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Vol. 49, No. 6
(Founded in 1972—Our 573rd Consecutive Issue)
F E AT U R E S out front:
June 2020 A Hatton-Brown Publication
Phone: 334-834-1170 Fax: 334-834-4525
www.southernloggintimes.com Publisher David H. Ramsey Chief Operating Officer Dianne C. Sullivan Editor-in-Chief Senior Editor Managing Editor Senior Associate Editor Associate Editor
Rich Donnell Dan Shell David Abbott Jessica Johnson Patrick Dunning
Publisher/Editor Emeritus David (DK) Knight
12 West Virginia Loggers Council board member Bill Robinson harvests hardwood on the steep slopes of the Allegheny Mountains. His company, Robinson Logging, LLC, uses chains to skid logs uphill. Story begins on Page 8. (Photo by Patrick Dunning)
Battles Forestry Atypical Timber Dealer
Art Director Ad Production Coordinator Circulation Director Online Content/Marketing
Cindy Segrest Patti Campbell Rhonda Thomas Jacqlyn Kirkland
ADVERTISING CONTACTS DISPLAY SALES Eastern U.S. Kathy Sternenberg Tel: 251-928-4962 • Fax: 334-834-4525 219 Royal Lane Fairhope, AL 36532 E-mail: ksternenberg@bellsouth.net Midwest USA, Eastern Canada John Simmons Tel: 905-666-0258 • Fax: 905-666-0778 32 Foster Cres. Whitby, Ontario, Canada L1R 1W1 E-mail: jsimmons@idirect.com
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Texas Timberjack Weiler Dealer Update
Western Canada, Western USA
Stumpin’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Tim Shaddick Tel: 604-910-1826 • Fax: 604-264-1367 4056 West 10th Ave. Vancouver, BC V6L 1Z1 E-mail: tootall1@shaw.ca
Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Kevin Cook Tel: 604-619-1777 E-mail: lordkevincook@gmail.com
Industry News Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Safety Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 ForesTree Equipment Trader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Coming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
International Murray Brett Tel: +34 96 640 4165 +34 96 640 4048 58 Aldea de las Cuevas • Buzon 60 03759 Benidoleig (Alicante), Spain E-mail: murray.brett@abasol.net CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
Bridget DeVane
Tel: 1-800-669-5613 • Tel 334-699-7837 Email: bdevane7@hotmail.com
Southern Loggin’ Times (ISSN 0744-2106) is published monthly by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc., 225 Hanrick St., Montgomery, AL 36104. Subscription Information—SLT is sent free to logging, pulpwood and chipping contractors and their supervisors; managers and supervisors of corporate-owned harvesting operations; wood suppliers; timber buyers; wood procurement and land management officials; industrial forestry purchasing agents; wholesale and retail forest equipment representatives and forest/logging association personnel in the U.S. South. See form elsewhere in this issue. All non-qualified U.S. subscriptions are $65 annually; $75 in Canada; $120 (Airmail) in all other countries (U.S. funds). Single copies, $5 each; special issues, $20 (U.S. funds). Subscription Inquiries— TOLL-FREE 800-669-5613; Fax 888-611-4525. Go to www.southernloggintimes.com and click on the subscribe button to subscribe/renew via the web. All advertisements for Southern Loggin’ Times magazine are accepted and published by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. with the understanding that the advertiser and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. harmless from and against any loss, expenses, or other liability resulting from any claims or lawsuits for libel violations or right of privacy or publicity, plagiarism, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or lawsuits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods and services advertised in Southern Loggin’ Times. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reject any advertisement which it deems inappropriate. Copyright ® 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. and at additional mailing offices. Printed In USA.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Southern Loggin’ Times, P.O. Box 2419, Montgomery, AL 36102-2419 Member Verified Audit Circulation
Other Hatton-Brown publications: ★ Timber Processing ★ Timber Harvesting ★ Panel World ★ Power Equipment Trade ★ Wood Bioenergy
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SOUTHERN STUMPIN’ By David Abbott • Managing Editor • Ph. 334-834-1170 • Fax: 334-834-4525 • E-mail: david@hattonbrown.com
Wipeout W
hen Abbott Logging Co. was still a thing, 20 or so years ago, my dad used to have a bumper sticker on his old blue F-150 that read: “If you object to logging, try using plastic toilet paper.” Good old toilet paper. Thanks to coronavirus stay-at-home orders and people panic buying, it’s been a trending topic here in the last couple of months, probably more so than any time in recent memory. I didn’t need to rush to the store to buy up all the toilet paper when they started talking shutdown. Oddly and conveniently enough, I’d had a bit of a premonition some months earlier. I like to think maybe it was the Good Lord giving me a friendly heads up. You see we have six people in my home, and the rolls tend to spin freely. One weekend we were down to a single roll. I thought to myself: “Self, from now on, when we make our weekly grocery list, why don’t we make it a habit to buy a pack of TP, whether we need it or not, so that we never risk running out.” I agreed with myself that that seemed like a pretty good idea, so we implemented this bold new policy post haste. By the time the whole corona crap hit the fan in early March, we had accumulated quite an inventory. At the suggestion of SLT co-founder, former copublisher and current editor emeritus, DK Knight, it seemed a timely time to give you:
A Brief History of Toilet Paper (Note: Stephen Hawking, arguably the greatest scientific mind in perhaps several generations, wrote a book I read in high school called A Brief History of Time. Well, I’m not even the greatest mind in my own house except when I’m home alone, so a brief history of toilet paper is probably more suited to my intellectual capabilities.) (Further note: I didn’t exactly subject myself to rigorous academic research standards here—I just found this stuff on the Google—so I make no claim as to the legitimate veracity of any of this.) Ever wonder what people used before toilet paper was mass produced and commercially available? If you ever saw the 1993 movie Demolition Man, a futuristic action-comedy starring Sly Stallone and a pre-Speed Sandra Bullock, you may remember the mysterious “three seashells” that had replaced toilet paper. As it happens, seashells actually are among the natural items humans have historically used to clean ourselves. Other options: moss, leaves, corn cobs, animal furs, basically anything available, sometimes followed up by rinsing in a creek or pond. Broken pottery pieces were apparently popular for purposes of post-potty posterior purification. Some inscribed the pottery with the names of their enemies as a way to symbolically, you know, crap on them. It’s not so different now; I’ve seen 6
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toilet paper with pictures of Trump or Obama on each sheet. Greeks and Romans used a communal (yes, communal) sea sponge on a stick that was dipped in a bucket of vinegar or saltwater between uses. Some in ancient China used spatula-shaped bamboo instruments. Of course the Chinese invented paper about 200 years before Christ, and the first recorded mention of paper products having been used for this purpose was also in China, around 500- 600 A.D. Seems some travelers to China from other parts of the world made note of the practice, I guess because it seemed unusual to them. By early in the 1300s, China was manufacturing 10 million packages of 1,000-10,000 toilet paper sheets a year, including perfumed tissues. Even though paper was widely available by the 1400s, it was 1857 before we in the West developed modern, commercially available toilet paper. Joseph Gayetty of New York advertised a “Medicated Paper for the Water-Closet,” selling it in packages of 500 sheets for 50 cents. We didn’t get “splinter-free” toilet paper until 1935.
