Logging Machines
Contents:
Logging Machines
Log Landing Machines
Forest Road Machines
Wood Transport Machines
Aerial Machines
Service Machines
Oregon timber harvesting operations employ many different machines that are unique
to logging, forest road construction, fuels treatment and other forest management
activities in Oregon forests. Often called “heavy equipment,” many of these specialized
machines are purpose-built, sized, and designed for the exacting demands of the
particular forestry task assigned. These logging machines are grouped into four
categories, based on their forestry function: logging, landing, road, or service.
LOGGING MACHINES
Oregon logging machines are the heavy equipment purpose-built to move logs & trees
from the stump to the roadside log landing.
Forwarder
Carry short & small logs; short-log self-loader, carries small logs from the stump
to the roadside landing. Operator uses a loader heel boom grapple to load logs onto
the forwarder bunk, to off-load logs at the roadside, and can also load logs onto
log trucks. Machine suited for thinning.
Harvester-Processor
Small-tree faller and short-log cutter; cut & fall small trees in controlled direction,
delimbs, and cuts tree into logs (”bucks”); automated cutting head; on-board computer
optimized cutting of logs; can work on moderately steep slopes. Machine suited for
thinning.
Feller-Buncher
Tree faller; tracked machine cuts, falls trees in controlled direction & places
trees onto piles “bunches”. Can work on moderately steep slopes.
Wheeled Feller-Buncher
Tree faller; wheeled machine cuts, falls trees in controlled direction & places
trees onto piles “bunches”. Can work on gentle slopes.
Small Wheel Feller-Buncher
Small tree faller; wheeled tractor-sized machine cuts, falls small trees in controlled
direction & places trees onto piles “bunches”; Suited for thinning on gentle terrain.
Mulcher/Masticator
Small tracked machine with mulching attachment; grinds thick forest understory brush,
limbs, and tree tops into woody mulch; intended to reduce fire hazard, prepare for
reforestation, or improve habitat. Mulcher comes in different sizes and configurations,
tracked, wheeled, and front- or boom-mounted.
Roadside Brush Cutter
Mobile machine clears roadside brush; wheeled or tracked machine powers a boom-mounted
grinding head that is moved to the roadside for cutting limbs & other vegetation;
machine clears roadsides of unwanted brush overgrowth that clog roadsides.
Shovel Logger
Tracked boom logger “swings” logs to the roadside landing; mobile purpose-built
machine picks-up, swings, and moves logs by swinging them from side-to-side. Operator
uses its loader heel boom grapple to reach far to the side, grab, lift, swing-around
the log, and place them far to the opposite side—after moving the entire machine,
the operator then repeats the motion until the logs are swung all the way to the
roadside landing. Shovel can also conduct stream enhancement, wood placement.
Skidder
Wheeled log puller; purpose-built machine grabs logs, or whole trees, with grapples
or choker cables—lifts the front ends of logs off the ground, then pull logs to
the roadside landing.
Small Skidder
Wheeled or tracked small log puller; this small-sized purpose-built machine grabs
logs, or whole trees, with grapples or choker cables—lifts the front ends of logs
off the ground, then pull logs to the roadside landing. Suitable for thinning and
partial cutting on gentle terrain.
Skid Cat (Track Skidder)
Tracked log puller; purpose-built machine grabs logs, or whole trees, with grapples
or choker cables—lifts the front ends of logs off the ground, then pull logs to
the roadside landing. On slopes, tracked skid cat has better traction than wheeled
skidder.
Brush Piling Shovel
Tracked boom machine piles “slash” in harvested area; mobile purpose-built machine
(a small ‘Shovel Logger’), picks-up, moves, and places excess logging debris, called
“slash,” into compact piles. Operator uses its loader heel boom grapple to reach
far to the side, grab, lift, move the slash—surplus tree limbs, tops and broken
pieces. Site is readied for reforestation and piles can be later burned. Shovel
can also conduct stream enhancement, wood placement.
