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LOG SHORTAGES MAY BE IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E N AT I O N A L H A R D W O O D L U M B E R A S S O C I AT I O N S T R O N G R O O T S . G L O B A L R E A C H . | W W W. N H L A . C O M
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DEPARTMENTS
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Member to Member Legislative Log Foundation Focus Insurance Corner
READER SERVICES 4 President’s Message 6 Executive Director’s Message 7 Letter to the Editor 10 Inside NHLA 14 Memorial 26 Calendar 27 Job Board
IN THIS ISSUE... 16
LOG SHORTAGES MAY BE IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER by Eric Johnson, Executive Editor of The Northern Logger & Timber Processor Magazine
CONTENTS W W W. N H L A .CO M
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June 2014 ▪ Issue 146 National Hardwood Lumber Association PO Box 34518 ▪ Memphis, TN 38184-0518 901-377-1818 ▪ 901-382-6419 (fax) info@nhla.com ▪ www.nhla.com
H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S T H E VO I C E O F T H E H A R DWO O D I N D U ST RY
THE MISSION OF NH LA To serve NHLA Members engaged in the commerce of North American hardwood lumber by: maintaining order, structure and ethics in the changing global hardwood marketplace; providing unique member services; promoting North American hardwood lumber and advocating the interest of the hardwood community
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MISSION LEADERS
Scott Heidler Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co. President
Skip Holmes Thomas & Proetz Lumber Co. Unique Services
Pem Jenkins Turn Bull Lumber Co. Vice President
Charlie Netterville Fred Netterville Lumber Co. Industry Advocacy & Promotion
Dave Redmond Highland Hardwood Sales, Inc. Past President 2010–2012
Greg Patenaude Péladeau Lumber, Inc. Membership & Marketing
Mark A. Barford, CAE Executive Director
Brent Stief Huron Forest Products Structure
NHLA STAFF
Gary Swaner Swaner Hardwood Co. Rules
Mark A. Barford, CAE Executive Director m.barford@nhla.com
in public/private policy issues; and providing a platform for networking opportunities.
David George Creative Director d.george@nhla.com Renee Hornsby Director of Communications/Editor r.hornsby@nhla.com
About the Cover: Hardwood sawlogs are still produced manually in many parts of the country. Photo credit: Eric Johnson
■■■ Rich Hascher Inspector Training School Instructor John Hester Director of Membership Dana Spessert Chief Inspector Denise Stewart Director of Finance/CAO
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Jeff Durst Hull Forest Products Inspection Services Orn Gudmundsson, Jr. Northland Corporation Communications & Marketing/Finance Mark Mah Upper Canada Forest Products Hardwood Advocacy Darwin Murray McClain Forest Products Continuing Education Jim Reader Downes & Reader Hardwood Co. Membership Joe Snyder Fitzpatrick & Weller, Inc. Rules Jim Steen Pike Lumber Co., Inc. Inspector Training School
For advertising inquiries: Contact John Hester, Director of Membership at j.hester@nhla.com or 901-399-7558.
Kim Vollinger W. M. Cramer Lumber Co. Convention
ADVERTISER INDEX
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Augusta Lumber Company, Inc.
13
eLimbs, LLC
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Pike Lumber Company, Inc.
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25
The Jacobs Team
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SFPA Expo
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Brunner-Hildebrand
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King City Forwarding USA, Inc.