TP TMI More information on bath tissue than you never knew you needed: Today, up to 75% of the world supposedly still doesn’t use toilet paper, either because they can’t afford it or lack plumbing able to handle it. It’s not just poor countries, though. Bidets are common and preferred in much of Western Europe. Bidet users weren’t concerned with running out of TP, and Americans have expressed an increased interest in bidets since the pandemic outbreak. Joe Biden is running for President. His name is one letter off from being a Bidet, and he may serve a similar function. Incidentally, we posted a video of my dad, a retired logger, discovering what a bidet is on his YouTube channel, popopisms. You can look it up on YouTube by searching for PopPop bidet. Please do, I want him to get more followers, because he’s pretty funny. Apparently, colorful toilet paper used to be popular in the U.S. Scott still produced it until 2004. You can still get it in Europe. The world’s most expensive toilet paper is Renova, from Portugal. Three-ply, perfumed, and $3 per roll, Renova is available in several colors: black, red, blue and green. If you’re feeling fancy, you can order this “loo tissue” on Amazon. This wasn’t the first time we’ve had a toilet paper shortage in the U.S. A Johnny Carson joke on the Tonight Show inspired a run on bath tissue in 1973. In recent years, Charmin sponsored an annual toilet paper wedding dress contest. The Cheap
Chic Weddings winner with the best wedding dress made of toilet paper rolls away with a $10,000 grand prize. Runners up win $5,000 and $2,500, while the fan favorite winner gets a year supply of Charmin TP, which might have been the most valuable prize this year. Koji Suzuki, author of Japanese horror novel The Ring, printed an entire novel on a single roll of toilet paper. The novel takes place in a public bathroom and the entire story runs approximately three feet long. There’s no objectively right way to hang a roll of toilet paper. Over or under is strictly a personal choice. Surveys indicate that 60-70% of Americans prefer it to go over the top, like a waterfall. The shorter fibers of hardwood trees make a softer paper. The mix is generally about 70% hardwood and 30% softwood. The average modern TP roll measures 10 cm (almost 4 in.) wide, 12 cm (close to 5 in.) diameter, weighs about 8 oz. and has 333 sheets. The Pentagon uses, on average, 666 rolls of toilet paper every day. Apocalyptic conspiracy theorists, make of that what you will. Worldwide, humanity produces 83 million rolls a day, and consumes 27-30,000 trees daily, about 10 million a year, just for TP. A single tree makes about 200 rolls. In the U.S., we sell over seven billion rolls annually. Americans average 8.6 sheets of TP per bathroom visit and 141 rolls, or about 28 lbs. of TP, per person, per year. That’s about 50% more than the average in other developed nations, possibly because of the more common use of bidets. At one time there was a Madison Museum of Bathroom Tissue in Madison, Wisc., that housed about 3,000 rolls of toilet paper from around the world (now that’s hoarding). Open from 1992 to 2000, it was located in a second-floor apartment three blocks from the state’s Capitol building. Since that’s where politicians work, one might say this was an appropriate location for a collection of SLT so many butt-wipes.
Sign Of The Times
North Carolina’s Anthony B. Andrews Logging, Inc. and Andrews Brothers, Inc. sent this: “In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we made these signs to put on logging jobs to serve as a reminder to work safely while keeping your social distance.”
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Uphill Climb ■ Bill Robinson and his crew harvest hardwood in steep upland terrain.
By Patrick Dunning PARSONS, W.Va. ill Robinson, ★ 66, and his wife Cathy are the embodiment of humble beginnings. He started their business small, acquiring used equipment from his father-in-law, who had health issues and couldn’t work anymore. After the purchases, including an old dozer, log truck and two power saws, he bought a small tract of timber and founded Robinson Logging, LLC, in March 1993. Now 27 years later, Robinson attests that harvesting hardwood on the side of the Alleghany Mountains can be as dangerous as strip-mining coalfields, something he did for 13 years prior to starting this company. Still, he prefers logging when he remembers those long days spent underground. The experience was more than enough to enable him to appreciate working above ground. On a mountainside overlooking the Cheat River, a large maple tree indicates the beginning of the 90acre tract where Southern Loggin’ Times found Robinson’s crew working early this year. They were doing a select cut for Alleghany Wood Products on Pifer Mountain at about 2,000 ft. elevation. His technique for harvesting
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steep slope hardwood: skidders and dozers forge roads beneath the landing for hand-fellers to access marked trees. Major species harvested include poplar, hard and soft maple, wild cherry, basswood, and red and white oak. Fellers target 12 to 18 in. diameter trees. Both of Robinson’s John Deere skidders are outfitted with chains instead of cables to diminish some of the tension steep terrain creates. “You skid for over a half mile and have to take into account the big rocks and water,” he says. “I prefer
square chains over cable chokers because they tend to lock to the log better.” To compensate for wet, unstable ground due to a layer of limestone beneath the surface, the crew placed 67 mats along roads throughout the stand to provide stability. The larger skidders have tracks on the front tires while smaller skidders wear cleated chains. Frozen weather creates a window of opportunity to increase production. “We had frozen ground last week and it ended up being one of
the best weeks we’ve had,” Robinson said when SLT visited in February. “We can get four to eight inches of snow up here while the valley gets half an inch. We just put chains on the trucks and keep working.” Snow blanketing the roads can easily be plowed with a bucket attached to a dozer. Even after it warms up, Robinson says roads can remain frozen for up to three days. Because a tremendous amount of water flows down the mountain, BMP protocols are complex. Enforced by the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the flow of water must be redirected or stopped altogether to protect roads. Rain enables a rare exemption from work when BMPs can’t be secured. “When the ground freezes, things are smooth,” Robinson says. “It’s the rain that hinders you. There’s a lot of surface rock and water running off this mountain. If a skidder skips on a rock beneath the surface it can mess you up.” Seed and mulch are often required on the landing and skid roads when operating in steep terrain.
