RAAF Derrick Trucks

[Lang]

Richard,

I think it is to do with both universal traditional (bastardised) and local dialect usage. You seem to have different usage of terms.

Luffing is the universal term for raising and lowering crane booms and all cranes in Australia and those sourced from USA and Japan have Luff Up and Luff Down on their controls. Riggers and Dogmen if talking to the crane driver always say Luff Up or Luff Down. Raise and Lower are the terms for the rope/hook but when working, drivers know if it is not preceded by "Luff", the more commonly used "Up" and "Down" refer to the rope/hook.

Obviously if you have a non-extendable boom and do not have a running rope (just a hook on a pole), "Luff Up" is exactly the same as "Raise" -or just "Up" -and "Boom in" so the dogman has a choice of 3 correct instructions for the same movement!

Enough from me.

Lang