The National Hardwood Lumber Association: what it is and what it does

By S. Carrol White Secretary-m anager National Hardwood Lumber Association

T HE National Hardwood Lum- I ber Association was formed in l8 98 for the purpose of establishing a uniform set of rules for the measurement and inspection of hardwood lumber.

At the same time, a sales code was established setting down some basic tenets for doing business and settling claims. Through the years these documents have been modified and updated by suggestions received from knowledgeable lumbermen which are put in order by a standing Rules Committee and ultimately acted favorably upon when submitted to a vote of the membership at annual convention.

In this way they are kept in conformance with changing times and business conditions and today are firmly recognized as the basis for shipment of virtually all hardwood lumber in the United States, Canada and to a large extent in world commerce. In consideration of this, the association is widely regarded as a basic stabilizing and standard set- ting agency for the hardwood lumber industry.

In the normal course of business, NHLA rules are used daily by Iumber inspectors at point of shipment and destination who are in the employ of the particular concerns involved. By far the largest proportion of hardwood lumber shipped is handled in this matter. This association, however, has in its employ some 70 inspectors located

Story at a Glance

throughout the United States and Canada where demand for them warrants.

These "national men" function as impartial expert inspectors and inspected 140,000,000 feet of hardwood in 1978. They are generally available at point of shipment to provide impartial inspection which tends to insure quality and avoid dispute. They are also available for destination inspections when questions arise as to the quality of hardwood material being received.

A primary service is that once a shipment has been inspected by a national man and the association certificate as to quality and quantity has been issued, if a claim arises, NHLA will guarantee the judgment of its inspector and will defend the claim rather than having the actual shipper involved. This system has stood the test of time and a "national certifi cate" is recognized as a badge of quality and assurance

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