Equipment Lineup
From left: Allen Robinson, Sam Odell, Jamie Droppleman, Willie Robinson, Bill Robinson, Robert Stinnett, Billie Brewster, Rusty Beaver
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Robinson Logging runs three skidders: a 1999 John Deere 540G cable skidder, 2005 Deere 648G-III grapple skidder and ’95 Deere 640E
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Robinson prefers square chain chokers over traditional cable chokers for larger logs.
cable skidder. They also have a 650H Deere winch-attached dozer for smaller limbs and a D5 Cat dozer for building roads. A ’18 Deere excavator with dangle saw head from Ryan’s Equipment is on standby while a pair of knucklebooms, a ’14 Serco with 4400 CSI slasher and ’02 Prentice 384, keep logs sorted and trucks rolling. For sales and service, Robinson looks to Leslie Equipment in Norton for John Deere, Newlons International in Elkins for Serco and Ricer Equipment in Summersville for Tigercat. The logger purchases Stihl 461 and 462 series chain saws from Adkins True Value Home Center in Parsons. Trucks include two International tri-axles with pup trailers and one International tri-axle dump truck for hauling gravel. The service truck is equipped with an air compressor, welder, cutting torches, impact wrenches and all sorts of power tools. The crew’s full-time mechanic is Rusty Beaver. Farm Family handles most of the company’s insurance needs, while the Nash & Powers agency in Bristol, Tenn. provides workers’ comp. Routine machinery service takes place at the Robinsons’ personal shop. Every 250 hours for woods equipment and 10,000 miles for trucks, engine oil is changed with Delo-400. An outfit in Ohio brings his transmission and hydraulic oil along with bar and chain oil for buck and power saws. Parts, chains
and bars come from an Amish salesman in Springs, Pa. Equipment gets greased at least twice a week. Robinson says they have to stay diligent with maintenance to counter the wear-and-tear put on these machines by the steep terrain in which they operate.
Markets Robinson often reminds his sons that the “feast or famine” concept applies to fluid markets and weather. “In logging, it’s up and down with no middle ground,” he believes. “You work day and night or hardly at all.”
Activism
Skid roads are regularly assessed.
Bill's oldest son, Willie, ties a truck down.
Fellers target 12-18 in. diameter logs.
Deere excavator sits ready for steep jobs.
Front tires are fitted with chains to compensate for muddy ground.
An International service truck provides additional support in the woods.
Currently, Robinson believes export markets have remained slow due to the strained U.S. relationship with China. His contractor, Alleghany Wood Products, relies on foreign markets and has had to revert to domestic sales. “Everyone got excited after the tariff negotiations and then the virus halted things,” he says. “China isn’t receiving anything or exporting right now.” Anticipation for red oak to take off was short-lived, but the species has since begun seeing increased export demand. Robinson Logging averages 21 loads weekly. They haul to Buckhannon Engineered Products in Buckhannon, Alleghany Wood Products in Kingwood and Weyerhaeuser in Flatwoods. Robinson sells low-grade logs to a friend down the river from his house who owns a small sawmill. Robinson is quite fond of a Morbark 30 in. chipper with V12 Cat engine he bought used from an Amish man in Pennsylvania. He admits there isn’t a large market for hardwood pulpwood, so he hauls chips to charcoal producer Kingsford Products Co. in Parsons. His single crew of seven includes Allen Robinson, Sam Odell, Jamie Droppleman, Willie Robinson, Robert Stinnet and Billie Brewster. Robinson’s wife manages the books and payroll for the company.
What a man does with the tools he’s given is what separates him from
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the pack. Robinson decided he wants to leave the world a better place by establishing an operation that will continue for generations after him. As he looks forward to his anticipated retirement in the next five years, he wants to leave the timber industry better than he found it. His main motivation in that goal is concern for his sons, Willie, 42, and Allen, 41. The brothers currently serve as partners in the business and plan to continue their father’s
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success. Willie runs the trucking side of operations and Allen handles the logging aspect. This affords their dad the freedom to serve as chairman of the West Virginia Loggers Council. He also serves as a board member on the West Virginia Forestry Assn. and American Loggers Council. “I try to be out on the tract as much as possible, but I’m involved in a lot of legislation right now,” the elder Robinson says. “I enjoy doing
it because my boys plan to stay in the business.” In his four-year tenure as chairman of the board, Robinson has been instrumental in formulating several bills. Senate Bill 6, requesting extended weight limits for tri-axle and pup trailers, was successfully passed in April, 2020. Weight limits on West Virginia state roads increased from 88,000 to 94,000 lbs. The Mandolidis Bill, which Robinson refers to as his baby, attempts to
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fix West Virginia’s workers’ comp program. Named after the last name of a sawmill worker who came into contact with a 10 in. table saw that didn’t have a safety guard, the proposed bill is a retraction of the current law allowing employees to sue outside of workers’ comp. “The thing that bothered me most is I’ve paid workers’ comp insurance for over 20 years thinking I was protected, when I’m not,” Robinson says. “I went and talked to some people smarter than me and began asking, ‘Why don’t we try getting congress to pass a law getting rid of this?’ One thing led to another. We went to our lobbyist, discussed with congressmen, and have since passed a resolution that’s making its way through the senate right now.” Robinson says West Virginia is the only state left that still allows employees to sue outside of workers’ comp. In his spare-time, Robinson and his broker hunt down equipment and resell it. He’s also the superintendent at Macedonia United Methodist church and serves as a lay speaker. For the past five years, Robinson has been part-owner of Laurel Mountain Timber, a log yard in Kerens. Robinson says he’s learned a lot about the business aspect of logging since taking his position on the loggers council, but he isn’t afraid to admit there’s a lot he still doesn’t know. “I’ve spent a lot of time in Charleston learning about insurance, truck weights and other issues,” he says. “I’m still learning how the politics side of logging works, but I want to leave my sons in good hands, so I’m paying SLT attention.”
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Battles doesn’t view his dealership as a dealership, instead it’s a co-op—his expertise is negotiating so he leaves the logging to the loggers.
Seizing Opportunity ■ After decades working for others, Chuck Battles stepped out on his own in 2011. By Jessica Johnson ANTLERS, Okla. huck Battles, 61, says he doesn’t look at his company as a timber dealership or a land and timber management operation even though both descriptions definitely fit. Battles views his company, Battles Forestry, more as a co-op for independent loggers. “We work for them as much as they work for us is the premise our company is based on,” he details. Battles Forestry buys and sells timber from commercial, private and governmental entities with a heavy focus on commercial thinning for local TIMOs in the southeast Oklahoma/northeast Texas region. In addition, Battles Forestry can provide management options including silvi-
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culture activities from site prep to reforestation. Born and raised in Antlers, Okla. he began his career in 1980 with Nekoosa Papers woodlands ★ division in Antlers as a dozer operator. Even though he earned an associate’s degree in forestry while maintaining a full-time job, he credits his knowledge and success to the many people that fostered and encouraged him along the way. After working over 30 years with six different forestry companies, Battles saw the need for a business that could manage the sometimes complex interaction between independent loggers, timberland owners and managers and local mills. Now, instead of looking for a company like his, he is the company. Starting with two contractors in early 2011 Battles Forestry has grown to eight independent crews. Two crews are ded-
icated to the farthest southern yellow pine sawmill in the country, Teal-Jones Lumber Co. in Antlers, four contractors are primarily thinning pine plantations while the remaining two are small versatile contractors with the ability to work anything from hardwood pulpwood to pine sawtimber. As Battles begins to talk about his company’s focus, the separation between what he thinks of a more traditional timber dealership and what he does becomes obvious. “A logger’s expertise is logging, while we focus on timber procurement, marketing and logistics. We go to battle for our contractors when needed and it helps to have the cumulative influence of eight contractors speaking as one,” he explains. Why not buy his own machines? “That’s not my expertise,” he says simply. “If you do your own logging,
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you’re putting yourself in competition against the people that are helping you earn a living. That’s what these guys are for, that’s their expertise. For me, it’s coordinating the ever-changing environment and conditions of the forestry industry: from pricing to quotas, raw material and contractor availability. These challenges and putting all the pieces together is where we add value.” Six crews normally work on stumpage purchased by Battles, typically averaging 40-120 acres; the two smaller crews work stumpage they purchase but sell through Battles Forestry. Across the eight crews, Battles Forestry moves an average of more than 300 loads per week working a 100-mile radius from Antlers— though mostly it’s inside 60 miles. Battles tries to provide tracts near where the crews are based, and he
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Battles Forestry manages quotas and purchases stumpage for eight crews in Oklahoma.
