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A Hatton-Brown Publication Co-Publisher David H. Ramsey Co-Publisher David (DK) Knight Chief Operating Officer Dianne C. Sullivan PUBLISHING OFFICE Street Address: 225 Hanrick Street Montgomery, AL 36104-3317 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 Telephone (334) 834-1170 Fax 334-834-4525

Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers Browse, subscribe or renew: www.timberharvesting.com

Executive Editor David (DK) Knight Editor-in-Chief Rich Donnell Western Editor Dan Shell Senior Associate Editor David Abbott Associate Editor Jessica Johnson Associate Editor Jay Donnell Art Director/Prod. Mgr. Cindy Segrest Ad Production Coord Patti Campbell Circulation Director Rhonda Thomas CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Bridget DeVane 334-699-7837 bdevane7@hotmail.com ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Vol. 63, No. 3: Issue 650

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OurCover Based in Lacey, Ark., Jones Logging, Inc. is a strong, four-generation company that combines good management, good employees and good equipment (lots of it). Linked with three timber companies and abiding by the Golden Rule, it routinely pumps out more than 200 loads of pine and hardwood logs each week. Story begins on PAGE 10. (Photo by Jessica Johnson)

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SOUTHERN USA Randy Reagor • P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 (904) 393-7968 • Fax: (334) 834-4525 E-mail: reagor@bellsouth.net

MIDWEST USA, EASTERN CANADA John Simmons • 32 Foster Cres. Whitby, Ontario, Canada L1R 1W1 (905) 666-0258 • Fax: (905) 666-0778 E-mail: jsimmons@idirect.com WESTERN USA, WESTERN CANADA Tim Shaddick • 4056 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC, Canada V6L 1Z1 (604) 910-1826 • Fax: (604) 264-1367 E-mail: tootall1@shaw.ca

InWoodsExpo June 18-20

INTERNATIONAL Murray Brett Aldea de las Cuevas 66, Buzon 60 03759 Benidoleig (Alicante), Spain +34 96 640 4165 • Fax: +34 96 640 4022 E-mail: murray.brett@abasol.net Timber Harvesting & Wood Fiber Operations (ISSN 21542333) is published 6 times annually (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December issues are combined) by HattonBrown Publishers, Inc., 225 Hanrick St., Montgomery, AL 36104. Subscriptions are free to U.S. logging, pulpwood and chipping contractors and their supervisors; managers and supervisors of corporate-owned harvesting operations; wood suppliers; timber buyers; businesses involved in land grooming and/or land clearing, wood refuse grinding and right-of-way maintenance; wood procurement and land management officials; industrial forestry purchasing agents; wholesale and retail forest equipment representatives and forest/logging association personnel. All non-qualified U.S. subscriptions are $50 annually; $60 in Canada; $95 (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.timberharvesting.com and click on the subscribe button to subscribe/renew via the web. All advertisements for Timber Harvesting 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 Timber Harvesting & Wood Fiber Operations. Copyright ® 2015. 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.

Member Verified Audit Circulation POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TIMBER HARVESTING, P.O. BOX 2419, Montgomery, AL 36102-2419

Preview Of Arkansas Event

Fennell Forestry Australia Quite A Road Show

Special Product Roundup: Trailers-Chip Vans-Scales

Southern Loggers Cooperative 10 Years Of Service, Growth

OurDepartments My Take _________________________________________________ 4 News Lines _______________________________________________ 6 People Power_____________________________________________ 9 Equipment World_________________________________________ 36 Innovation Way __________________________________________ 40 Select Cuts _____________________________________________ 43 THExchange _____________________________________________ 44 Events/Ad Index __________________________________________ 46 Other Hatton-Brown Publications: Southern Loggin’ Times • Wood Bioenergy Timber Processing • Panel World • Power Equipment Trade

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MyTake DK KNIGHT dk@hattonbrown.com, 334-834-1170

“It’s Not What I Did, But What I Didn’t Do” Transportation has apparently replaced logging capacity as the thorniest challenge in the wood fiber supply chain. It’s the most inefficient and underpaid component in the supply system, a pothole that seems to grow deeper and wider with each passing season. Add it up: mounting regulations, thin margins, mechanical issues, a shortage of qualified, dependable drivers, long haul distances, rising insurance rates and fewer carriers, liability exposure, a litigious society, posted roads and bridges, road access permits, performance bonds, high operating costs, slow turn times at delivery points, and more. Transportation was challenging enough before the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration came out with its Compliance-Safety-Accountability program in 2010. CSA was designed to boost accountability all around and make trucking safer, and it probably has done so. That’s the good part, and nobody can justifiably knock it. But regulations are forcing some older drivers to roadside at a time when there is an acute driver shortage. If a 66-year-old male can’t do the required knee bends and has an oversized neck, does this make him unfit to drive a truck? Another rub is that state authorities who enforce federal rules at times are overzealous and/or misinformed or just don’t give a damn. Drivers of brand new trucks and trailers are cited for mechanical deficiencies while delivering their first load with such “new paint.” Minor infractions cause rigs to be put out of service for hours. In some cases, when an officer finds nothing amiss, he/she refuses to fill out and present a “clean sheet” to the driver. This is a disservice to the driver, and his employer, in that a pos-

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itive inspection can offset a negative one as far as points go. If it is so quick to take, shouldn’t Government Almighty also be willing to give a little? A driver’s record, moving violations and otherwise, of course influences insurance rates. I understand that in some states rates are on the rise and, more importantly, the number of carriers willing to insure log trucks is declining. One source intimate with the situation recently indicated that if something doesn’t change, he fears log truck insurance availability will be limited. That could mean drastically higher rates. Regulations, low pay, high operating costs and driver scarcity have already led to a decrease in log hauling subcontractors, causing some logging businesses to take up the slack by again investing in trucks and trailers of their own. This might not have been to their liking—a new tractor costs about $135,000—but it is helping the public image of log transport. Many small subcontracters, particularly in the South, tend to buy used over-the-road trucks not that well suited to the job. Many of these are heavy sleeper models that are camel-ugly, especially when coupled with a rusted, beat-up trailer, age 30 or more, often identified with a spray-paint number applied in freehand style. Some of these combinations are downright frightful. Let’s face it. Such rigs, many of which are inherently inefficient, are perceived to be haphazard and dangerous, even if they are not. They don’t enhance the industry’s image, and to an enforcement officer, they stand out like rat droppings in a sugar bowl. Central to the trucking problem are rates that don’t adequately cover all costs, let alone provide for a decent profit. How many times have I heard

loggers moan that they subsidize trucking with income from the harvesting side? Some log consumers might argue that lower fuel costs of the last several months should be enough to quiet complainers. Sure, lower fuel costs have helped, but they are not enough. (See paragraph two.) In case wood consumers missed it, the trucking component has also been dealing with mechanical issues stemming from the low emissions Tier 4f engine mandated by EPA. Some manufacturers had lots of trouble with these engines. One frustrated owner recently told me that his business suffered downtime and considerable repair costs before losing at least a quarter million more dollars in selling a half dozen newer tractors and buying older units that he retrofitted with pre Tier 4f engines. It’s true that legal truck weights allowed in the U.S. overall lag those of other forest-rich nations, but is more weight the answer? Perhaps it would help, but the industry is divided on how to go about it. And even if more weight were allowed, local governments could counteract with measures of their own. While there are no easy solutions, astute business owners are taking steps to streamline transportation and plug cost drains. These steps include lower tare weight, installation of GPS systems and dash cameras, driver performance bonuses, use of longer life oil filters, and use of scales, among others. Increasingly, larger outfits are converting to dispatch systems and/or decoupling the trucking component from logging itself. One of the most pragmatic steps the average logger can take to improve trucking, and to protect himself, is to install scales. Yet many continue to resist. When you drive by that highway billboard with the picture of a grinning “accident law” attorney, think about that country music song: “It’s Not What I Did, But TH What I Didn’t Do.”

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NewsLines Interfor Buys Sawmill From The Price Companies Canada’s Interfor purchased a sawmill in Monticello, Ark. from The Price Companies for $29.255 million. The mill produces 75MMBF annually, but has a number of operational and capital investment initiatives in progress, including the construction of a continuous dry kiln that is expected to be completed in the third quarter. These projects should increase the mill’s production to more than 100MMBF per year and provide for drying capacity of 150MMBF annually. Interfor’s total annual lumber capacity will increase to 3.2 billion BF, including lumber capacity in the U.S. Southeast of 1.3 billion BF. “This transaction is another illustration of our strategy to grow in regions with strong timber baskets and access to important lumber markets,” says Duncan Davies, Interfor President and CEO. The mill started up in 2006 to process plantation pine into timbers, dimension and boards in short lengths. J.P. Price purchased much of the machinery from a Canfor sawmill in Hines Creek, BC. The Price Companies continues to operate multiple chip mills mostly in the Southern U.S.

Foley Timber Explores Sale Of Florida Timberlands Foley Timber and Land Co., which owns and manages 560,000 acres of timberlands in north central Florida, is exploring the sale of its business assets and operations. The company’s 876 square miles of timberlands are centrally located between Tallahassee and Gainesville along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Jury Award Upheld By Montana Judge In a 42-page report, a district judge in Montana in late April upheld a jury’s decision to award a discontinued logging company more than $17 million in damages, and added $7.5 million in attorney fees. Kelly Logging Inc., whose roots went back to the 1950s and employed more than 70 before closing, was awarded the damages by a Missoula jury last August. Its owners sued First 6

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Dale Greene Named Dean At UGA Warnell School W. Dale Greene, a long-time faculty member and administrator in the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, has been named its dean. A professor of forest operations who joined the Warnell School in 1986, he previously served as its associate dean for academic affairs and has been interim dean since last January. Greene has received all three teaching awards given by the War- Dale Greene nell School and has been honored by the Georgia Forestry Assn. (GFA) for his service. His extensive research has focused on enhancing the productivity and sustainability of the wood supply chain, and he has been active in the GFA, the Georgia Forestry Foundation and the International Council on Forest Engineering. He has served on several committees in the Warnell School and on University Council while engaging in outreach to industry and landowners. He has helped develop some of the Warnell School’s most popular courses, including its off-campus forestry field practicum, where undergraduate students gain hands-on experience with harvesting, processing and manufacturing. In addition, he has mentored nearly 45 graduate students who have gone on to successful careers. His teaching awards include the Warnell School’s Herrick Superior Teaching Award and the Warnell Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Teaching. In 2008, he was named a Senior Teaching Fellow by UGA’s Center for Teaching and Learning. “Dr. Greene’s dedication to the students, faculty and alumni of the Warnell School is undeniable,” said Pamela Whitten, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “His record of excellence in teaching, research and service speaks for itself, and his long-standing collaborations with partners in the private sector, government and other organizations make him ideally suited to lead one of the nation’s most celebrated schools of forestry and natural resources.” “I am delighted and humbled to have the opportunity to serve the Warnell School as dean,” Greene said. “We have a great history and even greater possibilities in the future with the strong faculty, students, staff, and alumni in our programs.” Greene earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University, his master’s from Virginia Tech and his doctorate from Auburn University. Interstate Bank, claiming the bank took $762,000 from its checking account to satisfy a note that was current, was not due, and had not matured. Presiding Judge Ed McLean called the bank’s action “reprehensible.” The bank intends to appeal the decision to the Montana Supreme Court.

