In 1950, JJ (John) Curran started Dearborn Excavating with a 1933 Link Belt Speeder Backhoe he purchased for $400. With only two other employees, the small business did most of their work for Aurora Gasoline Company, now part of Marathon Oil. The steady work allowed for new equipment to be purchased and the company soon began to take all types of excavating work including basements, sewers and water mains. With continued growth and ongoing projects, by 1958 the company was handling million-dollar underground construction projects.

It was 1954 when JJ bought his first crane—a Lorraine 30-ton mobile truck crane. At the time, it was one of the largest cranes of its type in Detroit.  This was his first step toward forming a new business division called Downriver Crane Company. The fleet expanded to six mobile cranes and business was booming.

By 1959, JJ could see that his crane work was generating as much income as the excavating business, but many thought the company only did work in the downriver area so JJ decided to rename the crane business to JJ Curran Crane Company.  From there, they began getting work throughout the Midwest and there was no looking back.

Over the next two decades, JJ Curran continued to expand its fleet including the addition of a 140-ton Grove Hydraulic truck crane—which at the time was one of the largest anywhere in the world. By the 1970’s the JJ Curran Crane Company operated a fleet of over 50 machines.

JOHN J. CURRAN:

“JJ,” as he was known, served in the Marine Corps during World War II, and finished his education at Michigan State College. In 1950, he started the Dearborn Excavating Company working as an earth moving contractor. Gradually cranes became his livelihood and eventually the JJ Curran Crane Company was formed in 1959. In his earlier years, JJ was an avid pilot, sportsman, and hunter. Eventually cars, boating and golf were his passions.

JACQUELYN CURRAN:

“Jackie” married JJ in 1949 and raised five children and supported JJ in all his business endeavors. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and very committed to JJ Curran Crane Company. JJ and Jackie put the “family” in family business and their legacy lives on with every customer we serve at JJ Curran Crane Company.

Today, JJ’s sons Larry and Jeff Curran have helped the business grow and stay true to the company motto their dad introduced in the late 60’s: “It’s Not Luck, It’s Know How.”