Went For a Ride with my Buddy (updated Picture)

[Hardy Boy]

He drives an off highway truck, 14 foot wide bunks and depending on the logs they put well over 100 tons. It amazes me where they can turn these things around in the bush. I asked my buddy if he had a picture with a big load and he came up with this one from a few years ago. I thought you might like it plus it shows the setting.

[alantani]

someone clearly did the math on this one!

[Tiddlerbasher]

Ooooh! Mucho firewood

[Dominick]

I'm sure it was fun.  How many toothpicks do you suppose one could get from that load of wood.  I am giving a prize for the correct answer.  Dominick

[RowdyW]

I'm sure it was fun.  How many toothpicks do you suppose one could get from that load of wood.  I am giving a prize for the correct answer.  Dominick

I'd say 9 if they are for Paul Bunyon.   

[bluefish69]

I could use 6- 3/8X40" Dowels.

Mike

[David Hall]

There's a few redwood decks and 1/4 mile of fencing in that truck.

[Bill B]

I'm sure it was fun.  How many toothpicks do you suppose one could get from that load of wood.  I am giving a prize for the correct answer.  Dominick

Im guessing more than 1 and less than 1 billion....    bill

[Jim Fujitani]

Reminds me of my college days, when I was young, strong, quick, and had good balance.  Buddies and I had talked about taking some time away and getting jobs as "choker setters".  I'm glad I listened to my own voice of reason.  Rookie choker setters probably went down/ER medical about one a week.  None of my circle of friends jumped at the chance.

That was a memory that hadn't surfaced in 40 years!!!

[foakes]

To me, logging truck drivers are the bush pilots of the woods -- the best of the best.

It takes a feel for your rig, equipment, gears, dead accurate estimation skills, and reading road conditions that few of us will ever know.

Like in Aviation:

"There are Bold logging truck drivers --

And Old logging truck drivers--

But there is no such thing as an Old, Bold Logging truck driver".

Lot of respect for these professionals.

These Off-Highway truckers snake and haul logs from the rough log landings way back in the woods -- out to a more civilized off-load area -- where they are transported by other drivers down to the mills.

That truck is carrying about double the load capacity of the ones you see on the asphalt roadways.

Notice all of the protected and reinforced areas on this rig -- over the cab, front push and crash panels, etc..

Best,

Fred

[gstours]

Wow thats an impressive load!    A lot of work was involved before it ever got into this post.   Wow!  Was that some Red Cedar on there?  Great working mans photo,   Hope theres no switchbacks down the mountain w another truck stuck in the corner?    Now eat your Halibuts.

[Jim Fujitani]

I'll bet most drivers out there don't even realize that on dirt roads in hilly logging areas, loaded logging trucks drive on the uphill side of the roadway and all other drivers should be on the other side.  And turn outs should be used by other drivers, not logging trucks.  Logging truck drivers are extremely good at what they do under their circumstances.  Other drivers are the ones stressed and white-knuckled for the conditions.

[gstours]

Where I used ti live in Oregon there was Tree Forests on private lands.  Being excempt from Highway Rules and on generally muddy or dusty roads the trucks looked shabby, usually loaded to the gills, but those drivers had skills and courage to deliver the heavy logs.   Its a job not for the faint of heart!  Outdoors is a great way to make a living,  Butt generally not the easiest.
  Send us some more pictures.   its ok!

[Hardy Boy]

More than one guy has hit the ditch when coming around a corner and meeting one of these. At least they will call someone to pull you out of the ditch after they get after you. They can't easily stop and they are not going in the ditch and putting their life at risk. If traveling a lot on logging roads here you follow a company truck or invest in a radio as they call out millage markers when they are loaded. I have hunted on the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) and the off hwy. trucks there were 16 feet wide !! Still some big timber coming out of the woods but mostly 60 to 80 year old second growth now. My buddy has a picture on his phone with his biggest load and its much larger than that one.

Todd

[Gfish]

I've come close to the ditch a number a times. They come fast n' loaded downhill and if you're lucky you hear the jake(compression release) brake before you meet 'em. Guy told me there's a big diffrence in $ between x loads/day and x+1 loads at the end of the day for the drivers.
Gfish