The study aims to determine experimentally the dependence of the change in energy consumption on the operating time of cranes equipped with different types of drives - based on a motor with a phase rotor and variable frequency motor. The aim is achieved by solving the following problems: selection of research objects and measuring equipment, determination of the methodology of measurements, ordering of experimental data, and determination of the dependence of the average power consumption on the operating time. In the process of solving the set tasks, it was found that in the long-term study of power consumption of an overhead traveling crane, the average value is reduced to 50%. At the same time, it was found that the crane equipped with a variable frequency drive at the same lifting capacity has better technical and economic indicators, the main of which is the weight of the crane and metal consumption. The most significant result is to obtain the final expressions for determining the dependence of electricity consumption of the crane and the reduction of electricity consumption when switching to an energy-efficient variable frequency drive. The significance of the obtained results is that the obtained dependencies can be applied in justifying the feasibility of modernization of cranes.