says he’s fortunate to have crews in each of the key areas within the working radius to not have to move them too far from home—or their markets. Five crews are based in Antlers, one in Watson, Okla., one in Nashoba, Okla., and one in Battiest, Okla. Battles admits he doesn’t do a lot of timber cruising as his timber purchase contracts are almost exclusively pay-as-cut. The company is based on volume, and pays landowners and loggers as it is cut. He estimates between 70 and 80% of what they do is negotiated first thins. “Our success is based on quantity with quality,” he explains. “We’ve been doing this for almost 10 years, if you’re not doing a good job and paying fair prices you won’t be around very long.” Like most in the timber industry, Battles is worried about the labor force. Finding quality contractors is his single biggest issue; and when he looks at the technical aspects of starting a logging job he understands even for the best operators to step out on their own is extremely difficult. Unfortunately, logging in Oklahoma has the added challenge of competing against the gas and oil industry. “When gas and oil gets hot almost every crew that I have is affected. Operators can make double the money, but then when it gets bad, they come back,” he laments.
The Battles Forestry team, from left, Travis Williams, Chuck Battles and Kristen Johnson
Logistics All loggers handle their own trucking, mostly by hiring independent haulers. Some of the larger contractors own and operate at least one truck. Battles and his son, Travis Williams, monitor the tracts as they are being harvested. Williams, since joining the company a few years ago has become proficient in all aspects of operations and provides valuable oversight and
reconciliation in areas that needed to be monitored more closely. Both Battles and Williams make time to visit the crews regularly. “You have to tell them you love them every once in a while,” he says jokingly. Adding, “We’ve got a great group of guys and they are the foundation we built our business on.” Mainly, Williams focuses on contract logistics, payment and ticket reconciliation, making sure numbers add
up and making adjustments if needed. “Operations is my realm,” the younger man explains. “Travis is part of the succession plan,” Battles says. “Just in case I don’t want to be doing this for the rest my life.” Kristen Johnson, Battles’ daughter, runs the office and does all bookkeeping, including ticket entry and accounts payable. Tickets are brought to a drop box at the office in Antlers or dropped at the Teal-Jones scale house. “They let us know where they are and we pick them up,” she explains, laughing that once she picked up tickets at a gas station. Battles says, alongside working with his family, his biggest point of pride is that they’ve built a faith grounded, reputable business that people know they can count on. The business and contractors are also active in the local community and gives back as much as possible. “It’s a small town and southeast Oklahoma is like one community, we see someone hurting or in need, we’re all going to try to help them.” SLT
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A Lesson On Giving, Taking One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, “I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.” The florist was pleased as he left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. Later, a police officer came in for a haircut, and when he tried to pay his bill, the barber responded, “I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.” The officer was happy as he left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open, there was a ‘thank you’ card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door. A day later a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber said, “I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.” The Congressman was very happy as he left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut. This story illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it. This brings to mind a quote from former President Ronald Reagan, “Both politicians and diapers need to be changed often, and for the same reason.” Blessed are those who give without remembering and take without forgetting.
How To Get To Heaven? A Sunday School teacher was testing children to see if they understood the concept of getting to Heaven. The teacher asked, “If I sold my house and car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into heaven?” “NO!” the children answered. “If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the lawn, and kept everything tidy, would that get me into heaven?” Again, the answer was “NO!” “If I gave sweets to all the children, helped the poor, and loved my husband with all my heart, would that get me into heaven?” Again, they all answered “NO!” The teacher continued, “Then how can I get into heaven?” A little boy shouted: “You’ve gotta be dead.”
Debut Of “God Bless America” The year was 1940. America was still in a terrible economic depression. Hitler was taking over Europe and Americans were afraid the country would have to again go to war. It was a time of hardship and worry for most Americans. This was the era before television, when radio shows were huge and families gathered around their sets to listen to their favorite entertainers. No entertainer of that era was more popular than Kate Smith, a large woman who might not have made it big in the age of TV but with her voice coming over the radio, she was the biggest star of her time. She was also patriotic. It hurt her to see Americans so depressed and afraid of what the next day might bring. She had hope for America and faith in her fellow Americans. She wanted to do something to cheer them up, so she went to the famous American songwriter Irving Berlin and asked him to write a song that would
make Americans feel good again about their country. When she described what she was looking for, Berlin said he had just the song for her. He went to his files and dusted off a song that he had written but never published. He had written it 22 years before, in 1917. He gave it to her and she worked on it with her studio orchestra. She and Berlin were not sure how the song would be received by the public, but both agreed they would not take any profits from “God Bless America.” Any profits would go to the Boy Scouts of America, which over the years received millions of dollars in royalties from this song. To this day, “God Bless America” stirs our patriotic feelings and pride in our country. When Smith went looking for a song to raise the spirits of her fellow Americans, she likely did not realize just how successful the results would be during those years of hardship and worry, and for many generations of Americans to follow. Many people don’t know there is a lead-in to the song since it usually starts with the words God Bless America. To hear the entire song as originally sung and to view the actual video, look up Kate Smith introduces God Bless America - YouTube.
Spiritual Lessons/Truths Don’t let your worries get the best of you; Remember, Moses started out as a basket case. Some people are kind, polite, and thoughtful—until you try to sit in ‘their’ pews. Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers. It is easier to preach 10 sermons than it is to live one. The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes had to be very close. When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there. Too many people today seem to long for the front of the bus, middle of the road, and back of the church. Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever. Too many people gripe about their church, failing to realize that if it was perfect, most members couldn’t belong. If church members want a better pastor, they should simply pray for the one they have. We’re called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges. God Himself doesn’t propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should we? Some minds are like concrete—thoroughly mixed up and permanently set. Peace starts with a smile. Be ye fishers of men. You catch ‘em and He’ll clean ‘em. Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous. Don’t put a question mark where God put a period. Forbidden fruits create many jams. God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. God grades on the cross, not the curve. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. He who angers you, controls you! If God is your co-pilot, swap seats! Don’t give God instructions, just report for duty! The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us. The will of God never takes you to where the grace of God will not protect you. We don’t change the message. The message changes us. You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him/her.