ALC Members Lobby Congress, Air Issues More than 60 members of the American Loggers Council met in Washington March 18-21 in a coordinated effort to present issues important to the timber harvesting industry to lawmakers. Caterpillar Forest Products, John Deere, Forestry Mutual Insurance and the Southern Loggers Cooperative also sent representatives to the gathering. Scores of Capitol Hill visits included discussions on major issues such as the Youth Careers in Logging Act, truck weight reform, comprehen-

sive Forest Service timber management reform, and fire suppression funding on federal lands.

Proposed Idaho Pellet Purchases Site For Mill Centennial Renewable Energy of Idaho (CRE) announced is has signed agreements to purchase land for its first wood pellet project in the state and is now commencing engineering design. CRE is constructing a 160,000 metric ton per year pellet plant to produce pellets to the ENPlus A2 standard.

Portucel Soporcel Begins Pellet Mill Construction Portucel Soporcel Group held a ground-breaking ceremony March 27 for the construction of its pellet manufacturing plant in Greenwood, SC. It will have a manufacturing capacity of 460 000 tons.

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PeoplePower!

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PeoplePower! WENDY FERRAND wendyferrand@gmail.com, 207-838-4435

Consistency Trumps Complacency! I will never forget the very first time I walked on the job. My new boss and I were walking down a skid trail as he was giving me a broad overview of how the wood moves from the stump to the mill. Off in the distance, I could hear the sound of something large and powerful moving closer. My boss seemed to be unaware, or he just didn’t care, as he continued with my logging education. My heart rate picked up as clanging chains and ferocious engine sounds got louder. Then off in the distance, rising up out of the landscape was a yellow monster lumbering towards us with a huge clump of trees kicking up dust behind it. My boss just kept on talking! My breath shortened and my mouth became a little dry as the yellow beast looked like it was going to run us over. Just when I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest, I made a mad dash off the trail, up a hill and scrambled onto a large boulder. It all happened so quick that my new boss was standing in the middle of the trail shaking his head. “What are you doing?” he asked. “That skidder isn’t even coming this way!” Of course, how would I know that we were on the return trail that finished the loop back from the landing. I timidly worked my way off the boulder and back down to the trail. How crazy that memory seems now, but in that moment I was petrified.

Complacency Creep Fast-forward a couple of years. I was walking to the landing one morning, 100% engrossed in what I was reading as I walked. The comforting hum of the equipment filled the air—now a part of my daily routine. As I was walking and reading I was totally unaware that the entire crew was screaming at me from my left under the drone of the equipment. Finally, I think someone whistled and I looked up from under my hardhat to see a bunch of guys waving and pointing to the chipper. I was so comfortable in my surroundings that I didn’t realize the chipper was about to blow chips at my feet. I was right in the direct path of the chute that

would soon be spewing forth a cascade of wood. I went from fearing the noise of the equipment to welcoming it as a comforting blanket. I hadn’t even noticed that there wasn’t a van waiting to be loaded in front of the chipper. These stories are perfect examples of how we are all guilty of moving from one extreme to another. They illustrate how loggers become comfortable with the dangerous surroundings they work in every day. Complacency is a natural thing. How else could you effectively operate your equipment and move the wood to the mill? Without complacency you would exhibit all those symptoms of fear that a new person walking on the job experiences. Without complacency, operators would not be able to concentrate and work to be the best that they can be; they would not be able to function, improve or think straight. Basically, without complacency you wouldn’t be able to get things done. But wait! Complacency kills! How crazy is that? The one thing that you need to be the best you can be on the job is the one thing that can kill you in an instant! Accidents are just that—accidents. They will always happen when you least expect them. How do you prepare for something that you never think will happen? If you did, you would be frozen in

Maintain An Updated Emergency Action Plan

While they are not necessarily an OSHA requirement for harvesting operations, an emergency action plan is a very good document to have on the job. It should include GPS coordinates of entrance to job site, directions to the current tract, directions to the nearest hospital, phone numbers for ambulance service, sheriff, etc., formal names of all members of the crew, and employee medical issues (diabetes, heart disease, and the like). It’s also a good idea to affix formal names to the hard hats of all employees since some workers may be known internally by nicknames only.

your tracks, unable to move the wood. Your jobs are repetitive, and as you get better and better, you become more relaxed, and it is almost as if you perform you job unconsciously, which means you are not in the moment. Your mind is wandering. It is exactly at that moment, when you are at your most vulnerable, when tragedy can strike. Every once in a while during a safety meeting I will ask a crew to share moments where their heart skipped a beat, a moment when they realized that there was a near miss, creating a hazard for themselves or for another. I’m always amazed when I hear how many times during the week a logger’s heart skips a beat. There is power in sharing those moments. They serve as a reminder that you are professionals who do your job so well that you are complacent, and moving the wood is now second nature. Crews that work in such strong synchronicity may sometimes assume things are realized by other crew members when they really aren’t. When work flows so smoothly that you are in essence “finishing each other’s sentences” or completing each other’s moves, it can add a level of dangerous complacency. It is easy to assume that your co-workers know exactly what you are doing, and 95% of the time they probably do, but the other 5% can be your downfall. Consistency trumps complacency. That is why we have all the safety measures we could possibly have on a logging job: personal protection equipment, separation of work areas, lockout-tag-out, meetings, strong safety plans and emergency action plans, to name a few When consistently adhered to, these routine safety practices help keep you aware that you are working in the most dangerous profession on the planet. Be consistent with your expectations of safety on the job. Maintain regular safety meetings, use properly designed PPE that fits all shapes and sizes. Hold your crew accountable for maintaining all the safety measures that you have in place to keep them alive. Consistently remind your crew that they are complacent, and that they need to respect all the safety procedures that will ultimately protect them when they are in a situation TH where their heart skips a beat.

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Keeping Alive The Jones Legacy Multi-generation Arkansas family business abides by the Golden Rule.

JESSICAJohnson

or some industries, having a fourth generation involved in a business is all but out of the question. For the forest industry, it seems almost run of the mill. But for the four generations of Jones men who have worked the forests of southeastern Arkansas, they are anything but run of the mill. R. D. Jones, Inc., has changed and

grown with the times, as has each R. D. who has been at the helm. First formed in the 1930s by R. D. Jones, Sr., the outfit worked with mules and horses. When it was time to pass the torch that first time, R. D. Jones, Jr. (Sonny) moved away from animals and purchased crawler tractors, then skidders. Now 71, Sonny isn’t as involved as he

once was, sidelined mainly to a back injury he incurred while in his 50s. It’s now up to R. D. III (Rob) and R. D. IV (Beau) and Beau’s brother, Tyler, to continue the legacy. Sonny says at first he thought his grandsons would do something besides log, but it’s in their blood, like his. “There’s something about being an independent logger,” he explains, “I’m proud of the kids and my son. I think with the use of fiber in this area, logging will be around a long time, and timber is being grown as fast as it is being cut. I think there’s a future here.” Rob, 51, says his woods career began when he was working for his dad during the summer, driving those crawler tractors. He attended the Uni-

Jones family is four generations strong. From left are Tyler, Rob, Beau and Sonny. Using JD loaders and CSI delimbers and ground saws, clear-cut crews typically keep logs stockpiled ahead of trucks.

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versity of Arkansas in Monticello, graduating with a degree in business administration before going to the woods full time. Rob took the company from three skidders and a feller-buncher to two large clear-cut crews, a smaller thinning crew, 26 employees, 10 contract truckers, and an expansive equipment list. Beau, 25, took a path similar to his father: working in the woods in the summers, attending the University of Arkansas in Monticello, and graduating at the top of his class in the accounting program two years ago. Tyler, 23, like his dad and brother before him, filled in where needed during the summers, and finished his business management degree just a few weeks ago. Rob says it’s important to have a business background as times evolve and change. “It’s not just a good ole boy trying to get a log to the road anymore. You have to be on your toes and make good decisions, business-wise, if you want to make a living. Shopping workers’ comp, shopping the insurance—it’s a good degree to have,” he explains. The family isn’t just conscious of business management practices, as it is also involved in the Arkansas Timber Producers Assn. (ATPA). Sonny was a founding board member and Rob is a past board member. Beau is currently an active board member. Sonny says one of the best things that ever happened to logging was the formation of associations like ATPA, which provides a much-needed voice to loggers in the legislative arena. “The mills are getting a better product and timber companies are getting better equipped contractors to do the job,” Rob believes, thanks to the work of the ATPA.

Felling is performed by a mix of Tigercat and Timberjack wheel-type and track-type machines.

Skidding is a John Deere affair. Dual tires dominate during the winter months.

Operations The business does not purchase the timber it harvests. Each crew contract cuts with a different entity: Silvicraft, Potlatch and Plum Creek. Rob explains that he has always contract cut, and his crews barely have time to cut Jones family timber holdings. Rob operates on one guiding principle: “The Golden Rule, treat others the way you want to be treated.” He says that finding and keeping quality employees has been a challenge, but the effort over the years has been worth it. “We’ve got some good employees, but it took me years to get them, and years to go through ones who didn’t quite make the cut. It takes a while to get all good people on a crew,” he asserts. As far as being as big as they currently are, Rob says that in order to have himself, Sonny, Beau and Tyler make a living from the business, they have to have three crews, given tight profit margins. “You used to be able to make what you make now with half the equipment,” he remembers.

Larger stems are processed by a JD 753J/Waratah 622 head combination.

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Employees are paid a fair wage, inestimates that production runs between will bring for mills and loggers in the cluding the opportunity for bonuses, 200-240 loads a week. area, when conditions are favorable to health insurance, and are treated to a While the timber in the area is plenreally produce. Sonny sagely says, Christmas party. There is something tiful and of good quality, Rob says “That’s the problem with logging; if extra for the guys on opening weekend markets have ebbed and flowed with you lay awake and worry about it, of deer season each fall. A family of the economy. you’re never going to get any sleep. avid hunters, Rob and his wife and “When Georgia-Pacific shut down That’s just part of it.” bookkeeper Lori Jones, aided by secrethe plywood plant (at Crossett), log The Jones crews are usually on tary Lisa Hall, cook for the crew on prices went down, because there was mixed stands, though the thinning Friday and everyone has the following less competition and you had fewer crew focuses on pine plantations. Monday off to enjoy themselves. This places to carry bigger logs. It bottlehas helped maintain a loyal crew, necked the log market to a couple Maintenance which includes some long-term emplaces,” he explains. ployees who have been on board well The family has an impressive 26Main markets are Anthony Timberpast 20 years. piece equipment list, dominated by lands in Bearden, Potlatch in Warren Beau explains that without the emJohn Deere and Tigercat, brands proand The Price Companies in Montiployees, R. D. Jones Logging would be vided by Stribling Equipment in Moncello. A new market in the form of a nearly nonexistent. “We are only four ticello and MidSouth Forestry in Warpellet plant has been announced for people. We can’t go out there and cut ren, respectively. nearby Monticello. Rob is hopeful that all the wood and skid it. The employees With this much equipment, Rob it will indeed be built and will posiare a big part of it, a big reason we are says a full time mechanic, as well as a tively impact both production and prewhere we are.” helper, are crucial. Brandon Lloyd, a vailing rates. Being located in a good wood basket, former John Deere dealer mechanic, “We had a decent winter as far as serves as the head mechanic and runs crews don’t have to travel very far, but ground conditions, and I’m in some a tight ship. Coming alongside is one of the perks Rob has made to mainwet areas, but I shovel log. The mills helper Junior Cruce. tain a good crew is to furnish vehicles are all full right now (late winter).” A large board on display in the office for employees who might live farther That’s something Sonny is contracks every piece of equipment and its away. “You may not be able to pick all cerned about, going forward. He wonmaintenance history, whether done inthe crew up with one work truck, but ders what the middle of the summer house or at the dealer, taking all you make sacrifices for a good guesswork out of it. Rob says employee. You may furnish doing in-house maintenance is him a truck and gas to get to cheaper, obviously, but somework,” Rob says. But, with the times Lloyd and Cruce will get way the crews are set up, with backed up and will outsource how much fuel they burn a some work, getting support day; he says he needs multiple from local contractors like J. trucks on the job anyway, so it W. Rawls Welding. comes in handy, allowing Routine maintenance is crews to have fuel, an air compulled every 500 hours on pressor and tools on the job. harvesting equipment, almost Crews are typically working 60-100 acre tracts, but have always at the shop. Rob prefers to do it this way, giving been on tracts three times as mechanics a chance to wash large, remaining no more than the equipment, cutting down 30 miles from the shop in Thinning crew, from left, Joe Lambert, Elvin Daniels, James Martin, Johnny on fire risk and providing for Lacey, Drew County. Beau Arce. Not shown: Craig Mashburn, Kevin Martin