Brush-Rake Piling Cat
Tracked dozer machine piles “slash” in harvested area; this dozer is equipped with
a brush rake blade; the dozer pushes, moves, and places excess logging debris, called
“slash,” into compact piles or rows. Operator moves the slash—surplus tree limbs,
tops and broken pieces. Site is readied for reforestation and piles can be later
burned.
Log Loader Attachment, Yarder
Log loader conversion attachment to create a small yarder. A small-log, tracked
cable lifter with a boom; this mobile short-distance machine’s cable is rigged from
the boom to the harvest area below the road; a carriage rides the cable and connects
to logs using additional cables; logs or small trees are lifted and carried on slopes
from the stump to the roadside landing area. Several attachment configurations possible:
yoader yarder with carriage; jammer highlead, or tong thrower.
Truck/Trailer-Mount Yarder
Small-log, cable lifter; cable is rigged from the short tower (20-40’ tall) to the
far side of the harvest area; a carriage rides the cable and connects to logs using
additional cables; logs or small trees are lifted and carried on slopes from the
stump to the roadside landing area; suitable for thinning.
Small Swing Yarder
Small-log cable lifter; cable is rigged from the short tower (40-60’ tall) to the
far side of the harvest area; a carriage rides the cable and connects to logs using
additional cables; logs or whole-trees are lifted and carried on slopes from the
stump to the roadside landing area; suitable for thinning.
Mobile Yarder
Medium-log cable lifter; cable is rigged from the mid-sized tower (50-70’ tall)
to the far side of the harvest area; a carriage rides the cable and connects to
logs using additional cables; logs or whole-trees are lifted and carried on slopes
from the stump—often suspended fully off the ground—to the roadside landing area;
suitable for thinning.
Tower Yarder
Large-log cable lifter; cable is rigged from the high tower (70-110’ tall) to the
far side of the harvest area; a carriage rides the cable and connects to logs using
additional cables; logs or whole-trees are lifted and carried on slopes from the
stump—often suspended fully off the ground—to the roadside landing area.
Cable Yarding Carriage
The “carriage” machine is a log-mover that rides on an aerially-suspended cable
“skyline”. Most common in Oregon is the radio-controlled, motorized carriage (called
“car”); its’ movements are controlled by workers with radio devices (called “bugs”),
and audible signals (called “tooters”). The carriage motor pulls a cable, log chokers,
and logs off the ground upward toward the carriage; then, the “yarder” pulls the
cable connected to the carriage, and the logs, from the stump to the yarder located
at the roadside log landing area. When the logs are disconnected at the landing,
the process is reversed, sending the carriage flying back through the sky to the
location where the next logs will be moved. Carriages come in different sizes and
five types: motorized drum, motorized slack-pulling; grapple; mechanical; manual;
and gravity.
LOG LANDING MACHINES
Oregon log landing machines are the heavy equipment purpose-built to work at the
roadside “landing” to process trees & logs. The “landing” is the location on, or
alongside, a forest road where trees & logs are processed, sorted, decked and loaded
onto trucks.
Shovel
Tracked log loader and sorter; machine swings in a full-circle to move, sort, pile
& put logs on log truck; also moves, piles & loads logging debris. Operator uses
its loader heel boom grapple to grab, move and place logs.
Processor
Tree delimber and log cutter (dangle-head process). Tracked machine with loader
boom, removes limbs & cuts trees into logs (“bucks”). Machine often works at landing;
automated cutting head; on-board computer optimized cutting of logs.
Stroke Delimber
Tree delimber and log cutter (log length process). Tracked machine with stroke boom,
removes limbs & cuts trees into logs (“bucks”). Machine often works at landing;
automated cutting head; on-board computer optimized cutting of logs.
Wheel Log Loader
Wheeled log front loader; log mover at helicopter log drop or at the timber mill;
move & load logs
Letourneau Log Loader
Log un-loader at timber mill; remove entire truck-load of logs from truck in a single
grab.
Landing Cat
Tracked dozer; builds and smooths landings, improves road drainage, move debris;
anchors cable rigging; pulls rigging & logs, road/landing work
Grinder
Machine grinds waste wood into useable wood biomass. Ground wood, “hog fuel” is
moved by conveyor into a waiting semi-truck trailer.