DON’T TRUST EVERYTHING YOU SEE. EVEN SALT LOOKS LIKE SUGAR.
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Last Survivor ■ Times change but Texas Timberjack continues to evolve, adapt and adjust to new market realities.
By David Abbott LUFKIN, Tex. e haven’t been able to do much of it ★ in recent months, what with all the coronas and killer hornets and whatnot, but most of the time, semi-frequent travel is part of the job for the editors at Southern Loggin’ Times. We get to visit forest products businesses all over the country and sometimes in other countries too. On one such trip last November, I found myself in Texas, home of many of my favorites: Willie and Waylon, Texas Timberjack obviously originated as a George Strait and George Jones, Timberjack dealer, remaining so even after Clint Black, Mark Chesnutt, J.R. John Deere absorbed its namesake brand 20 years ago. While keeping the TimberEwing of Dallas and, of course, jack name, since 2013 it has sold Cat, now those Dallas Cowboys. Weiler, forest machines, as well as Doosan, Among other loggers, I was Peterson and others. there to see the Teer family of Lufkin, whose story was featured in the March 2020 issue of Martin one time. On another trip in SLT. The Teers asked me to meet 2007, I did a feature on Texas Timthem at their Caterpillar dealer, berjack itself and on its owner, Texas Timberjack, at its flagship Harold Estes, who is still actively branch in Lufkin. It hadn’t been on involved in the company. my agenda, but since I was going to be in their parking lot anyway, I Evolution decided to call Texas Timberjack’s A lot has changed in Lufkin since VP of sales and marketing, Roy the last time I had been there 11 Zenor, and ask if he had time for a quick chat. He graciously agreed, so years earlier, but even more has stayed the same. In that time, Texas I went early to visit with Zenor Timberjack went from selling Timwhile I waited on the Teers. berjack (or John Deere-as-TimberI hadn’t been to Texas Timberjack) machines to Caterpillar and jack in a number of years, but early now to Weiler, but the dealership in my Hatton-Brown career, on has remained strong and steady. The three separate multi-day trips to business Estes took on and later Lufkin, the sales team there set me purchased has proved to be a surup with several of their customers—a pair of late-2008 stories I vivor. In fact, Texas Timberjack has outlasted Timberjack by 14 years did on loggers Lavoy Eason and Lonnie Grissom stand out in my mind. The salespeople were always tremendously hospitable, and I remember Zenor himself took me to dinner at a nice little Italian place with someone Weiler is off to a strong start in Texas, and Zenor says the company from Lockheed is on the right track.
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and counting. The Timberjack line continued for over five years after becoming a John Deere subsidiary in December 2000. Deere continued to produce Timberjack machines until June 2006 (barely over a year after I started writing for SLT), when it discontinued the brand, with a few exceptions. Franchise laws in some markets, including Texas, obligated Deere to continue providing certain dealers with machines to sell. Because other dealers already had the contract for the area, however, those independent Timberjack dealers couldn’t sell Deere machines. So, for those dealers, Deere machines were branded as Timberjack. Deere dealers and Timberjack dealers competed against each other in the same
markets, selling the same machines painted different colors. So, even though Timberjack, for most of us, disappeared in 2006, in Texas you could still buy Timberjack machines until 2013, when Texas Timberjack became a Caterpillar dealer. Estes, Zenor and company sold their last two Timberjack skidders in summer/fall 2013 and their first three Cat skidders in late 2012/early 2013. Then Caterpillar sold its forestry division to Weiler in 2019, and now Texas Timberjack is a Weiler dealership. Zenor indicates that customers have accepted the Weiler change well. “We’ve sold several loaders and cutters, and those are good machines,” he says, noting that Weiler has made and is continuing to make design improvements. “I think they’re headed in the right direction with it.” He adds that they’re closing in on selling their first Weiler skidder, of which they had two in stock as of late May, with a half dozen more on the way.
Shifting Markets
During our brief visit that morning, Zenor informed me that in the last several years, the size of the forestry slice in Texas Timberjack’s sales pie has been cut in half. Forestry equipment sales that once accounted for 90% of the dealer’s business have now dropped to just 45%. He believes the decline reflects an overall shrinking of the forestry equipment market, which he attributes in part to the increased efficiency of modern forestry equipment. Zenor equates the situation with what happened in the agricultural market. “When I grew up, a man who had 500 acres would need five tractors of different types,” he recalls. “Now he can have 5,000 acres and work it needing only one tractor.” Likewise, he says, a logger who years ago might have struggled to Texas Timberjack has already sold several Weiler machines, get 10 loads a day with five skidders can now while Doosan demand continues to grow.
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often get 30 loads a day with one skidder. To deal with this changing reality, Zenor says, Texas Timberjack has expanded its offerings and broadened its base beyond forestry to bring in more mulching and construction customers. To that end, the dealer added
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Doosan excavators and loaders and Peterson chippers/grinders to the mix. “That started out slowly but has grown in the last few years,” Zenor says. They also represent Bobcat, C.M.I., CSI, FAE Group, Fecon, Thunder Creek and Viking trailers. And of course they now carry pur-
pose-built forestry equipment from Weiler along with Prentice and Riley and remaining Caterpillar inventory. Within the forest machines sector, Zenor admits the competition is as fierce as ever, if not more so, with fewer loggers buying less equipment. That said, he emphasizes that
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Texas Timberjack has never lost money. In fact, not content just with surviving, it thrives. “We’ve always been in the black,” Zenor says. “We had a banner year in 2018 and another one in 2019.” This year has of course brought its own unique challenges, and like
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many, Texas Timberjack has taken a hit from the coronavirus response, but Zenor says that things seem to be picking back up in May. “I’m not sure what’s driving that,” he says. “From what I understand mills have plenty of orders but have a trucking issue with getting product delivered.”