Clear-cut crew, from left, Jerry Martin, Bobby Woodard, Bubba Cruce, Manuel Chavez, Benny Hernandez, Ray Nelms 12

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Clear-cut crew, from left, Antonio Chavez, Eduardo Zendejas, Adrian Gonzales. Not shown: Leopoldo Chavez TIMBER HARVESTING & WOOD FIBER OPERATIONS

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a more thorough inspection. During the summer, when it’s extremely dusty, air filters are either blown out or replaced every two weeks to cut down on fire risk. At the shop, Lloyd keeps a Kenworth service truck outfitted with a crane and other tools, should he need to do any service work in the woods. Product support for the shop is provided by Bumper to Bumper Parts Store in Monticello. Fuel is delivered by the tanker load, by Sewell Oil. In addition to keeping machines well maintained to avoid fire risk, Rob has tactics in place to ensure a safe jobsite, like keeping an emergency plan inside a service truck with every crew. Rob says that by and large, the crew is very good about staying safe, which wasn’t always true before the crew was mechanized. “We had our share of little accidents—someone would get nicked, that sort of thing. We would make them wear saw-proof boots and still, something was always happening,” he remembers. Merchant and Planters in Warren provides workers’ comp insurance,

and Rob relies on them as well as flyers produced by the ATPA to help educate the crew on proper safety techniques. Rob’s biggest pet peeve on the job is when he sees people jumping off machines or trying to lift something that’s too heavy for one person, and reminds everyone on his crew that “as you get older it can really hurt you.”

Trucking Rob prefers to contract most of the trucking, but does run his own trucks occasionally, often during the summer. Again, the guiding principle of the Golden Rule applies. Rob says that during the summer in good working conditions they will run all 18 available trucks (a mix of family owned and contracted). During the winter he will park family trucks, making sure contractors still have a job. Rob says he either has too many trucks or not enough, but even when quotas hit, he takes pride in working someone year round—even when it might not be profitable for the company as a whole. Since Rob and Beau look after the

logging crews, they coordinate the trucks with each other. Beau says the trucks will do some backhauling, but typically stay with dedicated crews, which helps with logistics. Family trucks are mainly Mack, provided by Tucker’s Truck in El Dorado, but there are some Freightliners and a Western Star in the mix. Trailers are mainly Viking, which Rob says might be against the grain, but he likes having a heavy-built trailer that will hold together. Vulcan scales are installed on all trucks and trailers in order to maximize loads. Rob says going overweight isn’t so much a problem as the profit loss of running underweight. Truck maintenance is pulled every 10,000 miles. Needed truck parts are purchased from Bumper to Bumper in Monticello and Hamburg Motor Sports in Hamburg. Diesel is purchased from O&M Oil Co. in Monticello. Overall, Jones is happy with the trucking side and has only moderate difficultly in finding reliable contract or in-house drivers. Like most, he sees problems with the DOT and has trucks that are pulled over and gone over thoroughly. Turn times at the mills he fre-

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quents are good during the winter but slow noticeably during summer, thus causing him to decrease production. None of the Jones company trucks has Tier 4f engines. “I am trying to let them work the bugs out of the new design before I buy any,” Rob states.

Equipment List Jones places the company’s overall investment at just under $10 million. The equipment is as follows: Skidders—five JD 748H, one JD 748G-III; loaders—four JD 437D delimbers, two JD 335D knucklebooms, one JD 335C knuckleboom; one Timberjack 330B knuckleboom; feller-bunchers—three Tigercat 720Es, one Tigercat 720C, one Tigercat 845B track-type, one Timberjack 608S track-type, one Timberjack 608 tracktype; processor—one JD 753J tracktype with 622B Waratah head; road gear—two John Deere 700J bulldozers, one Caterpillar 12E motorgrader, one Gallion motorgrader; transportation—11 Macks, two Freightliners, one Western Star, 12 Viking log trailers, two lowboys.

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Office mates, from left, Lisa Hall, Lori Jones

Looking Ahead Beau and Tyler both recognize the importance of the family legacy, and have stepped up to the plate. Beau says that while he has a lot of learning to do, his dad built the company and he hopes to continue it. He says, “As far as me and Tyler, we grew up watching dad work 12 and 13 hour days. The key with us will be putting in the time and putting in the work.” Neither is afraid of the time or the work. Tyler is gearing up to join the busi-

ness full time and it’s been a slow process, by design. Rob believes placing someone into a large detail-oriented business and expecting him or her to know everything is far-fetched. So, like he did with his elder son, Tyler will work first in the shop for a period, doing brake jobs and other maintenance, then spend time running equipment. That way, if an operator has to be off, production won’t suffer. Rob smiles wide and says that after training will come the time that Tyler is ready to join Beau and take over. “Then I won’t have to work as hard,” Rob says with a laugh. Beau smiles and says, “God has blessed us a lot throughout the years, and I hope He continues to do so. I like to be outdoors and I like to move around. You don’t have to do it, but you want to. I didn’t want to be the one that the ball stopped on.” Tyler says he remembers being a kid and going out his dad on Saturdays and watching out the window of the pickup. “That’s where it sparked us,” he says, “seeing the big equipment, knowing it started with papaw’s dad and then papaw, then dad. It’s hard to leave it hanging.” TH

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InWoodsExpo: Arkansas Action New technology, extra attractions highlight promising event June 18-20. DKKnight

et for June 18-20 near Hot Springs, Ark., InWoodsExpo (IWE) is shaping up as the year’s largest action-packed forestry equipment demo-display west of the Mississippi River. As of early May more than 50 exhibitors, ranging from big machine heavyweights to small attachment providers to insurance companies, had signed up to participate. At least 100 manufacturers, dealers, product brands, agencies, associations and other interests will be represented during the 2-½ day event, according to Larry Boccarossa, Executive Director of the Arkansas Timber Producers Assn. (ATPA) and Expo Manager. He expects attendance to be the highest since the expo’s benchmark performance of 2007. “The forest products industry continues to strengthen and the confidence level of loggers, timber brokers, mills and landowners is much improved,” he says. “In addition, we’ve promoted this year’s expo very vigorously, and in different ways, so we anticipate a strong turnout.” Boccarossa explains the reason for the June show date: “Rain and severe storms were factors in both 2007 (April) and 2011 (May), so our expo committee opted to move the show to June, believing that rain and storms will be less of a threat. “It’ll be a little warmer, yes, but the temperature shouldn’t be an issue, since the average late spring temperature in Hot Springs is just 84 degrees.” He also notes that the site’s walking trail has abundant shade and that shuttles will move attendees from on-site parking areas to the midway, and along the midway itself. A couple of exhibitors will likely have misters at their sites, he adds. Unlike previous IWEs, attendees can park at the site and come and go 16

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as they please—a big plus. In keeping with the show’s theme of “Tech Up,” sponsors have promoted it as taking place at the ‘intersection of game-changing technology’ and ‘always room for improvement’—a short distance off I-30 (exit 111) some 16 miles east-northeast of Hot Springs and about 36 miles southwest of Little Rock. It is a twice-thinned loblolly pine tract owned and sustainably managed by Weyerhaeuser. Examples of products that incorporate advanced technology, and that are scheduled to be at the show, include

skidders by Caterpillar, John Deere and Tigercat; chippers and grinders by Bandit, Morbark, Rotochopper, Peterson and Vermeer; loaders by Barko; a disc saw for skid steer and track-type loaders by Dougherty; processors by Log Max, Quadco and Waratah; and a new wide throat pull-through delimber by CSI. Caterpillar machines will include a wheel-type feller-buncher, D-series skidder and loader. The display will include information on telematics (Product Link and user interface VisionLink), and Cat parts and financing. NASCAR tickets will be given away as well. Its dealer partners include Riggs CAT, Don’s Hydraulic Equipment and Suttle Equipment. Tigercat and its local dealer, MidSouth Equipment, will have at least seven machines on display and/or working. They will include 610E, 620E and 630E skidders, 234B and 250D loaders, and 720G and 724G wheel-type feller-bunchers.

Scenes from 2011 IWE: delimber gets a close look from a curious group… TIMBER HARVESTING & WOOD FIBER OPERATIONS

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IWE will be the first show of its type for John Deere to showcase its new L-Series skidders and feller-bunchers and M-Series tracktype machines. JD knucklebooms will be on hand as well. Deere will partner will Arkansas dealer Stribling Equipment.

‘Firsts’, Continuing Ed ATPA gave birth to the expo in 2004 and this year shares the sponsorship role with Hatton-Brown Publishers, parent company of Timber Harvesting & Wood Fiber Operations and Southern Loggin’ Times. This year IWE is incorporating several ‘firsts,’ among them on-site parking for attendees; special activities for children (inflatable offerings, Smokey the Bear); and world-class chain saw carving provided by Artistry In Wood. As is customary, Caterpillar is again sponsoring its popular loader championship, which tests loader operator skills and also serves as a fundraiser for Log A Load for Kids. Through ATPA, the expo is offering on-site continuing education classes for loggers and foresters. Six hours of ARKPRO credit are available for those attending the sessions. The schedule: Friday, June 19, 9-10:30 a.m., Outdoor Power Equipment Technology, Robert Smith, Smiths South-Central Sales Co., instructor; 10:45-noon, Office Computer Systems, Vic Hemard, Hemard & Assoc., instructor; 1-2 p.m., Feral Hog

Control, Dr. Becky McPeake, U of A Extension Service, instructor; 2:20-4 p.m., New Equipment Technology, Berry Johnson, John Deere Forestry, instructor. Saturday, June 20: 9 a.m.noon, GPS and Forest Inventory Solutions Technology, Johnny Thompson, Landmark Spatial Solutions, instructor.