Delimber-Debarker-Chipper
This chipping machine produces low-bark-content chips for wood pulp and pellet mills;
the in-field pulpwood chipping plant processes whole trees in one continuous operation—removing
libs & bark, before chipping thee wood fiber. Bark is sorted into a wood biomass
pile of “hog fuel,” while wood chips are blown into a waiting semi-truck trailer.
Debarker
This debarking machine produces removes the bark & limbs from logs; in-field debarking
plant prepares logs to be chipped in another machine for wood pulp and pellet mills.
Bark is piled for later use as wood biomass “hog fuel.”
Heavy Fire Truck (Engine)
Large firefighting water tanker; fully-equipped heavy truck to fight forest fires,
pump, hose reel, hose, fire tools, portable pumps, tanks & gear. Used to extinguish
unwanted fires near forest operations, and also for controlling prescribed burning
of forest fuels.
Fire Truck
Firefighting water tank truck; equipped truck to fight forest fires, pump, hose
reel, hose, fire tools & gear, Used to extinguish unwanted fires near forest operations,
and also for controlling prescribed burning of forest fuels.
Slip-On Fire Pumper (on Truck)
Pickup truck equipped with slip-on fire pumper; Small firefighting vehicle temporarily
loaded with “slip-on pumper,” which is a small water tank, pump, hose reel, hose
& fire tools. Used to extinguish unwanted fires near forest operations, and also
for controlling prescribed burning of forest fuels.
Fire Trailer
Trailer equipped with a fire pumper. Small firefighting trailer pulled by a heavy
truck; pumper includes a small water tank, pump, hose reel, hose & fire tools. Used
to extinguish unwanted fires near forest operations, and also for controlling prescribed
burning of forest fuels.
Fire Forwarder (Slip-On)
Log skidder/forwarder equipped with slip-on fire pumper; Small off-road firefighting
vehicle temporarily loaded with “slip-on pumper,” which is a small water tank, pump
and hose reel. Used to extinguish unwanted fires near forest operations, and also
for controlling prescribed burning of forest fuels.
Fire Dozer
Firefighting dozer and truck; dozer prepared to dig fireline and fight forest fires
near forest operations, and also for controlling prescribed burning of forest fuels.
FOREST ROAD MACHINES
Oregon forest road machines are the heavy equipment purpose-built to build and maintain
forest roads and landings, keeping them in good shape. Forest roads provide important
access to manage and protect forestlands throughout the life of a forest.
Dozer
Tracked dozer; forest road builder, blade pushes dirt, rock; anchors cable rigging;
and plows snow. Works on road construction, heavy road maintenance, and at the forest
rock quarry.
Excavator
Tracked road builder, digging bucket; digs-lifts-loads dirt & rock to build forest
roads; lifts bridge parts and culverts. Works on road construction and at the forest
rock quarry.
Track Hoe Excavator
Tracked road builder, clam-shell dig bucket; digs-lifts-loads dirt & rock to build
forest roads.
Heavy Excavator
Large tracked road builder, large boom and heavy digging bucket; digs-lifts-loads
dirt & rock to build forest roads; lifts bridge parts and culverts. Works on road
construction and at the forest rock quarry.
Dump Truck
Large hauling truck with a rear dumping box; hauls dirt, rock, wood debris, and
trailers—to build & repair forest roads. Can pull a utility trailer to haul other
equipment.
Off-Road Dump Truck
Very large construction hauler with a rear dumping box; over-size hauler of dirt,
rock or wood debris to build & repair road. Works on forest road construction and
at the rock quarry.
Grader
Wheeled road smoother with blade; purpose-built machine smooths & shapes forest
road surface; and plows snow. This important machine most often provides periodic
road repair & maintenance, but may also works on forest road construction.