Abbott/Estes Connection Before he planted roots in Texas, Harold Estes, a North Carolina native, got his forestry degree in
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Georgia and first went to work for Timberjack in Florida in 1968. He quickly worked his way up from office manager, parts/service supervisor and salesman to factory representative. That last position had him based in the Atlanta area but took him all over the South and Midwest. It was during this time that he met my father, Bill Abbott. About the time Estes was advancing with Timberjack in Georgia, my dad was just getting started with the company. Before that, while serving
in the Army National Guard from 1964-1970, dad had worked at Riggs Tractor, Arkansas’ Caterpillar dealer, in Little Rock from ’63-’67. “We sold D2 crawler tractors to loggers, and I remember people saying we would lose that market to John Deere if Cat didn’t start building a rubber tired skidder,” dad recalls. His older brother, Floyd Abbott, had also worked at Riggs from 1950-1964, minus the 13 months he spent in Korea with the Air National Guard. By ’64 Floyd was a branch
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manager at the McGehee store, but left when he got the opportunity to buy Argo Drilling (now known as Abbott Supply Co. in McGehee). From ’67-’70, dad worked for Floyd at Argo, drilling irrigation wells in the farm country of southcentral Arkansas, north Louisiana and west Mississippi. Their sister, my aunt Marjorie Barentine, followed in Bear Bryant’s footsteps, leaving Arkansas for Alabama when she and her husband relocated to Montgomery in 1970. Marjorie arranged a meeting in Memphis between dad and her new neighbor, a Timberjack salesman named Kit Avery. He convinced dad to change careers and recruited him to work under the donkey’s banner. So, in October, 1970, my parents moved from Grady, Ark. to Montgomery to work in the Wilco Forest Machinery store there. That was where dad got to know Estes as a factory rep from Atlanta who visited the Wilco store in Montgomery. Wilco Machinery was the Timberjack dealer in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Tennessee at that time. When it went bankrupt, it left Timberjack without a dealer network in much of the region. This forced Timberjack’s parent company, Eaton Corp., to take over the stores. In Montgomery, dad recalls, they shut the store down and laid everyone off except him and Kit. Eaton converted the former Wilco Machinery locations into factory stores and sent factory reps, like Estes, to manage. In Montgomery, according to my dad’s recollection, they got David Sharp, an accountant from Ireland by way of Woodstock, Ontario in Canada, where Timberjack located its skidder factory. And this is how Harold Estes ended up in the Lone Star State. Eaton asked Estes to oversee its operations in Texas and Louisiana. He moved to Lufkin in 1971 to take over the old Wilco store there. Eventually, someone else took over the Louisiana territory, leaving Estes to focus on growing his market share in Texas. From 197184, he managed the Lufkin branch as a Timberjack factory store. When Timberjack declared its independence from Eaton via leveraged buyout in 1984, it needed to generate revenue to pay off the debt. The situation presented Estes with an opportunity to assert his own independence by buying the company store in Lufkin for $1.6 million. Estes added three more branches by the end of that decade, in Jasper, Cleveland and Atlanta. Today, the Atlanta branch is gone but the SLT other three still operate.
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INDUSTRY NEWS ROUNDUP As We See It: Taking A Closer Look At Used Forestry Equipment By Tom Hirt In my 40+ year equipment career, I have interacted with loggers and small business contractors—all great people—around the world. Most equipment dealers across Hirt North America have seen
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my footprints inside their stores at one time or another. And I’ve overseen sales for several well-known forestry equipment manufacturers. This industry exposure has been key to my understanding of the many opportunities and challenges that exist
in the purchasing and/or selling of used equipment. Since branching off with my own company in 2007, I have learned much about the pitfalls in the used equipment world. I would like to share some of my views with you. One of the first questions I ask a client who is considering the sale or
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purchase of a “non-new” piece of equipment is why they would want to take on this task by themselves. I get many answers and explanations. Here are a few good reasons as to why you may want to look for help. l Specialists have more contacts and will advertise your machines on web sites and other media. l You may not be as smart as you think you are when it comes to the values of used machines. Ask yourself why you have an insurance agent, banker, accountant, doctor, lawyer…you get my drift. l You work long hours as it is. Do you want to put your phone number in front of thousands of people and receive calls at all hours? l If you find a buyer, are you prepared to document the sale properly to avoid any legal issues or conflicts after the sale? I don’t own a chain saw. If I inherited 1000 acres of good timber, would I buy a bunch of equipment? Nope…I’d hire one of YOU! There is ONE important point that needs to be emphasized: The condition of a used piece of machinery is subjective! Like two women who see the same man, one may think he’s a hunk, but the other a reject. It’s the same with used machines. Opinions differ! What are some of the important things to consider when buying or selling used machines? It’s quite a list – some obvious, some you may never have pondered. l What is the history of the unit? l Is the seller the original owner? l How many different operators have been on the machine? l How well was the machine maintained? l Do you know how to check all the fluids and inspect grease points? l Any warranty remaining? l Any liens against the machine? l Can you locate the serial number? l Is the hour meter working properly? All of the above items have been important considerations over the years, but these days, we have one more fly in the ointment…the Tier IV engine and DEF. Did the machine have a Tier IV engine with DEF and is it still installed and working properly? The dangers with equipment which has had the DEF deleted are vast! After obtaining as much information as possible, if you like what you’ve found, you’re ready to close the deal. Make sure you have clean
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paperwork showing the sale, include the serial number, and have both parties sign the document. In a nutshell, inspecting a piece of equipment is not very different from inspecting a used car or truck or a pre-owned house. If you do not feel confident in your ability to determine the condition of a used machine, don’t hesitate to seek a pro. In the case of a late model, low hour machine, the seller bears a much higher risk of not getting fair market value because the seller is competing with new equipment. To
help a buyer justify investing in a low hour, late model machine, the price will have to be substantially lower than a new unit. Why? Because a new machine will have new warranty and typically lower interest rates, and no previous use! So this also reflects on the mentality of buying ‘New.’ If you only intend to keep it for two or three years, be prepared to get less value when you trade or sell because dealers will be competing. Always remember that you are buying a used machine. No matter
how much research you do, or how many mechanics you have check it out, it has been run on a job you did not supervise by someone who did not work for you, so there is always a risk that something unforeseen might be wrong and it won’t show until you have put it to work. This singular fact about used equipment is why you always hear the phrase “Let The Buyer Beware!” In the end, the buyer bears the responsibility of knowing what he has purchased. If you take your time, ask ques-
tions, do your research, and are not afraid to ask for professional advice, you greatly increase your chances of finding great value in a used machine that will serve you well. Hirt is president and owner of FSK Equipment & Supply, Inc., McKinney, Tex. Contact him at tom@fskequip ment.com or visit www.fskequip ment.com. Tom has been invited to give a more in-depth presentation on purchasing used equipment at the 26th ALC Annual Meeting scheduled for September 24-26, 2020 in Branson, Missouri.