Pre-registration Urged Attendees are urged to pre-register by June 2 to both save money and hasten entrance once they arrive. Pre-registration is $15 per business-active adult versus $20 at the gate. Children 17 and under are admitted free. Visit arkloggers.com/expo. Show hours: Thursday, June 18, noon until 4 p.m.; Friday, June 19, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, June 20, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. GPS coor-

…and visitors prowl the midway for other interesting attractions.

dinates to site entrance: 333451.03 North, 924828.13 West. From I-30, exit 111, take U.S. 70 West to Arkansas 128 and turn right. Site is .8 miles on right. Expo sponsors, citing safety and other considerations, have adopted a “no animals allowed” policy for the venue this year, according to Boccarossa. Boccarossa advises that space is still available in several exhibit locations, as are sponsorships for those who don’t wish to exhibit but otherwise want to support the expo as an educational venue. Sponsors to date include BITCO Insurance Companies, Deltic Timber, Green Bay Packaging, TimberSure, Zilkha Biomass, Potlatch, Plum Creek, Tri-W Logging Co., River Ridge Equipment, Crouse Truck Parts & Equipment, Price Services, L.D. Long, Inc., Weyerhaeuser, and Farm Credit. To book exhibit space, contact Kathy Sternenberg: ksternenberg@ bellsouth.net, phone 251-928-4962. To purchase a sponsorship, contact Larry Boccarossa: lboccarossa@sbc global.net, phone 501-224-2232.

Exhibitor Lineup As of early May exhibitors included Alliance Tire Americas, Arkansas Timber Producers Assn., Bandit Indstries, BITCO Insurance Companies, Caterpillar Forest Products, Chambers DeLimbinator, Construction Safety Products, Crouse Truck Parts & Equipment, Cutting Systems, Don’s Hydraulic Equipment, Dave Felder & Associates, Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, Fecon, GCR Tires & Service, Hatton-Brown Publishers, John Deere Forestry, Landmark Spatial Solutions, Log Max, Limb Beaver, Lumbermen’s Equipment Digest, Manac, MidSouth Forestry Equipment, Morbark, Pate Industries, Pemberton, Peterbilt Truck Center of Little Rock, Peterson, Quadco, Quality Petroleum, River Ridge Equipment, Riggs CAT, Rotobec, Rotochopper, Smith South-Central Sales Co., Stribling Equipment, Suttle Equipment, Texarkana Truck Center, The Lumberman’s Exchange, Tigercat, Titan Tire, Towmate, TMS Machinery Sales, Tucker’s Truck, Vermeer MidSouth, VPG Onboard Weighing, Windy TH Ridge Corp., and Waratah.

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Trailers–Chip Vans–W A valuable product review provided by manufacturers

Note: More than 25 manufacturers of these products were recently contacted twice for information about their products. The following alphabetized group responded. All claims are those of the manufacturers.

to loader. They are accurate to within +/- 1%. They will save you money, time and headaches. When weighing your options, the choice is simple: Accu-Ways.

Accu-Ways, Inc.

Alucar OY

504 Baxley Hwy. Hazlehurst, GA 31539 Ph. 912-375-9131 www.accu-ways.com

Maxmo, Finland Ph. +358 207 851 727 www.alucar.com

Our Lowboy Portable Scales are 9 ft. wide, 12-½ ft. long and only 7-½ in. high. They weigh about 5600 lbs. and come with a two-year warranty. They operate with four load cells, a transmitter and 12 volt battery. There is a monitor and receiver in the loader cab—no wires or antennas from scales

In 2014 Alucar celebrated its 30th anniversary. The company was founded in Maxmo, on the west coast of Finland, and has grown in three decades into the world’s leading manufacturer of superstructures and timber bunks for timber trucks. Alucar products are represented in Scandinavia,

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Baltics, Russia, Central Europe and North America. Since the beginning Alucar has hones its concept and expertise in the manufacture of aluminum superstructures for timber trucks. Alucar uses more than 300 tons of aluminum every year. In frosty weather aluminum just gets stronger and it is a light and virtually corrosion-free material. The surface withstands all seasons, and the superstructure also endures demanding terrain. Usually, aluminum products are manufactured by welding, but Alucar uses only bolted joints in its superstructures. Aluminum is generally favored in transportation due to its light weight, because it means that the payload can be maximized while the transport equipment’s weight is low. Aluminum only weighs a third as much as steel. Full aluminum bunk series consists of new 9, 7, and 5 ton timber bunks: ALU 95, ALU 75 and ALU 55. Anodized bunks are prepared with even stronger horizontal beams as different loads were taken into account.

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s–Weigh Scales

With the side shoring, timber bunks are more durable and stylish than ever. In the new timber bunk versions the side shoring for the bunk socket, stake and middle pipe have been completely remodeled. ALU series stakes are removable, making maintenance operations cost-effective. Telescopic stakes are available.

Wagon model is built “woods ready” to provide years of trouble free service in the toughest conditions. Push it, pull it and don’t sweat it because they are designed and built to last. The complete line includes the 40-48 ft. straight deck 12 bolster log/ lumber trailer, 40-48 ft. 12 in. drop deck 12 bolster log/lumber trailer, pup trailer, straight frame self-loading with mid-mounted loader, and the top selling 18 in. drop deck beaver tail that provides the flexibility to haul logs, lumber products and equipment on the same trailer. Every Battle Wagon is designed with removable stakes and easy access stake storage racks to make removing and stowing the stakes quick and easy, allowing flexibility of load types. All models come loaded with standard features that are expensive options on lesser trailers. Standard are LED lights, air ride suspension, tow hooks, strong headache rack, lockable weather resistant chain boxes, heavy duty landing gear, three built in straps per bunk, quality Firestone radial tires, and 5 ft. tall easily removable stakes with stake storage.

Big John Trailers

10514 U.S. Hwy. 1 Folkston, GA 31537 Ph. 912-496-4577 www.bigjohntrailers.com

Battle Wagon Trailers

4646 East 1150 North Decatur, IN 46733-8174 Ph. 260-623-3322 www.battlewagontrailers.com

Battle Wagon Trailers offers a complete line of innovative, durable and multi-use trailers. Every Battle

For 40 years Big John Trailers has manufactured some of the finest trailers for the forest industry. Because we have been around longer than many of our competitors, and because we work directly with loggers on design and customized options, this makes Big John is the obvious choice for your log trailer, loader/delimber trailer, and lowboy needs. Contact us to locate the Big John dealer nearest you or visit our web site to view our product line.

Evans Trailers

1050 Pocalla Rd. Sumter, SC 29150 Ph. 803-418-5774 www.evans-trailer.com

In 2015 Evans Trailers introduced a redesigned model of its 42 ft. plantation-style log trailer. At a weight of 10,600 lbs., this latest design iteration offers several new enhancements. The most noticeable change from previous models is an all-new cross member design that incorporates diagonal bracing to further augment lateral stability. Other substantial changes include 10 in. high bolsters that are lighter than previously used 8 in. high bolsters and an all-new bolster support bracket. In addition, ¾ in. diameter LED penny lights were also incorporated to help decrease maintenance and repair costs. As with all Evans products, plantation log trailers are painted with Evans’ industry-leading paint system, which includes a zinc-rich epoxy primer and a urethane top coat. This paint system ensures many years of corrosion-free operation. Frame rail main beams are constructed using high-strength steel by our new fully-automatic welding system. This operation ensures a consistent weld with good penetration over the length of every beam. All of these enhancements will also be introduced on our drop center and straight frame log trailer models later this year.

Great Lakes Mfg., Inc. 8450 County R Suring, WI 54174 Ph. 877-248-5677 www.greatlakesmfg.com

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Great Lakes Mfg. offers a wide range of log trailers, including steel/ aluminum drop deck cribs, aluminum rail and aluminum cribs, straight frame cribs, rolloff pups, truck racks and log pups, yard trailers and specialty products.

KNL Holdings, LLC

delivery of partial loads or loads at multiple locations. Trailers can also unload adjacent to other equipment, which is not recommended for tipping trailers due to the increased risk of overturning the trailer.

603 North 3rd Ave. Paragould, AR 72450-3085 Ph. 800-643-3811 www.knlllc.com

Manac

Innovative Trailers Inc.

130 Belfield Rd. Etobicoke, ON M9W 1G1 Canada Ph. 416-240-1317 www.manac.ca or www.manac.us

714 Falvey Ave. Texarkana, TX 75501 Ph. 866-872-4537 www.ititrailers.com

KNL Holdings manufactures Peerless chip, live floor, drop-center and closed-top trailers, all made of rugged, aluminum lightweight construction and designed and built to customer specifications to make more profit per haul.

Keith Manufacturing Co. Innovative Trailers was started in 1994 with 12,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space, and with a promise that we would produce quality built trailers. Back then, the first Innovative Trailers sign at the gate stated, “Innovative quality assures value, our people make the difference.” Employees that have kept their commitment to quality, and customers that keep coming back are key ingredients to our success. Our engineering is driven by innovative ideas from within and from you the customer. Today, with over 80,000 square feet of manufacturing space and thousands of trailers on the road, that sign is still there, and our people still make the difference.

Kaufman Trailers

702 North Silver St. Lexington NC 27292 Ph. 866-497-7803 www.kaufmantrailers.com

Rugged, reliable, and affordable, Kaufman is the manufacturer of true heavy-duty log and lowboy trailers. All sales are factory-direct to customer. 20

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401 Northwest Adler St. Madras, OR 97741 Ph. 541-475-3802 www.keithwalkingfloor.com

Keith has adapted its proven walking floor technology to numerous industries, resulting in a safer, more efficient and versatile trailer. Keith’s Walking Floor® system serves as the flooring of a trailer and is a self-unloading system. This “moving floor” unloader is made of a series of floor slats, which are powered by a hydraulic drive. As the floor cycles through its phases, material is conveyed or unloaded. Designed to handle a variety of bulk products, including biomass and wood waste, Keith’s systems offer many benefits over conventional tipper trailers. The horizontal unloading action of a moving floor system eliminates many of the hazards with using tipping trailers to unload products in the field. Trailers with walking floor systems can safely unload on uneven ground; provide a controlled material discharge; and can unload in windy conditions. There is no risk of hitting overhead power cables or trees during unloading. Unloading speed can be regulated, allowing for controlled material flow out of the trailer. It also allows for

As a North American leader in the logging trailer industry, Manac is continuing to build on its dominant position in the market by expanding production of their logging trailers to their U.S. plants located in Missouri. With the addition of this product to these plants, Manac is now centrally located in the U.S. logging market. Manac’s newest design incorporates many of the characteristics that have made this product a top seller for the past 20 years while including some new features that make it one of the most competitive trailers in today’s market. The use of T1 steel throughout the design allows Manac to maximize strength while minimizing the overall weight of the trailer, resulting in superior payload capacities for their customers. Additionally, Manac has introduced the first fully galvanized log trailer to the industry that has proven to be a popular option among customers who want to eliminate issues of corrosion and paint over the life of the trailer.

Maxi-Load Scale Systems, Inc. 133 Highland Park Dr. Brunswick, GA 31523 Ph. 877-265-1486 www.maxiload.com

Maxi-Load platform scales are an accurate, durable, and easy to use method of controlling truck weights.

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Maxi-Load has refined the technique of weighing log trucks and chip vans as they are being loaded to a point that anyone can do it, and do it quickly. Our scales work daily on over 600 logging jobs. The first scale we built in 1996 still weighs trucks on a daily basis. The difference between a truck that is almost loaded and a truck that is fully loaded can easily be $50 per load. The elimination of light loads will pay for a scale in a very short period. Elimination of DOT overweight fines and mill overweight penalties are a bonus. When a logging job is supplying wood to a mill with strict overweight policies or working in an area of heavy DOT surveillance, the mental effort associated with what each truck weighs and the aggravation of complying with mill penalties is a stressful and major distraction from the logging process. This results in loss of time, money, and production. A Maxi-Load Platform Scale can eliminate all problems associated with truck weight control in 24 hours. The scale is delivered at the end of the work day, monitors for the loader are installed after hours, and the first truck loaded the next day is weighed as it is loaded. One person, the loader operator, controls everything.

