Blue Dog Cranes

22/03/2026

Ben talks Fuel Burn in the current market and how it affects business for Blue Dog and its customers.

02/03/2026

Further fortifying the kennel with new arsenal about to hit the paint shop in Germany. Our Staff and Customers need the best equipment available. This will be the 5th Liebherr we have owned and the 4th 3axel crane in our fleet. Thanks for continuing to support a company that believes "The best business deal is where all involved feel like they have won"

09/02/2026

Mel is harder to get a photo of than a black Panther in the high country! I was skeptical when Mel applied for a job. Going from Tier 1 to Milk Run is not something many succeed at but Mel was adamant she wanted to learn how it's done properly. In no time at all it was clear to see that Mel is one of the hardest working Crane Crew I've ever worked with. Never a complaint and just keeps working till there is no more work to do. Picked up every skill as quickly as we could teach them and became reliable in any situation. So then we sent her to become a truck driver which she did. After following our bigger cranes around for a bit we sent her off to see Nev at AITAC for her C6. That was last week and today Mel went out for two of our clients in a mobile crane. Awesome achievements and commitment Mel. Sam, myself and our whole team are lucky to have you. Well done mate. 🍻

07/02/2026

Big Dawg is back baby! The cornerstone of our Light Lift Division is in the kennel again! 12 months and six figures later this beautiful lifta has had a full tear down and rebuild including but not limited to; new hydraulics, sheaves, custom secondary winch brake, new ropes, reconditioned cylinders, a new slew ring and a reconditioned engine. This is no cereal box 10 year and it shows in the presentation and operation. You'll see Big Dawg round now, he's a staunch lookin unit. 💪 🏗️. "You do you, we'll do cranes."

06/02/2026

・・・
Reflecting on business...

I hate it when people say “ it’s not personal, it’s just business.”

This is a bu****it excuse for people to justify harsh action. The fact of the matter is, especially at Blue Dog, it is personal. If you read our mission statement, it’s all personal!

I take all the decisions I have to make Personally. Whether it’s related to staff, customers or suppliers. Its personal.

Samantha and I built a Brand and if you work for us as staff you believe it and replicate it. It’s what provides you and your family opportunities as it does mine. If you don’t, you get weeded out, it’s personal.

If you provide a service for me it’s personal. I respect you and what you offer enough to build a loyal relationship where I trust you to look after me better than anyone else. I am loyal. I am demanding and honest. This is reflected in the way we shake hands, the way we negotiate and how I pay promptly when the job is done. I want my suppliers to be as successful as possible and am proud to play my role in that. It’s personal because I get to choose who we support and we do this carefully.

Finally, our customers are extremely personal to us. This is reflected again in our mission. We are a “word of mouth
“ company with no sales team. Our work comes from work we do and relationships we build. We have a vast customer base of like minded businesses.

Unfortunately at times we have to “sack” customers because despite mabe paying in their terms we get the feeling they don’t understand Blue Dog. Often it’s quite difficult to get them to leave but sometimes it’s necessary.

Our customers need to want us to be successful just as they want themselves to. That is Blue Dog and what it means to have us in your corner. “Bilateral Success “ it’s in our Mission.

So yeah, that’s why I hate the term “it’s not personal, it’s just business.”

Cheers,
Ben Ind - Blue Dog Cranes

24/12/2025

To anyone who tells me "cranes are expensive to rent" I tell them; You should try owning them!

What a year in business! Had two cranes down and out last December-March then got the fleet back and started grinding through an incredibly unstable climate. Grew the business with new staff and a second location in Ringwood. Brought a heap of lucrative work into the pipeline with Sam, Nathan, Jess, Trev Smith and the teams hard work. I landed a few white whales 🐳 too.

Then a year to the date the same troublsome crane blew an engine! Heavily financed still and uninsured we face $130k repairs and months of lost income. We have worked all year for nothing...

But, Samantha, the fact that we can get through a blow like this screams our success and determination. We are losing more money than we dreamt we could make! What an awesome accomplishment.

We will fix it, order more cranes and keep tailoring and tweaking the way we do business.

To my Staff, Friends, customers and BDC supporters, have a safe and Merry Christmas.

Cheers, Ben. 🍻

19/12/2025

Merry Christmas!

03/12/2025

Thanks guys. It was a pleasure to be your lifting solution.

27/11/2025

"My Word is my Bond... and there is no better way to learn than being punished financially." Ben discusses keeping your word no matter what and the benefits for staff and customers alike.

24/11/2025

03/11/2025

How "That customer " that never books a job expects you to reacts!

30/10/2025