Loading, Secondary Transport, and Sort Yard Functions

1. Loading, Secondary Transport, and Sort Yard Functions

2. Lecture Topics • Loading • Methods & Equipment • Secondary Transport • Methods & Equipment • Sort Yards • Objectives, Functions, & Equipment

3. Loading Overview • Loading – The act of placing material, i.e. the load, on a vehicle for further transport. • Within “hot logging” operations, loading can be the limiting factor for production. • Must load for maximum payload within legal limits • A safe, balanced load is essential • Position load to prevent slippage

4. Loading Overview (cont’d) • Loading methods include: • Hand / manual • Stationary • A-frame – winch and cable system • Trailer mounted • Mobile

5. Loading Methods & Equipment • Hand / Manual • Uncommon in the U.S. • Low productivity • High labor requirement • Typically found in developing countries

6. Loading Methods & Equipment • A-frame winch & cable system

7. Loading Methods & Equipment • Trailer-mounted • Knuckleboom loader • Based on back-hoe concept • Stationary with a 360° operating circle • Small landing area required (< 1/2 acre) • Flexible maneuverability • Can be used in conjunction with a pull through delimber

8. Mobile Loaders • Shovels / Excavators • Common in PNW • Maneuverability • Flexibility • Affordability • Work efficiently on small, roadside landings

9. Key Factors for Hydraulic Loaders

10. Mobile Loaders • Front-End Loaders • Adapted from forklift methodology • Used on the landing or log yard • Can be mounted on tracked or wheeled carriers • Require large landings (> 1 acre) • Loads over-the-side rather than the ends • More applicable on centralized landings • Can cause significant soil compaction

11. Key Factors for Front-End Loaders

12. Mobile Loaders • Three-wheeled loaders • Light weight • Easy to transport • Good for small diameter wood and fuel reduction applications • Applicable in plantation forestry • Use skid steering • Low operating costs

13. Mobile Loaders • Self-loading log truck • Required to load itself • Powered by the truck’s engine • Usually smaller than stand-alone loaders • Best suited for units with small volumes • Typically used with small operations (e.g. Student Logging Crew)

14. Self-Loading Truck • Advantages • Flexibility in scheduling log haul • Low labor requirements • Driver typically serves as the loader operator • Ability to gather scattered loads • Works well with continuous road-side landings • Can load and unload logs using the same piece of equipment • Eliminates waiting time • Small landing required

15. Self-Loading Truck • Disadvantages • Smaller size reduces reaching and loading capacity • Payload is reduced by the loader’s weight • Load completion is slower than conventional log trucks

16. Mobile Loaders • Forwarders • Most common in a CTL operation with “cold logging” • Works independently to load, transport, & unload • Can forward slash material or roundwood effectively

17. Loading Location & Logistics • Landing type and location should match extraction method as well as loading equipment • In most cases, roadside loading allows system functions to work independently • Loading from centralized landings is typically more expensive • Each function is limited by the system rate • Loading costs can likely be reduced by providing alternative work for the loader, i.e. increased utilization

18. Secondary Transport Overview • Secondary transport – the movement of forest products from landings, decks, yards, or other concentration points to buying or delivery locations • The most liability for lawsuits occurs during secondary transport • Many logging contractors subcontract secondary transport to specialized trucking companies • Wood fiber is typically transported as 1) Chips 4) Log-length 2) Short-wood 5) Tree-length 3) Cut-to-length

19. Secondary Transport Methods • Water transport • Oldest transport method • Barging or rafting • Payload • ~ 300 cords/barge • ~ 9 barges/tow • Distance > 400 miles

20. Secondary Transport Methods • Rail transport • Used primarily for chips & short-wood • Used less frequently today • Payload • ~ 20-40 cords per car • ~ 100 cars per train • Distance < 400 miles • Demurrage – cost for rail car setting unloaded • $25-40 / day / car

21. Secondary Transport Methods • Truck transport • Most prevalent transportation method • Flexible scheduling • Well developed road system • Relatively low investment • Speed of delivery • Distance < 150 miles

22. Truck Transportation • Truck selection criteria • Type of load – short-wood, tree-length, etc. • Weight of truck and load • Type of terrain – flat, mountainous, switchbacks, etc. • Road type – public, private, etc. • Haul distance • Periodic volume • Safety requirements – braking, etc.

23. Truck Transportation • Oregon Log Hauling Regulations • Maximum height – 14 feet • Maximum width – 8.5 feet • Maximum axle load – 20,000 lbs • Maximum tandem axle load – 34,000 lbs • Maximum gross weight – 80,000 lbs • Maximum tire load – 600 lb/in of tire width • Note: Additional information can be found @ http://www.odot.state.or.us/home/

24. Stinger Steering Hwy Log Truck • Log load forms framework of trailer • Increased maneuverability with stinger steering • Typical on highway load 4-5 MBF

25. Log Train • Applicable for CTL wood • Setout trailers are commonly used with CTL logging • Costly to hot deck trucks in a CTL operation

26. Hay Racks • Good for pulpwood or salvage operations • Short-wood hauling is most common • Also referred to as pallet trailers

27. Off-Highway Log Truck • Also called “pull-out truck” • Used exclusively on forest roads or roads where there are no weight restrictions. • Width of truck is about two times as wide as a standard highway truck.

28. Chip Vans • Used with in-woods chippers • Has considerable off-tracking which may require curve widening • Hard to maneuver on forest roads • Have openings either on the top or rear

29. Sort Yard Functions • Objectives • Sort and store timber • Process logs for re-sale or use • Pest & damage prevention • Scale logs

30. Sort Yard Functions • After unloading • Pre-sorted logs can be moved directly into decks • Unsorted logs must be spread out on skids for sorting Logs being sorted and processed

31. Sort Yard Functions • Scaling – The measurement or estimation of the quantity or quality of felled timber • Stick scaling: each log is measured and graded by hand • Commonly used for saw-timber where BF volumes are important

32. Sort Yard Functions • Weight scaling: • Load weight = loaded truck weight - empty truck weight • Most commonly used for pulpwood where BF volumes aren’t important • A sample of loads must be stick scaled to convert weight to volume

33. Sort Yard Functions • Processinglogs (manual or mechanical) • Cut to preferred lengths • Remove broken ends and knots • Remove rot

34. Sort Yard Functions • Sort by: • Species • Use (sawlogs, pulp) • Grade (clear, chip and saw)

35. Sort Yard Functions • Storage of logs • Decks on land • Booms in water

36. Sort Yard Functions • Pest and damage control • Store in fresh water to avoid insect damage • On land, spray logs with water to limit insect damage and risk of fire • On the Eastside, wet logs have less Blue Stain and end checking

37. Sort Yard Equipment • Shovel / Excavator • Used for • Unloading • Sorting • Decking Sorting with an excavator

38. Sort Yard Equipment • Wheeled Front-End Loader • Used for • Unloading • Sorting • Decking • Transporting Cat 980 in sort yard

39. Sort Yard Equipment • Stacker • Used for • Unloading • Decking • Transporting