Roller-Vibratory Soil Compactor
A heavy construction machine; heavy roller and vibration mechanism used for compaction
of forest road subgrade and rock surfacing
Compactor
A heavy construction machine; steel grid wheels and blade used for heavy-duty forest
road subgrade compaction and dozing operations
Backhoe
Small wheeled or tracked digger; bucket scoops, digs & loads, small jobs, repairs
forest roads and road drainage
Ditch Hoe
Wheeled road repairer; Gradall digging bucket; scoops, digs & loads dirt to repair
forest road ditches
Wheeled Loader
Wheeled bucket front loader; digging bucket on front; scoops & loads rock-dirt-snow.
Can work at the forest rock quarry, on forest road construction, or for snowplowing
forest roads.
Rock Crusher & Conveyor
This rock crushing machine produces gravel and construction aggregate, an important
component used on forest roads. The in-field mobile crushing plant processes large
rock, sorts/screens rock into desired sizes, and moves rock on conveyors into a
pile. Crusher is on tracks, or a wheeled trailer that’s pulled by a semi-tractor
truck. Works at the forest rock quarry.
Rock Drill
Tracked machine to drill holes into rock, preparing for rock blasting. Works at
the forest rock quarry and on forest road construction.
Bridge Crane
Large wheeled crane; lifts bridges into place. This heavy lifter has a telescoping
boom and a cable winch that can reach far & high to move bridges over streams during
forest road construction.
Water Tender
Tanker truck hauls water; pumps/hauls over 2,000 gallons of water to spray forest
roads to control dust. Also used to extinguish unwanted fires near forest operations,
and also for controlling prescribed burning of forest fuels.
Hydro-Seeder Trailer
Trailer equipped with a hydro-seed machine. Machine includes a water tank, and hoppers
for grass seed and mulch, mixer, pump and spray hose; trailer pulled by a heavy
truck. Used to spray grass seed & mulch mixture that re-vegetates forest roadsides,
ditches and landings for erosion control.
Pressure Washer Trailer
Trailer equipped with a slip-on pressure washer and tank. Unit mounted either on
a utility truck or trailer; includes a water tank, pump, and spray hose; trailer
pulled by a heavy truck. Used to spray-clean heavy equipment that removes debris,
soil and weed seeds to prevent invasive seed transport.
WOOD TRANSPORT MACHINES
Oregon wood transportation machines are the trucks and industrial transport equipment
purpose-built to haul logs, wood chips, and biomass hog fuel. These machines work
on the forest roads, highways, waterways, and railroads to deliver the timber from
Oregon forests to forest product manufacturing plants (known as “mills”). It’s also
common for timber to be off-loaded and reloaded at sort yards and reload yards,
while in route to timber mills and markets.
Long-Log Truck
Semi-truck, 18-wheel log hauler; semi-truck & long-log trailer hauls 40’-long logs
from forest to mill. The load length is adjustable by a telescoping “stinger” that
pulls the two rear axles; longer logs or utility poles can be hauled when rear axles
are extended. Truck equipped with on-board electronic scales.
Short-Log Truck & Trailer
Semi-truck 12-wheel log hauler, pulling a “hay rack” short-log trailer; semi-truck
hauls 30’-short logs; hay-rack trailer hauls 30’-short logs from forest to mill.
Trailers come in different configurations, depending on log lengths & weights. Truck
equipped with on-board electronic scales.
Self-Loader Log Truck
Semi-truck, 18-wheel log hauler equipped with loading boom; truck driver operates
loader heel-boom grapple to load logs; semi-truck & long-log trailer hauls 40’-long
logs from forest to mill. Truck equipped with on-board electronic scales.
Chip Van Truck
Semi-truck, 18-wheel semi-truck wood fiber hauler; truck pulls a 40’ long open-top
trailer van that hauls wood chips or biomass “hog fuel” from the forest to mill;
more commonly, it hauls from mill-to-mill.
Log Railcar
Cargo railcars purpose-built for transporting a train of logs long distances in
Oregon. Logs are loaded using a log loader at a “reload yard,” located along a railroad
siding—then off-loaded at an intermodal yard, reload yard, or timber mill. Special
railcars also can transport wood chips. Railcars are pulled by a powerful diesel
train “engine,” which can move 1 ton of freight 480 miles on 1 gallon of diesel
fuel.
