This is actually somewhat true. There's a mechanism at the top of the crane that lifts the cab and arm above the top truss and then the crane lifts a new truss to the top and works install it and lock it in place. The process repeats until the crane is the required height.

Can't let these cranes think they're owed a handout.

There's always a bigger crane

Big, efficient companies work 24 hour jobs by having 3-4 overlapping shifts with usually at least two general foremen, often more, and a team of PMs. Skilled planners and foremen can manage the jobs, and overlapping shifts helps with continuity instead of a whistle blowing and everyone on site tags out like a wrestling match.

These are the companies that get the biggest and most expensive contracts. They have all the equipment, they can hire the number of people they need, and they have the experience. They do massive jobs that destabilize entire areas while the work is being done and the customer/city/municipality/government is willing to pay to get it done ASAP because letting the disruption last 2-3x longer is worse than the price tag.

Some places with harsh winters and short construction seasons also habitually work 24 hours.

It really depends on what you're doing and where you are. In general, small to medium sized GCs and companies for single builds will not work 24 hours. Once you start getting to big projects within an urban area or major road construction, that kind of thing, it can change.

I will say that it's MUCH better to do construction in natural daylight, full stop. No amount of flood lighting gives you the amount of visual acuity as the sun does for something like construction. We generally always planned to leave easier work for night shifts, not because they sucked, but because it's just harder in most ways. More dangerous, colder, your best paid people don't generally want to work those shifts, businesses are closed so you've got to deal with on call POCs which slows stuff down if there's problems... Yeah.