Rogers Brothers Corp. 100 Orchard St. Albion, PA 16401 Ph. 800-441-9880 www/rogerstrailers.com

continues to grow to meet customer requirements. Pitts utilizes four decades of experience, computed aided design, skilled craftsmen and a state-of-the-art facility to produce safe, reliable trailers—the best selling forestry line available. As the world’s largest and only complete line forestry trailer manufacturer, Pitts offers a wide variety of products, including log trailers, open and closed top chip vans, moving floor vans, steel and composite platforms and drop decks, and oilfield lowboys and floats.

Prolenc Manufacturing, Inc.

Ph. 877-563-8899 951 Great St. Prince George, BC V2N 5R7 Canada www.prolenc.com

McLendon Trailers

58 Cut Rate Rd. Phenix City, AL 36870 Ph. 334-448-8888 www.mclendontrailers.com

McLendon Trailers offers various models of log trailers, loader trailers and lowboys, all crafted with quality materials and workmanship.

Pitts Trailers

5734 Pittsview Highway Pittsview, AL 36871 Ph. 800-321-8073 www.pittstrailers.com Since 1976 Pitts Trailers has been synonymous with innovation, performance, value, quality and durability. Pitts’ roots run deep in trailer manufacturing excellence and the company 22

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ExTe Co. has introduced the S12 Series lightweight Swedish steel engineered bunks and stakes, rated 12 metric tons per bunk, specifically for North American log transport applications. Strong Swedish steel and innovative designs, along with one piece or folding stakes, allow versatility to match all truck and trailer configurations. Bunk widths range from 8 ft. 6 in. through 10 ft. 6 in. Spring-loaded-over-center folding design does not require chains or cables to retain extension in timber transport position. The design features a lubricated hinge pin on folding extension. Bolted bunk band clamp allow any frame rail width with easy bunk repositioning for all log lengths, and Prolenc bunk risers are available in any height to match various trailer styles. Maximized payload and best tonhour rate payback have been proven throughout North America, with hundreds of trailer sets on the road.

The rugged off-road conditions of logging cause unusual problems for hauling equipment into forested areas. Fourteen years ago, when Guptill Logging, Inc. was looking for a lowbed trailer, they relied on word-of-mouth recommendations for Rogers to have a trailer that could handle the job. Their high level of satisfaction and the durability of that first trailer led them back to Rogers Brothers Corp. this year for a larger model. Lyle and Erik Guptill, father and son partners in Guptill Logging, chose a 55-ton Ultima trailer and worked with Mike Flynn, Rogers’ Regional Sales Manager for New York and New England, to modify the design for their requirements. “Because 70% of our mileage is off-road, hauling fellerbunchers, grapple skidders and delimbers weighing from 42 to 60,000 pounds each, we needed a heavy-hauler that could take plenty of wear and tear,” Erik Guptill explained. “We also needed the trailer to be shorter than the standard in order to turn around in tight places without giving up hauling capacity. We were very impressed with the excellent service we received from Rogers.”

Smart Scale Technologies 1600 Bedford Hwy., 100-177 Halifax, NS B4A 1E8 Canada Ph. 877-757-7888 www.truckweight.com

In 2005 Smart Scale Technologies launched Truck Weight On Board Wireless Scales, which have been saving trucking companies thousands of dollars a year in operating costs and improved driver safety. The system lets you know the ➤ 26

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payload weight and GVW at all times. Our sensors are rugged, shock resistant, and non-corrosive and require no maintenance. The scales have awardwinning patented technology and are calibrated in-house for temperature compensation, delivering accurate weights in extreme weather. The system works on mechanical and air suspensions and can be set up for all logging applications. Drivers love the wireless handheld, which allows them to see the weight as it is being loaded, either in the cab or up to 500 feet away. With Smart Scale’s scales you can load to the maximum weight to get the maximum profit out of every payload. You can outfit a truck and trailer with air suspension at $1500 U.S. and mechanical suspension at $2300 U.S. It pays for itself in 4-6 months. Smart Scale is currently launching a new system that allows companies to see the weight of their vehicle’s payload at all times. This allows the back office to help manage the payload as it is being loaded. Companies can also see how much payload is being delivered to various sites.

Titan Trailers Inc.

1129 highway #3 Delhi, ON N4B 2W6 Canada Ph. 519-688-4826 www.titantrailers.com

Renowned for the high strength and extra capacity of its patented THINWALL® body construction, Titan Trailers custom builds trailers to suit customer requirements in a complete range of forestry and biomass applications. Double-welded, double-wall, extruded aluminum thinwall trailers increase cubic capacity up to 10% while reducing fuel consumption by as much as 15%. Titan’s distinctive endto-end horizontal body panels, 100% machine welded inside and out, result in ‘smoothside’ trailers with increased flexing strength to absorb the stresses of rough roads and off-road work sites. Titan thinwall tippers, live floors, 26

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and possum-belly chip trailers have been proven in the most demanding applications and environments since 1996. Live floors featuring KEITH® WALKING FLOOR® systems include optional aluminum or steel V-Floor ‘extreme duty’ self-unloaders designed to withstand heavy impacts, such as top-loaded stumps and demolition materials. Titan is also the originator of the world’s first Walk-Thru™ B-Train trailer, featuring a unique coupler to draw the two trailers together to walk off loads as a single 62’ 8” unit. B-train loads totaling as much as 5000 cu. ft. can also be unloaded at the tipper in one step.

VishayPG SI-Onboard Scales

39521 Place Rd. Fall Creek, OR 97438 Ph. 541-937-2070 www.vishaypg.com/onboardweighing/ forestry/logging VishayPG SI-Onboard has introduced the forest industry’s first digital CAN on-board weighing systems with tilt compensation, which combines high accuracy with simple configuration, detailed diagnostics, and graphic color TFT display. The new 9510 Digital Weighing Meter and System for log and fiber transport also features extensive diagnostics—meter, transmitters and load cells—with easy set-up using wizard menu, plus easy two-step calibration. The system supports multiple trailers and 5th wheel and simple trailer hot swaps. It also interfaces to printer, incab PC, scoreboard and modems. Options include printer and scoreboard. Also available is a remote display using free smartphone application (though Bluetooth link).

Vulcan On-Board Scales

5920 South 194th St. Kent, WA 98032 Ph. 800-237-0022 www.vulcanscales.com At Vulcan On-Board Scales we believe knowing your loaded truck weight is critical to the efficiency of your operation. On-board weighing allows you to maximize your load without incurring the costs of overloading, such

as fines and excess equipment wear and tear, while also reducing financial liabilities of under loading, including inefficient fuel usage and wasted time making extra trips. For 30 years, Vulcan On-Board Scales has been providing the logging industry with a wide variety of onboard weighing systems for multiple regional configurations including our Super-Beam load cells for the Northwest to our 5th wheel load cells for the tractor and center hanger or single point suspension solutions on your trailer for the Southeast. Our easy to use V300 Series meter will provide you with the information you need to leave the site with a safe and legal load. Know how much you are loading at the time you are loading and avoid leaving your profits in the woods.

Western Trailer Co. P.O. Box 5598 Ph. 888-344-2539 Boise, ID 83705-0598 www.westerntrailer.com

Since introducing its first chip trailers in the l980s, Western Trailer has continuously worked to satisfy customer demands, adding volume and shaving weight without sacrificing structural integrity. The company is known for pioneering innovations to benefit those who haul wood by-products for a living and offers lighter weight chip trailers in a variety of length, capacities and axle configurations to match the requirements of any application. These include models with exterior posts for ease of unloading, and models with interior posts for maximum volume TH and aerodynamics.

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SA’s Fennell Forestry: S Australian logger’s gamble with Canadian trailers pays dividends.

ustralia timber harvester Barry Fennell is not one to let a few thousand miles and a continent or two interfere with his quest to make Fennell Forestry, the progressive business he jointly owns with his sister, Wendy, more efficient and profitable. In fact, it’s second nature for him to go extreme distances to secure the equipment and products most beneficial to the company, which is based in Mount Gambier in the far southeastern tip of the state of Southern Australia. Fennell Forestry deploys three harvesting crews—two that produce pine cut-to-length logs and another that turns out eucalyptus chips for export. Tigercat, TimberPro, CBI, Hyundai, and Kenworth are offshore brands it embraced years ago. Barry and Wendy grew up in the business, which was established in 1991 as G&R Logging—named for founders Graham and Val Fennell (their parents) and Val’s brother, Ronnie Nilsson. Over time it has grown from a relatively small operation to become a business leader in the state’s thriving Green Triangle timber industry. The organization took on a new name and new look in 2013. To grow and prosper, the Fennells 28

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have had to innovate, to open their minds to new ideas and advancements. “We’re always at the ‘pointy’ end of new technologies,” Barry relates. Last year when Fennell sought to expand and refine the transportation side of the company by getting more in his trailers (greater payload) and more out of them (strength and reliability), he searched the Internet for innovations in chip trailer design and manufacturing. He wanted to add seven B-Train sets, essentially doubling hauling capacity. He again turned to North America, to Titan Trailers, Inc., an established, creative hauling equipment manufacturer based in Delhi, Ontario. Family owned and operated, Titan has long been recognized for its job-specific functionality and attention to detail. Using its patented technology, Titan builds aluminum trailers that are both strong and light. It constructs its ‘thinwall’ trailers using panels made with a unique extrusion process that results in seamless, hollow-core sidewalls. Because the trailer is made from aluminum and without a steel frame, it weighs about 1,000 lbs. (453 kg) less than other trailers. Titan’s forestry trailers include the 62 ft. 8 in. (19.1

meter) B-Train, which can hold up to 5,000 cu. ft. (141.6 cu. meters) of chips in a single run. On trips to Canada, Barry had seen the aerodynamic, smooth-sided Titan Trailers on the highway and wanted to know if he could get them in Australia. He could immediately see the benefits of carrying more volume with each load, generating savings in driving time and fuel costs, yet he needed a product that would hold up to the stress of off-road travel. He emailed Titan Trailers and soon received a response from owner Mike Kloepfer.

Weighing Risks, Rewards But more than oceans stretched between Fennell and his ideal trailers. He had to weigh the risk of buying from a far away company with the potential benefits. He considered the costs and logistics of shipping and assembly and realized there would be many legal hurdles. There was another unknown factor. Would the trailers actually save him money? “For Barry, it was a gamble,” recalls Kloepher. “We could only estimate the actual weight.” On the other hand, the rewards were potentially great. Based on Kloepher’s

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y: Substance With Style

estimates, the trailer sets could weigh about 1,000 lbs. less than standard trailers, meaning that Finnell could ship 7,000 lbs. more total payload with the seven sets. With trailers on the road 24-hours a day, five days a week, the savings would quickly add up. Fennell decided to take a calculated risk. In March 2014, three weeks after his initial email to Titan Trailers and after many Skype meetings, Fennell, his father, Graham, and resident engineer Doug Thorne traveled to Canada to meet Kloepher in person. During that trip, Barry also traveled to Jefferson, NH to meet with a Titan customer, Mitch Ingerson, owner of Ingerson Transportation, who remarked: “Obviously you like to get the best gear because Titan is the best you can get.” The customer’s comment, together with a successful test drive, boosted his confidence. A deal was struck in which Titan would build, pack and ship eight open-top B-Train trailers to Fennell in Australia. Fennell would assemble the trailers there. When the trailers arrived in five containers, Titan dispatched a team of nine to help assemble them and train the Fennell staff. At one point, welders were operating

Custom paint and trim help make Fennell’s impressive KW/Titan fleet even more impressive. Note aerodynamic touches on trailers, tractors.

