Costs and Challenges of Log Truck Transportation in Georgia, USA
In the Southern U.S., timber is transported from harvest sites to mills by many small trucking companies. Few studies have examined the structure and challenges facing these businesses. This study involved interviews with 18 log truck owners operating in the state of Georgia, USA. Participants opera...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/10/650 |
| _version_ | 1811257378355544064 |
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| author | Joseph L. Conrad IV |
| author_facet | Joseph L. Conrad IV |
| author_sort | Joseph L. Conrad IV |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the Southern U.S., timber is transported from harvest sites to mills by many small trucking companies. Few studies have examined the structure and challenges facing these businesses. This study involved interviews with 18 log truck owners operating in the state of Georgia, USA. Participants operated in all forested regions of Georgia and included wood dealers, contract haulers, logging businesses, logging and trucking businesses, and large, diversified trucking businesses. Fleet sizes ranged from zero trucks (recently ceased hauling) to more than 50 log trucks. Log trucks were driven an average of 127,324 km year−1 and delivered an average of 17,410 t year−1. Participants averaged 48% loaded km. Analysis suggests the current combination of average payload, percent-loaded km, and published haul rates make it difficult for log trucking companies to be profitable. The most important challenges faced by log truck owners were a shortage of qualified drivers and rising truck insurance premiums, which were identified as the greatest challenge by 44% and 39% of participants, respectively. Increasing percent-loaded km, reducing turn times at mills and harvest sites, providing driver training, and adopting technologies, such as global positioning system tracking and onboard cameras, could improve transportation efficiency and safety. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:55:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-528772e57dba4a2b9d60f546cc77a496 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:55:31Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-528772e57dba4a2b9d60f546cc77a4962022-12-22T03:22:21ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072018-10-0191065010.3390/f9100650f9100650Costs and Challenges of Log Truck Transportation in Georgia, USAJoseph L. Conrad IV0Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E. Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USAIn the Southern U.S., timber is transported from harvest sites to mills by many small trucking companies. Few studies have examined the structure and challenges facing these businesses. This study involved interviews with 18 log truck owners operating in the state of Georgia, USA. Participants operated in all forested regions of Georgia and included wood dealers, contract haulers, logging businesses, logging and trucking businesses, and large, diversified trucking businesses. Fleet sizes ranged from zero trucks (recently ceased hauling) to more than 50 log trucks. Log trucks were driven an average of 127,324 km year−1 and delivered an average of 17,410 t year−1. Participants averaged 48% loaded km. Analysis suggests the current combination of average payload, percent-loaded km, and published haul rates make it difficult for log trucking companies to be profitable. The most important challenges faced by log truck owners were a shortage of qualified drivers and rising truck insurance premiums, which were identified as the greatest challenge by 44% and 39% of participants, respectively. Increasing percent-loaded km, reducing turn times at mills and harvest sites, providing driver training, and adopting technologies, such as global positioning system tracking and onboard cameras, could improve transportation efficiency and safety.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/10/650timber transportationwood supply chain efficiencytimber hauling costforest products transportation |
| spellingShingle | Joseph L. Conrad IV Costs and Challenges of Log Truck Transportation in Georgia, USA Forests timber transportation wood supply chain efficiency timber hauling cost forest products transportation |
| title | Costs and Challenges of Log Truck Transportation in Georgia, USA |
| title_full | Costs and Challenges of Log Truck Transportation in Georgia, USA |
| title_fullStr | Costs and Challenges of Log Truck Transportation in Georgia, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Costs and Challenges of Log Truck Transportation in Georgia, USA |
| title_short | Costs and Challenges of Log Truck Transportation in Georgia, USA |
| title_sort | costs and challenges of log truck transportation in georgia usa |
| topic | timber transportation wood supply chain efficiency timber hauling cost forest products transportation |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/10/650 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josephlconradiv costsandchallengesoflogtrucktransportationingeorgiausa |