Softwood Lumbermen Are Hit Blindside Caught in the web of coronavirus, the collective expectation of U.S. softwood lumbermen for their business situation the remainder of 2020 and into 2021 has taken a big hit, compared to what the lumbermen were thinking at the beginning of 2020 before the onslaught. In fact before the coronavirus, 86% forecasted their business situation as excellent or good for 2020-2021. But now, only 33% see it as excellent or good, with much of that previous optimism slipping into the fair, poor, and very poor expectations. However, some optimism on behalf of lumbermen does exist for once the virus crisis subsides. “I think, God willing, we will be in position to really excel after we get through these issues,” comments Robert Jordan IV, president/CEO, Jordan Lumber in Mt. Gilead, NC. U.S. softwood lumbermen offered these insights as part of their responses to Timber Processing’s annual Sawmill Operations & Capital Expenditure Survey. One-hundred twenty-six (126) lumber company personnel—mostly owners, presidents, VPs and general managers—completed the online survey during the latter half of April. They represented approximately 260 sawmills. What the survey results reveal is what everybody knows—that COVID-19 totally blindsided everybody, just when the softwood lumber industry and housing markets had tasted some momentum. “2019 was a difficult year in our industry. Early in quarter one this year things started looking good, but when the virus hit, we quickly returned to ’19 type numbers,” comments Richie LeBlanc, president, Hunt Forest Products/LaSalle Lumber, which started up a new SYP sawmill in LaSalle, La. “We have made significant changes to avoid having log truck drivers and lumber haulers entering the office,” comments Ross Jackson, general manager, Spanish Trail Lumber in Marianna, Fla. 28
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“We have implanted social distancing for employees in the break room areas by providing additional outside tables and have more hand washing stations.”
Klausner Sawmills In Deep Trouble Following several years of below capacity operation and much controversy, Klausner Lumber One LLC, including its southern yellow pine sawmill in Live Oak, Fla., has filed for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware. According to the petition, liabilities are expected to range from $100 million to $500 million. The Live Oak sawmill and a newer Klausner sawmill in Enfield, NC both shut down operations in March, prompting a class action lawsuit against Klausner in a United States District Court, accusing the company of failing to comply with the 60-day notice period and for outstanding wage and social security payments. Employees said Austria-based employees and executives were “evacuated” to Europe in mid March with no notice to U.S. employees.
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Once courted by communities across the Southeast as the economy improved following the 2008-2009 Great Recession, the Klausner mills never got anywhere close to their respective 350MMBF production capacities. The Florida plant, which started out under a cloud of foundation problems and labor issues, began operating in 2015. The North Carolina sawmill was never able to move into full operation. Klausner had even considered building an identical third sawmill in South Carolina. The existing sawmills are apparently for sale. Klausner Lumber One, LLC, is reportedly owned by Klausner Holding USA, Inc., which is owned by KNB GmbH of Austria, which is owned by Alpha Privatstiftung of Austria.
Ceres Tackles Michael’s Forest Debris Field “Total devastation” are the words many community leaders used to describe the aftermath of Hurricane Michael back in October 2018. Michael will be best remembered for the sheer volume of vegetation
destruction it caused up and down to carry material to the machines. the coastal communities of Florida With the four tracked HG6800TX and Georgia. grinders, in particular, crews could Handling a good chunk of the ini- quickly move them from one pile to tial and long-term recovery efforts the next, which helped reduce cycle was Ceres Environmental Services times and save on fuel costs. Inc., based in Sarasota, Fla. Their While eight units on-site were horcrews were responsible for clearing izontal grinders, the lone Vermeer the roadways so emergency veTG7000 tub grinder played a vital hicles and others aiding with the cleanup efforts could access the area, as well as hauling away all of the green waste collected. The collected organic material was hauled to a 120-acre lot in Jackson County, Fla., where it was stacked high for further processing. Ceres brought in nine grinders to reduce the waste volume by roughly 75%. The equipment crews used to Grinding through Hurricane Michael debris field tackle the mountains of material role in the process. High-speed winds included two Vermeer HG6000 horiknock trees over at their roots, leavzontal grinders, four Vermeer ing huge root balls to contend with. HG6800TX horizontal grinders on The TG7000 has a 10 ft. wide tub tracks, two Vermeer HG8000 horithat makes quick work of those larger zontal grinders and one Vermeer and odd-sized pieces of material. TG7000 tub grinder. The Ceres team Ceres grinding crews went through selected these units because of their all the organic waste in a little over a mobility and production levels. With month. The material produced on-site 120 acres of material to process, the is now being reused as biofuel, landteam determined it was more efficient scaping material and organic matter to reposition the grinders than having for farm fields.
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An Ill-Advised Jump From The Knuckleboom Loader BACKGROUND: On a winter afternoon in the Appalachians, a log truck driver was collecting his load ticket from the knuckleboom loader operator. The area around the log deck was level, but the ground was frozen. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The 26-year-old driver had been employed with his current logging business for approximately one year. He was fully trained for his job and had no known physical disabilities or previous accident history. He was wearing a hard hat and high-visibility vest. UNSAFE ACTS AND CONDITION: The driver was in a hurry to get going. Instead of waiting for the loader operator to hand him the load ticket, the driver climbed up onto the loader to take the ticket. He then walked hurriedly off the loader platform, down onto the loader trailer frame, and jumped down onto the ground instead of using the equipment steps. ACCIDENT: The driver
hands and one foot or one hand and two feet are always in firm contact with handles and steps. Use caution, remembering that many accidents and injuries happen when an employee is in a hurry. Never jump on or off of equipment, especially when frozen ground or
debris are present. Keep handholds, steps, and other walking areas free of debris, oil, etc. Logging employers should develop and enforce safe working procedures for truck drivers and other employees around the log landing. Supplied by Forest Resources Assn.
wrenched his knee when he landed on the frozen ground. INJURY: The driver was unable to walk without pain. He was taken to the local emergency room. An x-ray and MRI revealed that there was only a strain and no torn ligaments. The driver missed several days of work and was cleared to return to driving after a follow-up visit to the doctor five days later. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION: Drivers should refrain from climbing onto the loader and instead should wait on the ground for the loader operator to hand him or her the ticket—or consider using a method of handling load tickets that does not require mounting and dismounting the loader—dropbox, ticket clipped to a string, etc. Logging crew members, or others who need to enter and exit loaders or other machinery, should always face the machine and use three points of contact, such that two
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PRINT CLASSIFIED AD RATES: Print advertising rates are $50 per inch. Space is available by column inch only, one inch minimum. DEADLINES: Ad reservation must be received by 10th of month prior to month of publication. Material must be received no later than 12th of month prior to month of publication.
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2006 Tigercat 630C Skidder, dual arch & winch, 35.5x32 tires, good skidder ready to work ..............Price on Request 3939
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Repair Hoses in the Log Woods Crimper Start-up Kit Less than $5,000 Contact: Chris Alligood 1-252-531-8812 email: www.chrisa.cavalierhose@gmail.com
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Ready To Place Your Classified Ad? Call 334-699-7837, 800-669-5613 or email class@southernloggintimes.com for print ads.
In addition to new machines, CHAMBERS DELIMBINATOR, INC. now has factory reconditioned DeLimbinators. These units have been inspected, repaired, and updated as needed. Call us and we will help you select a DeLimbinator for your need.