Log trailers are Elphinstone Easyloader models with on-board scales. Visit elph.com.au.

24 hours a day, but they managed to assemble the units within five weeks of delivery. Fennell sent the trailers for a custom paint job, which took another week. The whole process, from the time the trailers left Canada, only took about two months.

Handsome Payoff The decision has paid off handsomely. The trailers turned out to weigh about 90 lbs. (41 kg) less than anticipated. Fennell reports the combinations carry payloads of just over 46 metric

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tons (51 U.S. tons) and are holding up very well. The company relies on Elphinstone on-board scales to keep total gross vehicle weight to within the legal limit of 151,000 lbs. (68,500 kg). Australian transportation officials continue to be impressed with the trailers, and Fennell’s truck drivers like them too. The units incorporate a unique, flexible coupler that draws the trailers together. There is another important benefit— positive reaction from the public. Fennell opted to go with a special paint scheme, incorporating the company logo, paying about $17,000 per trailer

combination to match that of the truck fleet. “We wanted to make a statement with the trailers and I think we did. The reaction we get from everyone who sees the trailers is priceless. People who have nothing to with the forestry or transport industries come to our employees and say, ‘we saw your trailers and they look amazing!” Although Fennell needed only seven trailers for the business, he ordered the eighth set to sell, and had no problems finding a buyer. “If we had had 12 trailers, we would have sold them all,” he reports.

Operations

Barry and Wendy Fennell own the business started by their parents.

To deliver its logs and chips, Fennell Forestry keeps 14 B-Trains on the road, running them around the clock five days a week and rolling up about 2,500,000 miles (4 million-plus km) a year. Typical round trip distance from the forest to the port in Portland, Victoria, is about 250 miles (400 km). Unloading is accomplished via a hydraulic tilthoist. The coupler that draws the two trailers together allows chips to pass freely from the first trailer to the second and into the hopper. Chips are exported to China and Japan. Some of the logs the

Not Really That Far Apart How did one Google search bring two family-run companies together for a successful business deal? “Trust was a major factor,” says Titan’s Mike Kloepfer. Because Fennell and Kloepfer are the owners of their respective companies, they were able to make decisions without going through corporate hurdles. During the due diligence phase, they developed a trust for one another that carried them through the process. “It’s easier to act on trust when the owners can be face-to-face,” says Kloepfer. Although their businesses are on opposite sides of the world, they’re really not so different. Both are well established, family operated and innovative. Kloepfer and Fennell did what they promised to do and got the job done. In the process, they discovered that it’s not such a long way from highways of Ontario to the forests of Southern Australia. The partnership between Titan Trailers and Fennell Forestry will continue beyond 2015, as Fennell plans to order more trailers. 30

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company produces are also transported to the port for export but the majority is delivered to mills located within 190 miles (300 km) of their origin. Up until 2012, Fennell Forestry’s preferred heavy duty Kenworth model was the T659 and previous variants of it, but the company has moved to the Kenworth T609 for its lighter weight of 440 lbs. (200 kg), better visibility, and, as Fennell puts it, “without any noticeable increase in repair cost per kilometer.” These models are equipped with a 600 HP Cummins ISXe5 engine, 18 speed manual Eaton transmission and Kenworth Airglide 200 air suspension. The company’s chipping side consists of a Tigercat 855 track-type feller-buncher fitted with a Tigercat shear head, two Tigercat 635D six-wheel drive skidders, a CBI 604 chain flail debarker, CBI 754 track-mounted chipper, and Hyundai 290-9 excavator that feeds the chipper. The crew fells, skids and debarks full trees, stacking them in a stockpile. Actual chipping and transportation is separated from felling-skidding-delimbing and runs 22 hours a day (two shifts) five days a week. The operation turns out about 200,000 metric tons (220,500 U.S.) per year. Although it has previously thinned intensely managed pine plantations for the most part, the logging sides in recent years have focused on regeneration harvests, final felling mature radiata pine 35-40 years old. Because up to eight log sorts are made, and because the landowner wants slash spread evenly over the site for its fertilizer benefit to a new forest planting, the company believes it is more efficient/feasible to cut and process full trees to log lengths at the stump and use forwarders instead of skidders. Equipment includes a Tigercat 855 track-type feller-buncher fitted with Rosin bar saw head, three Tigercat 855s mated with Waratah processors—two 625s and one 624—and five TimberPro 840B forwarders. Annual production is approximately 500,000 metric tons (551,000 U.S.) Depending on demand and machine availability, and at times to make up for weather-related downtime, a temporary night shift may be set in motion. Fennell Forestry is active in the local community, sponsoring sports teams and a notable charity event known as the Fennell Forestry Truck Pull that benefits the Southern Australia Variety Club. Wendy began the

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event two years ago. Teams of eight people, wearing special harnesses roped to one of the company’s empty truck-trailer trains, which weighs 22,500 kg (49,500 lbs.), attempt to pull the rig a distance of 100 meters (109 yds.). Most succeed, and are both thrilled and quite exhausted after the feat. Last year five teams paid to participate, and the count will likely expand to 10 teams this year. Local businesses also contribute to the cause by sponsoring teams. Visit www.fennell forestry.au to check out the colossal spectacle.

Backstory, Doug Thorne? Barry comments on the company’s history, progress: “Our parents, Graham and Val together with Val’s brother Ron, established the logging business in 1991 by buying out the company Graham and Ron worked for. They started with eight staff and second-hand equipment, which included three trucks, manually harvesting 70,000 metric tons per year of 60-70 year old plantation pine. The company grew reasonably quickly, adding a mechanical thinning contract in 1995 and a transport-only contract in 1997. Wendy and I joined the company at intervals during this period. “As forestry is the same worldwide—it ebbs and flows with market conditions—we maintained sizeable production levels for another seven years before downsizing our transport and increasing harvest, receding back to about 400,000 tons harvest and haul per year in 2009, all plantation pine. “We have—slowly at times and rapidly on other occasions—increased our volumes to where they are today through working with the right customers, diversifying into plantation hardwood and maintaining and looking after a loyal and quality employee base. Two of our employees have been with us since the beginning and most have been with us for 15 years plus. “Ron passed away over a decade ago and Graham and Val have been retired for a number of years now but still take an active interest in the business and are available for advice when needed. Wendy and I purchased the business from them five years ago. “Doug Thorne has worked for us for about four years but from a young age he has been building road transport trailers. He has also owned his

Tigercat gear includes several track-type 855s, one felling eucalyptus with a Tigercat shearhead, one working in radiata pine with a Rosin bar sawhead, and three serving as carriers for Waratah processors. Two six-wheel drive 635Ds deliver big turns of eucalyptus.

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Chipping is done 22 hours a day, with machines working off a stockpile of previously delimbed stems.

engineering business for a long period, building a wide variety of machines without drawings, just from concepts in his head. I use Doug for special projects and for bringing my concepts to reality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;About18 months ago I approached Doug to build us a slasher saw deck (using CSI saws) that is mobile and can be used to cut two exact lengths of multiple stems, with its own power

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pack and wireless controlled from an excavator. Six months later he had designed and fabricated a trailer and our hydraulics engineer, Bruce Maddern, had designed and installed the hydraulic and electric controls. It worked from day one, cutting up to 20 stems at a time with each saw moving remotely to cut a log from 5 meters to 6 meters in length. Unfortunately, now we have converted to in-

field chipping and it is not being used. But when it was used it was a pleasure to operate and made the whole process very efficient. Production lifted to over 60 tons per hour from 30 tons average for the system it replaced.â&#x20AC;? TH Note: Titan Trailers provided the editorial framework for this article. Photos were provided by Fennell Forestry.

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Southern Co-op Marks Milestone With 2,000 members, this entity is saving members money and growing rapidly JessicaJohnson

he Southern Loggers Cooperative (SLC), like many of its members, looks a little different today than it did just over 10 years ago. Back then it was just a group of nine guys with the idea that unifying their buying power of diesel fuel might save them a few dollars a week. While SLC still operates under the same guiding principle of saving its members money, it has left its kitchen table office behind and moved on to a new facility and six-person team based in Pineville, La. SLC’s membership recently surpassed 2,000, touches 15 states, and continues to climb almost daily. Last year it sold almost 29 million gallons through 24 stations in seven states, including one in Ohio. How? See the guiding principle The Southern Loggers Cooperative staff, front row, from left, Todd Martin, Executive Director/CEO, Lisa Dubois, executive assistant, Shannon Williber, accounting clerk, Jason Slatten, COO; back row, from left, Bill Jones, Asst. Executive Diabove. rector (Eastern Division), Miranda Shumate, marketing/member relations When Timber Harvesting visited with Executive Directhe hole and if a member burns tor Todd Martin and COO body else. We’re almost at the point 20,000 gallons of fuel and can’t pay, Jason Slatten in late January, Slatten where we can’t keep up the application the co-op suffers. The one time memreported the co-op’s diesel prices were process right now,” he explains. bership fee is $100. between 50 and 70 cents lower than the At the clip the SLC growing, headSlatten explains that the co-op is average convenience store. quarters is going to need to expand. truly designed to save members money; Slatten says it’s not unusual for a there’s no person behind the curtain logger or trucker to call in asking, How It Works turning a profit, or getting more than “How does it all work exactly?” The So how exactly does it all work? other members. Everybody’s share of caller typically asks what the current Martin explains that it’s a simple apthe co-op is $100. day’s price is, and what follows is usuplication process, available by either The membership fee used to be ally a variation of, “You’re kidding!” calling the office or downloading it $1500, but as the membership grew, Retail margins are still catching what from the web site, southernloggers. the need for such a large fee was no they can while they can, even if they com. It takes about 15 minutes to more. When the board decided to reare comparably low, Slatten says, but a complete the application, as appliduce the fee, all members who paid the 50 cents margin is still a 50 cents marcants are not required to calculate higher price got a refund. gin. “Our margin stays the same no gross income or pull financial reOnce the application has been promatter what. We’re not trying to make cords. Credit is pulled, but only becessed, members are assigned cards anything extra so those guys are seeing cause the co-op operates one week in with PIN numbers, which are good at that we’re 50 cents lower than every34

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any of the co-op’s unmanned stations. From there, all you have to do is swipe your card and go. Martin says that everything is very streamlined—it has to be to really save money. Computers track the amount of fuel purchased at each station twice a day. “If it wasn’t for the computers we wouldn’t be able to save the money that we do because we would have to have a full staff at every station,” he says. Back in the early days, everything was done by hand. Now, everything is not only streamlined, but also automated, with the exception of the six employees at headquarters and a part time custodian at each station. The custodians are responsible for changing out receipt paper, picking up trash, changing the nozzles, anything that might need doing. They are the coop’s eyes at the stations when a staff member can’t be.

