End Trucks & Bridge Drives

End trucks (also called end carriages) are structural components of an overhead crane that support the bridge girders and carry the hoist and load along the runway. R&M crane end trucks house the crane wheel assemblies that run on the runway beam or runway rails.

Bridge drives are the motorized part of the end truck drive system that control the movement of the end truck assemblies along the runway. They use motors and gearboxes along with inverter (VFD) control to deliver smooth acceleration, controlled braking and precise bridge travel.

R&M overhead crane end carriages are engineered to support a wide range of capacities at CMAA class C and D or FEM 2m and 3m duty cycles. They are used on single‑girder and double‑girder cranes across many industrial applications. Because end truck selection depends on the specific crane design (including capacity, span, duty class, runway rail size, wheel loading, top or under-running, single or double girder and dimensional restrictions), R&M sizes end truck assemblies and bridge drive motors as part of a complete overhead crane system.

Work with an R&M distributor to confirm the correct end truck type for your project.

R&M offers top‑running RTN/RSN crane end trucks designed for standard ASCE or square bar rail configurations, as well as under-running RU/RH end carriages that adjust to various flange widths for standard W or S profile steel sections, patented track or box girders. This flexibility supports compatibility with a wide range of runway designs.

R&M end trucks are designed to pair with R&M GES (top-running) and GEK (under-running) bridge drives, but the exact bridge drive package is configured for the specific crane weight, capacity and bridge speeds required for your application. For most complete crane solutions, end carriage assemblies and bridge drives are supplied together so the motor, inverter, and wheel splines are properly matched.

R&M bridge drives use variable frequency drives (VFDs) or two‑speed contactor controls to control the speed of bridge travel. With VFD controls, the standard speed is infinitely variable up to 100 fpm. With two-speed contactor controls, the standard speeds are 80/20 fpm. For specialized applications, travel speeds and crane drive motors can be further customized by your R&M crane builder.

Standard RTN/RSN top‑running crane wheel assemblies use flat‑tread ductile iron wheels, and RU/RH under-running end carriages use ductile iron, single‑flange crown‑tread wheels, at 280 BHN hardness for long service life.

• Certain configurations offer hardened wheels for patented track applications.
• Special wheel types for gantry applications are also available with flat tread steel or polymer wheel materials.

Spark resistant solid bronze or brass wheels are available for hazardous locations

Yes. R&M end trucks and bridge drives are used in both new crane builds and crane modernization projects. Their modular construction, bolted connection plates, adjustable under-running designs and matched bridge drives make them well suited for replacing aging end truck assemblies, upgrading bridge drives or reusing existing runway beams where feasible. This approach can help improve performance and safety without requiring a complete crane replacement.

R&M end carriages and bridge drives are designed for long service life, featuring heavy‑duty construction, lifetime lubricated anti‑friction bearings on under-running trucks and modular motor‑gear‑brake assemblies that allow easier service access. Routine maintenance typically includes visual inspections, checking wheel wear, verifying fastener tightness and monitoring brake condition. Always follow the lubrication and inspection intervals outlined in R&M owner's manuals.

Selecting the correct R&M crane end trucks involves configuring the crane based on capacity, span, duty cycle (CMAA/FEM), hoist type, crane type, runway design and required bridge travel speeds.

R&M Master Distributors have exclusive access to our industry leading crane design software which makes end truck selection and crane design a smooth and seamless process. For final sizing and configuration, contact an authorized R&M distributor with your capacity, span, runway and application details.