IF YOU NEED
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To buy or sell forestry, construction, utility or truck equipment, or if you just need an appraisal, contact me, Johnny Pynes with JM Wood Auction. Over 25 years experience.
Day 334-312-4136 Night 334-271-1475 or Email: johnwpynes@knology.net
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RECONDITIONED DELIMBINATORS!!
WE ALSO BUY USED DELIMBINATORS Call: 662-285-2777 day, 662-285-6832 eves Email: info@chambersdelimbinator.com 1123
EUREKA! EUREKA! EUREKA! OWNERS HAVE OVER 30 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE!
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We can save you money on Saw Teeth. Hundreds of satisfied ACC OW EP customers. Rebuilt Exchange or New. We specialize in rebuild- CRE TING DIT ing Koehring 2000, Hurricana, Hydro Ax split teeth and all CARDS other brands. Call Jimmy or Niel Mitchell. Quantity Discounts! 6209 7180
EUREKA SAW TOOTH CO., INC.
4275 Moores Ferry Rd. • Skippers, Virginia 23879 PH./FAX (day) 1-434-634-9836 or Night/Weekends • 1-434-634-9185
SUBSCRIBE/RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TO SOUTHERN LOGGIN’ TIMES Renew your subscription or, if you are not now receiving Southern Loggin’ Times you can receive a one year subscription free if you can qualify. Please fill out the attached form and mail to: Southern Loggin’ Times • P.O. Box 2419 • Montgomery, AL 36102-2419 13189
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AA—Logging Firm/Contractor SL—Sawmill WITH Logging Operations TT—Trucking Firm/Contractor MS—Mill Log/Fiber Supply Operations LB—Log/Fiber Broker WITH Logging/Chipping Operations FM—Industrial Forest Mgmt. Operations Total Acres: __________________ JJ—Silviculture Operations KK—Land Clearing/Grinding/Grooming/ROW Contractor MM—Mach./Equip./Supplies Manufacturer DD—Mach./Equip./Supplies Distributor/Dealer OO—Other: (please be specific) ______________________________________
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A D L I N K ●
ADVERTISER
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PG. NO.
PHONE NO.
American Truck Parts
20
888.383.8884
Around The World Salvage
34
936.634.7210
Bandit Industries
3
800.952.0178
Big John Trailers
5
800.771.4140
BITCO Insurance
27
800.475.4477
Carter Enterprises
23
205.217.1644
Caterpillar Dealer Promotion
15
919.550.1201
John Deere Forestry
11
800.503.3373
Eastern Surplus
30
855.332.0500
Flint Equipment
27
404.859.5790
FMI Trailers
28
601.508.3333
Forest Chain
10
800.288.0887
Forestry First
36
803.708.0624
Forestry Mutual Insurance
39
800.849.7788
G & W Equipment
10
800.284.9032
G&R Manufactured Solutions
10
870.510.6580
Granger Equipment
35
318.548.5977
Hawkins & Rawlinson
22
888.822.1173
Interstate Tire Service
37
864.947.9208
Kaufman Trailers
21
336.790.6807
Komatsu Forestry Division
19
888.285.7478
Mike Ledkins Insurance Agency
24
800.766.8349
LMI-Tennessee
14
800.467.0944
Magnolia Trailers
25
800.738.2123
Maxam Tire North America
20
1.844.MAXAM.NA
Maxi-Load Scale Systems
26
877.265.1486
Mid-Atlantic Logging & Biomass
38
919.271.9050
Moore Logging Supply
20
888.754.5613
On a Tree Forestry
31
252.536.9869
Pitts Trailers
40
800.321.8073
Puckett Machinery
36
601.969.6000
Quality Equipment & Parts
35
386.754.6186
River Ridge Equipment
24
855.325.6465
Southern Loggers Cooperative
30
318.445.0750
Stribling Equipment
34
855.781.9408
Tidewater Equipment
33
912.638.7726
Tigercat Industries
1,7
519.753.2000
TraxPlus
31
601.635.5543
Trelan Manufacturing
17
877.487.3526
W & W Truck & Tractor
32
800.845.6648
Waratah Forestry Attachments
2
770.692.0380
Waters International Trucks
35
601.693.4807
J M Wood Auction
29
334.264.3265
COMING EVENTS July 16-18—West Virginia Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Cannan Valley Resort & Conference Center, Davis, W.Va. Call 681-265-5019; visit wvfa.org. 24-26—Georgia Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Jekyll Island Convention Ctr., Jekyll Island, Ga. Call 478-992-8110; visit gfagrow.org. 25-28—Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Summer Conference, Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC. Call 336-885-8315; visit appalachianhardwood.org.
August 11-14—Virginia Forestry Assn. Summit, Hotel Madison, Harrisonburg, Va. Call 804-278-8733; visit vaforestry.org. 20-23—Virginia Loggers Assn. annual meeting, Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Va. Call 804-677-4290; visit valoggers.org. 25-27—Kentucky Forest Industries Assn. annual meeting, Brown Hotel, Louisville, Ky. Call 502-695-3979; visit kfia.org. 25-27—Florida Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, Amelia Island, Fla. Call 850-222-5646; visit floridaforest.org.
ADLINK is a free service for advertisers and readers. The publisher assumes no liability for errors or omissions.
25-27—Louisiana Forestry Assn. annual meeting, TBD. Call 318443-2558; visit laforestry.com. 25-28—IWF 2020, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. Call 404-693-8333; visit iwfatlanta.com.
September 10-12—Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, UP State Fairgrounds, Escanaba, Mich. Call 715-282-5828; visit gltpa.org. 13-15—Alabama Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Ala. Call 334-265-8733; visit alaforestry.org. 18-20—Virginia Forest Products Assn. Annual Conference, Virginia Beach Hilton Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, Va. Call 804-7375625; visit vfpa.net. 23—TEAM Safe Trucking Semi annual meeting, Branson Convention Center, Branson, Mo. Call 207-8410250; visit teamsafetrucking.com. 23-25—National Hardwood Lumber Assn. Convention & Exhibit Showcase, Galt House Hotel, Louisville, Ky. Call 901-377-1818; visit nhla.com. 24—TEAM Safe Trucking Training Day, Branson Convention Center, Branson, Mo. Call 207-841-0250; visit teamsafetrucking.com. 24-26—American Loggers Council annual meeting, Hilton Branson Convention Center, Branson, Mo. Call 409-625-0206; visit amloggers.com. 29-October 1—Arkansas Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Doubletree Hotel, Little Rock, Ark. Call 501374-2441; visit arkforests.org.
October 7-9—North Carolina Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC. Call 800-231-7723; visit ncforestry.org. 9-10—Expo Richmond 2020, Richmond Raceway Complex, Richmond, Va. Call 804-737-5625; visit exporichmond.com. Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.
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