History It’s not exactly what logger Travis Taylor and Todd Martin’s father had in mind when they first started bouncing the idea back and forth in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But at the same time, it’s exactly what Taylor had in mind. It’s interesting to note that according to the late Taylor’s widow, Taylor got little support from his colleagues at the beginning. Those early days were not easy, but once the concept gained traction, the momentum accelerated. “They were primarily concerned with saving themselves money,” Martin notes, but once the original nine real-

ized it was about to become something they never anticipated, they brought on an Executive Director and COO. Clyde and Mary Todd served as Executive Director and COO until 2012 when they retired. The co-op doesn’t just handle diesel fuel, although it is their main focus. Also in place are tire discounts, a nationwide parts program, affordable healthcare plans and dental, vision and life insurance. Membership is not limited to loggers and is open to farmers as well. Although an annual dividend is not guaranteed, the co-op has managed to issue a dividend for many years.

Growth Mode Right now the co-op is in a rapid growth mode, setting records nearly every week. Martin says that with the amount SLC is saving members, it’s not surprising. “In the worst of times we’re generally going to be 15 to 20 cents under,” he says, “and that doesn’t initiate growth the same way that 50 cents does. We’re building more and more stations, and when we move into a new area that creates more opportunity for

membership.” In the early days, Clyde Todd would go to various logger meetings and try to drum up interest in the coop. Now it’s the opposite. People call the office every day asking about the application process and asking for more stations. It’s not just loggers and truckers calling asking for stations, Martin says. Sometimes mill reps call and ask for them. “They want us to put a station by their scales, using them as a draw, thinking along the lines of ‘look, if you haul here you can buy fuel so much cheaper right here at the gate,’” he reports, which is smart on those mills’ behalf, and something the co-op encourages. However, unfortunately, Slatten says that sometimes mills will use the co-op price to calculate rates, which defeats the whole purpose.

Future Outlook When asked what the future of the co-op might be, Slatten and Martin agree: they have no idea. “We’re trying to build a spider web where each station is connected to one another,” Martin says, so membership is pulled over to the new stations, cutting down on recruiting. But it’s not just more stations in other areas, that may be in the co-op’s future. “The sky really is the limit,” Martin says. Anything that they can purchase in bulk to help cut down on the cost of doing business is on the table as something to look at it: trucks, protective clothing, parts, insurance, lube and oil. “We’re the Sam’s Wholesale Club for loggers,” he half jokes. TH

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EquipmentWorld Deere Demonstrates L/M Series Machines

nice improvements on these fellerbunchers.” John Deere also recently conducted the same type of training and demo events with Warrior Equipment and its customers in Alabama and with Stribling Equipment and its customers in Mississippi.

Tidewater Hosts Demo Day In Georgia

As one of at least three similar southern events in April, John Deere and Beard Equipment enlightened customers about its new L and M series machines on April 28 near Cottondale, Fla. John Deere’s manager of forestry product engineering, Greg Miller, introduced the M-series track-type feller-bunchers, and L-series wheel-type feller-bunchers and skidders with an extensive presentation of all of the new features, including Tier 4f engines on skidders and bunchers. The L/M series is the largest financial commitment that John Deere has made to forestry since it purchased Timberjack, according to the company, and the machines incorporate numerous developmental patents. The L-series feller-buncher allows for ground level fueling, a feature loggers can appreciate. “The ground level fueling is a major improvement for safety reasons,” Miller explains. Miller believes the L-series skidder is a much-improved machine. “We have much better machine balance than we used to,” Miller says. “We think our stability and our front end balance is the best in the industry.” (See March-April Timber Harvesting for greater detail on the technical innovations in the machines.) Roughly 100 customers attended the event and they were all given the opportunity to test a feller-buncher and skidder. Tony Gipson of Clay Blizzard Trucking came to the event looking to purchase a new feller-buncher. “We’re always looking for something new,” Gipson says. “John Deere has made some really 36

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drive eight hours to attend this event and we are very humble to serve such a strong industry.” William Simpson, owner of WHS Logging, and his wife drove from Perry, Fla. Simpson, a fourth generation logger, currently operates seven Tigercat machines and just bought a 620E skidder. He has built the business from one crew to three. “I am almost 100% Tigercat now and I bought this 620E last week,” he said. Machine at work included an 845D track-type feller-buncher, 620E skidders with EHS transmission, 724G feller-buncher with Tigercat FPT Tier 4f engine, 234 loader feeding a new CSI delimber, 630E skidder and T250D loader.

Doosan Media Event Held In Arizona Desert

Held near Jesup, Ga. on April 9, Tidewater Equipment’s Demo Day drew more than 1,000 current and potential customers for a day of fun that included logging equipment demonstrations, chain saw wood carving, a loader competition, numerous children’s activities, food, giveaways and door prizes. Representatives from Tigercat, Big John, CSI, Maxi-Load Scale Systems, Morbark, Pitts Trailers, R Squared Solutions, and Rotobec were on hand to answer questions. Tigercat had more than 40 staff representatives on site, including its CEO, president, product managers and engineers from the factory in Canada. Tigercat President Tony Iarocci commented afterward, “We truly appreciate the effort that Tidewater put into this demo event. It was a huge success.” Tidewater President Jamie Young added, “Our inaugural Demo Day was the most successful logging show we have ever attended. Our customers were very well served by all of our vendors and I am very proud of everyone who contributed to make this a memorable event. We had loggers

At Doosan Equipment’s media event in Tucson, Ariz. March 25-26, Doosan representatives described the company’s extensive lineup of equipment, including several new models of track and wheel-type excavators, wheel-type loaders, log loaders, material handlers and articulated dump trucks. Product specialist Mike Stark announced the company’s newest logging machine—the Tier 4f-compliant DX300LL-5 track-type log loader. The “dash-5” model replaces the Tier 4i DX300LL- loader. The newer unit is powered by a 270 net HP Scania DC9 diesel, providing 27% more power than the “dash-3” model. “We took the voice of the customer back to Korea when they started designing the 300LL-5 and we think we’ve made a bunch of improvements,” Stark says. To help save fuel, Doosan added an auto-shutdown system for use during non-working conditions. Log loader operators can configure the idle time before auto-shutdown for up to 60 minutes. In addition to auto-shutdown, the loader has several new updates including improved heel design that

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EquipmentWorld works in tandem with a log grapple, a more robust front guard, boom cylinder guard, cab guard, standard rock guards and pattern change valve. Media members had the opportunity to visit Doosan’s Real Operation Center (ROC) in the heart of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. At the ROC, representatives from Doosan explained new features on all types of machines and media members were given the opportunity to operate each machine.

Visit us online: www.timberharvesting.com

Terex Purchases Continental Biomass Terex Materials Processing, a business segment of Terex Corp., has acquired Continental Biomass Industries, Inc. (CBI), marking a significant expansion of the Terex Environmental Equipment (TEE) product line. TEE, part of Terex Materials Processing, has been serving the wood, biomass and recycling industries since 2011.

Terex Material Processing expands high-capacity offerings with purchase of CBI.

The acquisition of CBI’s business, in operation since 1988 and based in Newton, NH, significantly advances the product line while adding dimensions to the TEE business that would otherwise have taken years to develop, according to Terex. The acquisition also adds customization and specialty product capabilities. CBI has a long history in the wood/ bio and recycling markets and brings an experienced team that can continue to drive specialized product and project sales on a global basis. Terex’s established distribution relationships will enable quick development of a worldwide distributor network. Terex Environmental Equipment will serve customers via three distinct but collaborative sales and support channels: ● The CBI brand will be maintained as a Terex brand within the Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

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EquipmentWorld portfolio. CBI products will serve high-capacity recycling, wood processing and biomass customers. CBI products will be represented by a direct sales force, which will work in collaboration with TEE and other Terex distribution. ● The Terex Eco product range will address mid-range recycling and wood processing needs for turnkey mobile solutions. This product line will primarily be sold by a network of specialized distributors. ● The Terex Arborist line will include hand-fed chippers and other smaller equipment that is primarily used by tree care specialists, utility line maintenance, and construction/ landscaping contractors. Terex Arborist equipment will be sold direct to large fleet owners and to smaller customers via a network of tree care specific dealers. Anders Ragnarsson, owner and founder of CBI, will continue as the Managing Director of the CBI product line. Anders will support Tony Devlin, TEE Worldwide Business Director.

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J.M. Woods Reports Record-Setting Auction J.M. Woods held its 42nd annual spring auction at the company’s headquarters in Montgomery, Ala. in March. “This was the largest auction in the 42 years of our family business,” according to company President Bryant Wood. “We had over 600 consignors who put faith in this auction and we worked hard on their behalf; their timing could not have been any better. Prices were strong and attendance was high.” The 600 consignors included several logging equipment dealers— Blanchard, Thompson, Yancey Bros., Flint, B&G, among others. The auction grossed more than $52 million in sales, including almost $9 million in online sales—breaking company records. More than 4,000 bidders came from 20 countries and 45 U.S. states. Among the highlights of the auction: 2014 model John Deere and Tigercat machines, 2011 Caterpillar ma-

chines, and more than 300 trucks— Mack, Kenworth, Peterbilt and Western Star ranging from 2007-2015 models.

B&G Equipment Expands With Alabama Facility Long a fixture in the Mississippi forestry equipment market, Tigercat dealer B&G Equipment is expanding into western Alabama and is building a new facility in Moundville to serve the northwestern part of the state. Located on Alabama highway 69, the 15,000 sq. ft. building features three service bays. David Long, who helped establish B&G’s Hattiesburg location, is the store manager; Tony Williams is the parts manager. Service technicians are Henry Hood and Jesse O’Neal, while Kade Webb is the parts, warranty and service administrator. “We have been working the western Alabama line for years, so it made sense that if we were going to expand it would be in western Alabama,” says

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EquipmentWorld B&G President Debbie Webb. “We look forward to gaining the trust of area loggers by providing strong customer service and parts availability, service response and what we consider the best product on the market— Tigercat.”

Bandit Continues Expansion Push Bandit Industries recently completed its fourth plant expansion in nine months at Remus, Mich. to keep up with increasing demand for its equipment. All expansions have added space for additional employees and increasing production. Bandit moved into a new rebuild facility in October 2014, increasing its capacity for rebuilding used machines. The move also freed up construction space in the forestry mower and Beast chipper buildings, allowing the forestry mower area to double its production and allowing the Beast recycler line to increase production by 25%. A new electronics facility was finished in November 2014, allowing for increased production of electronic control panels harnesses used on all Bandit equipment. The new facility is now building all of the new control panels and proportional drives that are now featured on all of Bandit’s Tier 4 engine options. In February Bandit moved into a new facility to build drum chipper heads for its hand-fed chippers, whole tree chippers and Beast recyclers, along with the rotors for its forestry mower lines. The new facility freed up production areas in its handfed drum chipper area, which is allowing an increase production in that area by 50%. On April 1, Bandit Industries moved into an expansion of its whole tree manufacturing facility, increasing production of its whole tree chippers by 50%. “These four expansions have allowed us to add 80 full-time employees and add much-needed production,” says CEO Jerry Morey says. “Surging demand for our products over the past two years has increased lead times longer than I like, and at times has cost us orders. The additional production capacity will reduce lead times by the end of the second quarter.” Foremost Authority For Professional Loggers

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InnovationWay CSI New Model Delimber CSI became a leader in delimbing technology by having innovative ideas and bringing them to its customers. After many months of engineering and rigorous testing, CSI offers its latest model pull-thru delimber, the 496 Thinning Pro. The PTD-496 was designed and built for contractors that do a lot of first and second thinnings, including a wide loading chute to accommodate big grapples full of first and second thinning stems. It is a 3-knife delimber (2 movable and 1 stationary). The 2 movable knives are big and broad with a cutting edge on both sides. This gives the operator the ability to remove limbs going both directions. The top loading chute is 96" across. This wide opening lets the operator get maximum production with every grapple full. This means more truck loads per day. “The 496 is what you have been asking for and here it is.” Contact your equipment supplier or Cutting System, Inc. Visit cuttingsys.com.

