LOG HAULING TRANSPORTATION STUDY IDENTIFIES OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES

–Not Surprisingly Gains Depend Upon Willingness to Change —

U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Greenville, SC

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE (JUNE 5, 2019)

In 2016 the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (“Endowment”) and Region 8 of the USDA. Forest Service commissioned a scoping study to identify the challenges facing log transportation businesses in the Southeast and opportunities for improving productivity.  The study found, among other issues, limited understanding of the opportunity costs of inefficient haulage. 

Over 2017 and 2018 the Endowment commissioned various partners to conduct a baseline study with a well-run wood supplier to model gains from a fleet improvement scenario.  The initial work led to a comprehensive analysis testing incorporation of technology and process improvements using a central fleet dispatching approach common in other transportation sectors.

The results of the study can be found here. The Endowment’s project lead, Alicia Cramer, noted that “There are enormous opportunities to improve system efficiencies, yet technology alone will not deliver results.  Our work confirms that a cultural change is required that includes not only openness to incorporating state of the art technology but also a desire and willingness to try and adopt new practices.”

“The Endowment is committed to helping the most fragmented link in the wood products supply chain – timber harvesting and hauling  We are working with several state logging associations, the Southern Logging Cooperative and multiple technology providers to help the sector enhance viability,” stated Carlton Owen, President and CEO of the Endowment.

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For more information contact:
Alicia Cramer,  205-792-8650, Alicia@runslikeclock.work
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (the Endowment) is a not-for-profit public charity working collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation’s working forests and forest-reliant communities – www.usendowment.org