Log Barge
Cargo barges purpose-built for transporting logs long distances on the Columbia
River or along the Pacific Coast to port facilities. Logs are loaded using a log
loader at an intermodal “reload yard,” located at a port dock—then off-loaded at
another intermodal port facility. Special barges also can transport wood chips.
Barges are “towed” (pushed or pulled) by a powerful diesel tugboat, which is the
most fuel-efficient means of log transport.
Cargo Ship
Ocean-going, general cargo ship transports logs and wood chips long distances from
Oregon and Washington port facilities to international markets. Logs and chips are
prepared for export shipping, then loaded onto the break-bulk ship at a deep water
port. Oregon logs and chips are grown, manufactured, transported and merchandised
to international markets in the Pacific Rim and around the globe. Export of primary
forest products (logs and wood chips) is an important contributor to Oregon’s economy—just
as are exports of other valuable Oregon non-manufactured commodities, including:
wheat, scrap metal, fertilizer, hay, and a vast number of other agricultural products.
Although logs and chips are considered a “non-manufactured commodity,” their production
demands significant investment in skilled labor, technology, manufacturing and transportation—all
assets in which Oregon excels.
AERIAL MACHINES
Oregon aerial machines are the aircraft purpose-built to lift and fly forest products,
supplies, and forestry workers during important management projects in Oregon’s
forests. There are additional machines and equipment necessary strictly to support
these helicopters and airplanes.
Heavy-Lift Helicopter
Aerial lifter of heaviest cargo loads; aircraft lifts and flies logs (or whole trees)
far off the ground, while suspended from a longline cable; logs are moved long distances
from the stump to the roadside landing area. Cargos of multiple large logs, tall
trees, bridge, large firefighting water bucket, fire retardant, hydro-seeding, forestry
work crews, or heavy forest road-bridge construction materials; helicopter operated
by two pilots.
Aerial Truck Helicopter
Aerial lifter of large cargo loads; aircraft lifts and flies logs (or whole trees)
far off the ground, while suspended from a longline cable; logs are moved long distances
from the stump to the roadside landing area. Cargos of larger logs, trees, firefighting
water bucket, fertilizer bucket, seeding & mulching, or forest road-bridge construction
materials; helicopter operated by one pilot.
Utility Helicopter
Aerial lifter of mid-sized cargo loads & personnel. Aircraft lifts and transports
a variety of forestry cargos, including: forestry work crews, fertilizer bucket,
herbicide spray boom, seed-cone collector bucket, prescribed burning torch, firefighting
water bucket, forest construction materials, or logs. Small logs are suspended from
a longline cable, and moved distances from the stump to the roadside landing area;
helicopter operated by one pilot.
Light Utility Helicopter
Aerial lifter of personnel & small cargo; aircraft flies forestry personnel, or
lifts light cargo suspended from a longline cable; forestry personnel conduct aerial
reconnaissance and resource surveys. Small cargo of 2-3 people, prescribed burning
torch, firefighting water bucket, seed-cone collector bucket, or forest construction
materials; helicopter operated by one pilot.
Helicopter Service Trucks & Trailers
Located in the forest, the mobile field service trailers & trucks support the helicopter;
aircraft field mechanic’s mobile shop staffed by a field service mechanic and mechanic’s
assistants. Helicopters employed in forestry projects typically return to the nearby
service landing hourly for routine maintenance, refueling and work planning; trucks
pull purpose-built shop trailers.
Air Fuel Tanker
Helicopter fuel refill truck; hauls aviation fuel to refuel helicopter at the field
service landing location near the project.
Fertilizer Hopper Truck
Helicopter fertilizer refill truck; hauls tree fertilizer that is lifted and spread
aerially by a helicopter equipped with a fertilizer bucket; located at the field
service landing location near the project.