Tigercat Enhances Forwarders

Tigercat’s new low-wide bunk system, combined with the reshaped F195T85 hooked crane, provides a host of benefits for Tigercat’s high capacity forwarders. Tigercat has released the low-wide bunk system as well as a new hooked version of the F195T85 high capacity crane for the 1075B and 1085B forwarders. The extendable bunks are angled to reduce overall gate height and eliminate the need for a vertically sliding gate. The low-wide bunk system allows for easier crane operation and decreases loading and unloading cycle times. In combination with the hooked crane, the low-wide bunk system significantly reduces the chance of contact with the gate or bunk stakes. The working envelope of the crane is expanded for reduced machine travel and improved productivity. Operator visibility and ergonomics are enhanced. The operator enjoys a clear sightline to the top of the load, increasing log placement accuracy and decreasing cycle times. In addition, the grapple stays within the operator’s view through the entire loading and unloading cycle for reduced operator strain. The low-wide bunk system is available on the 20-ton capacity 1075 series forwarders and the 1085 series 25-ton machines. Visit tigercat.com.

Small Skidder Class

Tigercat has released the 610E skidder, its latest Tier 4f equipped offering. Tigercat’s Tier 4f solution can be packaged into a physically smaller engine enclosure, which provided the 610E design team with some flexibility to develop a machine layout that optimizes operator sightlines, while 40

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InnovationWay factoring in access to service points, machine balance, overall size and weight. The 610E comes standard equipped with Tigercatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclusive EHS drive system. EHS is capable of providing exceptional tractive effort as well as high top speed. This is accomplished with advanced computer logic and the ability to take one of the drive motors offline when high tractive effort is not required. In this case all pump flow is directed to one hydraulic motor, increasing both travel speed and motor efficiency. The compact 610E skidder leads its class in agility, durability and performance. It is ideal in tight spaces, soft soil conditions and selective logging applications. The ergonomic turnaround equipped cab provides the operator with comfort and clear sightlines. High performance, responsive control, excellent service access and painless maintenance routines make Tigercat skidders a top choice among skilled operators. Visit tigercat.com.

Link-Belt 4040 The Link-Belt 4040 TL Forestry Machine is now available for the U.S. and Canada, with an option for high-wide or high-narrow undercarriages to meet transport requirements. Models can be equipped with live-heel or Butt-NTop attachments for log-loading applications. Designed specifically for the 4040 TL, both side- and rear-entry Oregon OSHA/ROPS/WCB certified forestry cabs are available

from the factory with sky roof and escape hatch. This model features an advanced, electronically-controlled Isuzu engine that meets Tier 4f requirements, with up to 18% improved fuel economy than previous models. In addition, there is no diesel particulate filter (DPF) maintenance constraint. The cab offers operator ergonomics, comfort and visibility. The SCM air-suspension, heated seat provides exceptional lumbar support and reclines at a 65Â° angle for a relaxed environment during breaks. Arm rests move proportionally with the console, which means that the distance and angle between joysticks and operator remains the same,no matter how the seat is adjusted. With a large, 7" LED color monitor to interface with the machine, an operator can easily navigate a full menu of user-friendly controls to take full command of

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the machine and attachments. The 4040 TL is equipped with the RemoteCARE GPS-enabled telematics system, enabling 24/7 remote monitoring and security. RemoteCARE tracks routine and major service intervals, as well as current machine health. Visit lbx.br.com.

Southstar QS500 Processor

The Southstar QS500 is designed for medium to large sized wood with an optimum operating size of 18-24" in diameter. This original multi-tree processor is packed full of design features that set it apart from the competition. Southstar’s innovative four-wheel drive system present in every class size allows for consistent and controlled multi- and single-stem processing. With patent pending independent drive between the left and right side of the machine. the operator has the ability to independently feed one of two stems, giving him the freedom to align butts, trim defects, or simply process a length of one stem if one diameter is greater than the other before activating all drive wheels to process both stems. Other features include laser find end which has proven to be more accurate then optical alternatives and operate for longer periods between cleaning, ¾" main saw auto tension, 360° continuous rotation and innovative bolt-on delimb arm cutting edges. A bonus is Startrax, a satellite communication system developed by Southstar specifically for sending and receiving production reports, grades, assortments, machine information or instructions. Startrax works in remote areas regardless of cellular service and has safety benefits when working in remote destinations, allowing constant communication from your office to your entire fleet. Visit southstarequipment.com. 42

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Our Work Deserves Better Pay MARK TURNER I have some breaking news! The much anticipated logger shortage is here…at least during times of peak production. It is hitting our industry in a couple of different ways. Across the country, the “surge capacity” in our industry has all but disappeared. That part of our industry used to be made up of many small operators who often only logged part of the year but could always be called upon to help out during Turner times of peak production. Since the “Great Recession,” most of these companies have gone out of business, moved on to more profitable ventures, or become full-time loggers. With that surge capacity gone, we are all feeling tremendous pressure to meet our customers’ demands. As employers, we are in the midst of a crisis in trying to attract and retain qualified employees. This fact was driven home recently by a logger friend whose son had been working for his company. Last year his son took a job with a construction company, making considerably more money than he had been making working as a logger. His son felt badly about leaving but, as my friend told me, “He’s now making the kind of money that he could never make in logging.” This is truly a sad statement about logging. If we can’t even afford to pay our own children enough to stay in logging, how can we expect to keep any qualified employees? When I was young, someone could buy a house and raise a family on a logger’s wage. Now, even with a working spouse, most employees struggle just to get by. It is not at all unusual for the spouse of a logger to be the bigger breadwinner (better benefits and retirement package). It is demoralizing, considering the high level of skill required to perform most logging jobs. We have a serious problem: fewer loggers in the business and fewer individuals becoming loggers. In order to stay in business, loggers have had to become better, more pro-

fessional businessmen. We have learned how to succeed in an increasingly regulated and volatile industry. During the same time, virtually every cost has skyrocketed (equipment and financing, commercial and health insurance, workers’ comp, fuel, regulatory

fees and taxes) and we have had to absorb those astronomical cost increases. The only items that haven’t risen at the same pace are the prices we are paid by our customers, what we logging operators earn in profit at the end of the year, and what our employees take home on their paychecks. Yes, we have managed to stay in business but it has been at great cost to our people. Ultimately, if we cannot increase our profits, ➤ 46

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SelectCuts 43 ➤ we cannot increase pay to a level that more realistically reflects the value and skills of our people to our logging operations, a level that is competitive with other industries that require workers with similar skills. A retired forester recently told me that “loggers would soon be in the driver’s seat” with regards to setting logging prices. The question is, just how accurate will that statement turn out to be? I do know that this is definitely not a place loggers are accustomed to being. Typically when there is a shortage of something (loggers), its price will go up. Unfortunately, the pressure to increase logging that we’ve felt from our customers hasn’t resulted in increased prices for our services. While we would love to be able to charge whatever prices we want, the reality is that wood products are commodities. Producers of wood products are not only competing against one another, they compete against other materials. If wood products become too expensive, they will be replaced by other materials and will ultimately lose market share. So where does this leave us? If we don’t quickly improve logger compensation, the logger shortage will certainly continue getting worse. As the shortage gets worse, even fewer operators will be available to meet the increasing demands of the market. Less product availability translates into higher market prices. Higher market prices will result in lower market share. This death spiral has a simple solution—pay loggers more money for the work they do. Without strong and more profitable loggers, the future of the entire wood products industry is in serious trouble. We loggers are the backbone of this industry. We owe it to ourselves, our employees and the entire timber industry to make reasonable profits. To do anything less will jeopardize us all and result in what timber owners probably fear the most: out of control logging costs. Turner is the current president of Associated Oregon Loggers and serves as an officer for the American Loggers Council. He and his brother Greg operate Turner Logging, Inc., Banks, Ore. For more information, contact the American Loggers Council at 409-625-0206.

Forest Resources Association Recognizes Vermont Logger Britt Moulton Veteran Vermont logger Britt Moulton has been honored by the Forest Resources Assn. (FRA) as its 2015 National Outstanding Logger. The recognition took place on April 28 during FRA’s annual meeting in downtown Nashville. Operating as Moulton Logging Inc. since 1976 and based in North Charleston, Vt., Moulton was presented with a plaque from FRA and a check for $1,000 from Stihl Inc. Moulton was singled out for his professionalism, careful harvesting practices, strict adherence to harvest plans, experience, commitment to safety, community involvement and strong efforts to create a positive image for the logging industry. He goes above and beyond in public outreach and community affairs. Last summer he and his crew hosted sixyear-old Keegan Brooks, a Make-A-Wish child with muscular dystrophy who dreams of becoming a logger. The company also donated $500 to the charity to help make future wishes come true. Moulton also hosted a Vermont Wood46

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Britt Moulton holds plaque and shares the moment with FRA President Deb Hawkinson, left, and FRA Chairman Tom Reed, right. Plum Creek’s Chris Fife, second from left, nominated Moulton.

lands Assn. “Walk in the Woods” event to help educate the public about the importance of timber harvesting and how the Moulton team professionally and carefully carries it out. A family company, Moulton Logging also involves Britt’s spouse, Jennifer, who runs the office; Jerry Moulton, Britt’s brother; and Marcel Roy and Justin Houle. Trucking is contracted to Marcel Isabelle. The operation has undergone SFI third party audits twice in the last five years. Other regional finalists in the competition were Bill DeNoon, Jr., DeNoon Lumber Co., Bergholz, Oh.; Brian and David Nelson, Marvin Nelson Forest Products., Cornell, Mich.; Bob Wall, Robert W. Wall, Inc., Osyka, Miss.; and Eddie Moore, Forest Friendly Logging, Willards, Md.

AdLink Easy Access to current advertisers! http://www.timberharvesting.com/advertiser-index/ This issue of Timber Harvesting is brought to you in part by the following companies, which will gladly supply additional information about their products. Alucar 39 +358 207 851 720 Anthony Hardwood Composites 38 870.942.4000 Bandit Industries 27 800.952.0178 Cat Forest Products 15 919.550.1201 Cleanfix Reversible Fans 40 855.738.3267 John Deere Forestry 24-25 800.503.3373 Duratech Industries 37 888.230.5494 Forest Chain 39 800.288.0887 Hendrickson Manufacturing 23 800.445.0736 InWoodsExpo 43 501.224.2232 Manac 47 418.228.2018 Mid-Atlantic Logging & Biomass 8 919.271.9050 Morbark 5,42 800.831.0042 Olofsfors 14 519.754.2190 Pemberton Attachments between 8 & 9,38 800.393.6688 Peterson Pacific 7 800.269.6520 Pettibone 21 800.467.3884 Prolenc Manufacturing 32 877.563.8899 Seppi 42 651.472.5194 Southstar Equipment 33 250.828.7820 Tigercat Industries 48 519.753.2000 TruckWeight Smartscale Technologies 37 877.757.7888 Wallingford’s 41 800.323.3708 Waratah Forestry Attachments 2 770.692.0380 Western Trailer 35 888.344.2539 Wicker Machine 41 800.748.9476 J M Wood Auction 13 800.447.7085 Wood Supply Research Institute 40 912.598.8023 ADLINK is a free service for advertisers and readers. The publisher assumes no liability for errors or omissions.

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