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Glossary
Gantry Crane
A gantry crane is a crane similar in function to an overhead (bridge) crane, but with the bridge/girder supported by two or more legs that carry the crane, rather than being suspended from an elevated runway attached to the building. The legs travel on floor-mounted rails/runways or on wheels/casters, and the bridge carries a trolley/hoist used to lift and lower freely suspended loads.
In industrial use, gantry cranes are common where you need lifting coverage without relying on a building’s overhead structure, such as yards, shipyards, precast and steel fabrication areas, loading zones, and large maintenance bays. They’re also used indoors when a portable or freestanding solution is preferred. OSHA’s definition emphasizes the key distinction: the bridge is “rigidly supported on two or more legs” that run on a runway, which is what makes it a gantry rather than a conventional overhead crane.