Fire Retardant Heavy-Bomber
Aerial flyer of fertilizer-based forest fire retardant; multi-engine airplane carries
& drops a cargo of water mixed with a specially-formulated pink power that helps
dampen flames, when dumped on a wildland forest or range fire; aircraft operated
by two pilots. Forest fire retardant is a non-toxic water-based slurry that acts
as a fertilizer for plant life.
Fire Retardant Light-Bomber
Small aerial flyer of fertilizer-based forest fire retardant; airplane carries &
drops a cargo of water mixed with a specially-formulated pink power that helps dampen
flames, when dumped on a wildland forest or range fire; aircraft operated by one
pilot. Forest fire retardant is a non-toxic water-based slurry that acts as a fertilizer
for plant life.
Small Airplane; Lead Plane
Small airplane (pictured left) that directs flight of forest fire retardant bomber;
“lead” airplane flies in front of the larger retardant-carrying plane to instruct
the proper flight path and drop location on the wildland forest or range fire on
the ground; aircraft operated by two pilots. Small airplanes are utilized in several
additional forestry assignments, including: fire patrol; aerial surveys; reconnaissance;
aerial photography; and long-distance personnel transport.
SERVICE MACHINES
Oregon service machines help other machines work in the forest, by moving the crew,
skilled professionals, tools, rigging, fuel, repair parts, and supplies. Specialized
purpose-built forestry service machines to keep the forest heavy equipment operating.
One machine, the simulator, helps train new operators how to use complicated controls
on the heavy equipment.
Simulator
Specialized computer simulators are purpose-built to mimic a specific forest machine.
Simulator provides new operator training to help teach proper use of complex machine
controls and operating procedures. Operator sits in the seat at the controls, just
as he or she would in the cab of the actual forest machine. Simulator has actual
machine controls, joysticks, toggles, buttons, levers & peddles, which in real-time
simulates on computer monitors the machine’s logging performance.
Heavy Service Truck
Field mechanic’s heavy truck; driven by a field service mechanic and mechanic’s
assistant, the truck helps repair & service other machines; truck can also pull
trailers
Light Service Truck
Field mechanic’s smaller truck; driven by a field service mechanic and mechanic’s
assistant, the truck helps repair & service other machines; truck can also pull
trailers
Line Spool Truck
Rigging haul truck; heavy tractor flatbed truck, includes a powered spool that pulls
& unwinds cable; carries cable, carriage, gear on roads; can also pull a trailer.
Low Boy
Machine ‘heavy hauler;” multi-axle semi-tractor and trailer, designed for hauling
heavy forest machines on roads from job-to-job
Pilot Car
Vehicle leads oversize loaded trucks; often a pickup truck, which leads the over-dimensional
heavy equipment load that follows on the public highway—usually a low boy truck
& trailer. Pilot car signed indicates “Oversize Load.” Pilot vehicle and driver
may assist in traffic control maneuvers for the lowboy.
Fuel Truck
Diesel fuel refill truck; this tank truck hauls & pumps diesel fuel to refuel machines
and fuel trailers.
Fuel Trailer
Tank trailer hauls & stores fuel; diesel refill tank & pump used to refuel other
machines; pulled by a heavy truck.
Utility Trailer
Trailer to haul small machines; pulled by a another truck; trailer used to haul
small forest machines, culverts, cable, carriages, fire pumps/tanks, rigging, and
road construction materials—travels roads from job-to-job.
Pickup Truck (“Rig”)
Heavy-duty pickup truck; often loaded with a diesel refill tank that fuels other
machines. A common vehicle on every forest jobsite, this pickup truck transports
1-2 workers, fuel, rigging and tools.
Flatbed Utility Truck
Mid-weight utility truck; vehicle transports rigging & tools; often loaded with
a diesel refill tank that fuels other machines; transports 1-2 workers.
Crew Cab Truck
Heavy-duty crew cab pickup truck; 4-door transport vehicle for small crew [3-5 workers],
rigging & tools; often loaded with a diesel refill tank that fuels other machines.
Crummy
Crew bus; transport vehicle for a large crew [6-12 workers] and their tools; vehicle
can be a small utility bus (shown) or a 10-12 passenger van.
