Boom cranes are highly versatile, capable of high productivity and an amazing range of applications. They are used to load sand and gravel at concrete batching plants, erect high electric transmission towers, set vessels at refineries, load and unload ships, demolish buildings, erect steel, pour concrete, and perform a myriad of other construction and industrial tasks. There are different types of boom cranes like lattice boom cranes, telescopic boom cranes, stiff boom cranes and horizontal boom cranes.

A boom lift is also known as a cherry picker. It is a device that consists of a platform or bucket at the end of a hydraulic lifting system. Boom lifts are mounted on the back of a large vehicle such as a truck. A boom is used to lift a load at some distance from the base of a vertical pole or mast. Cables from the ground anchor the mast in a vertical position. The boom will be affixed to the mast at a point slightly up on the pole and may be held in place by lashing or a trunnion-type mechanism.The bucket is designed for a person to stand in and work from. Often a duplicate set of controls that are used to manipulate the position of the bucket will be available to the person in the bucket, allowing the operator to position himself. The lifting arms of some boom lifts are capable of telescoping to adjust the reach of the device. Boom lifts are used to service telephone, cable television and electrical equipment on utility pole.