12
U•C Coatings Corporation
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DMSi
bc
NHLA Convention
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USNR
5
Dunavant Global Logistics Group
3
Pennsylvania & Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Companies
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
THE NHLA BOARD WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF As I return from running my last board meeting as the President of NHLA, I want to thank all the current board members who have supported NHLA and me over the last two years. We have made great changes for the future of NHLA. The time that each and every one, who is currently on or has served in the past, has donated to NHLA and our industry should not go unrecognized. I personally want to thank each of you for the commitment you have shown. I would also like to encourage all persons reading this to thank all of the previous and current board members for their service the next time you are in person or on the phone with them. The NHLA board of directors is made up of a cross section of the active membership. This includes producers, concentration yards, distributors and wholesalers from the U.S. and Canada. This make up has allowed NHLA to properly represent all sectors of the North American hardwood industry for more than 100 years. I am happy to report to the membership that the NHLA board of directors met in April to continue the forward direction of the Association and the hardwood industry. Below are some of the many items that the standing committees are working on: Inspector Training School Committee: 1. Reported a large fall class with 29 graduates, a spring class with 12 graduates, and a late spring class being held in Michigan in conjunction with the MichiganWorks! Program with 21 students. 2. Work has been completed on the new Hybrid course, entitled “Home and Away” to be offered in 2015. The program will offer interactive computer instruction along with Memphis classroom instruction. 3. Release of a new ITS video sponsored by ITSEF, for the continued promotion of the Inspector Training School. Membership Committee: 1. Continually working to build a strong membership base in all categories of membership. 2. Passed a motion to reward each new Active and Partner members with one free convention attendance for the next convention. 3. Working to reinstate member companies that dropped due to the tough economic times from 2007–2012!
I am happy to report to the membership that the NHLA board of directors met in April to continue the forward direction of the Association and the hardwood industry.
Inspection Services Committee: 1. Continuing to market and expand the use of National Inspectors both domestically and abroad. 2. Beginning to market the NHLA KD Certification Program, which can replace the need for a Phyto Sanitary into approved export markets. Hardwood Advocacy Committee: 1. Mike Snow gave an update regarding AHEC and the expanding relationship between NHLA and AHEC. 2. Discussed NHLA’s continued support of the Hardwood Federation.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Convention Committee: 1. Finalizing plans for the 2014 NHLA Convention & Exhibit Showcase being held October 8–10 in Las Vegas at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa. 2. Working forward on the schedule and speakers for the 2015 convention to be held in Nashville, TN at the downtown Omni Hotel. 3. Finalized the plans and the location of the 2017 NHLA Convention.
As you can see the directors have been busy on all the different committees they serve. I do want to once again thank the past directors for their commitment to NHLA, all current directors for their service to the association, and promote to future directors to get involved with the association for the betterment of NHLA and our industry. Respectfully,
Communications and Marketing: 1. The committee is moving forward with research for a NHLA smart phone app. 2. Continuing to research marketing ideas for all NHLA products.
Scott Heidler Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co.
Continuing Education Committee: 1. The committee has refocused direction after Strategic Planning’s recommendation to partner with outside groups to better educate our membership in areas of need. They are looking at programs that will enhance the bottom line of the members who participate in offered programs.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
THE DUCHESNAY SCHOOL CELEBRATES TWENTY YEARS AND A UNIQUE FORMAT I just returned from the graduation of the School of Technology for Forestry and Wood of Duchesnay, located in the Duchesnay Forest near Quebec City, Canada. The school has a state of the art training facility including a modern sawmill; saw fi ling room and dry kilns. Part of the curriculum offering includes the NHLA Inspector Training School taught in French, fully accredited by NHLA. In fact, this year marks the 20th anniversary of that distinction. Most of the inspectors and owners in the Quebec hardwood lumber business attended the Duchesnay School and many were at one time employees of NHLA. A little known fact – in the 1960’s NHLA employed more than 60 Canadian National Inspectors. The Duchesnay facility is most impressive. The sawmill is a student run facility. Students trained in harvesting techniques bring logs into the sawmill from the adjoining forest. Students gain hands-on training as they watch the log turn into lumber and then learn how to utilize the grades to maximize the value of the logs. As I toured the facility, I couldn’t help but realize the lack of an equivalent English speaking school anywhere in North America. Haywood Tech in Clyde, North Carolina was the best-equipped forestry school for the industry but it shut down during the most recent lumber recession. With the closing of several other small training facilities the question must be asked, “Where will we train the next generation of technical people and leaders for the industry?” The NHLA Inspector Training School in Memphis remains a good place to start, but where are the options for learning how to operate an edger or saw a log to utilize the grades? Th is dilemma comes at a time of lower margins, more expensive logs, and the demand for precisely cut lumber to meet world market demands. The Duchesnay School is a magnificent facility with superb leadership teaching a unique skill. Like English speaking schools, the challenge is to get students – the graduating class I spoke to totaled eight students. The hardwood lumber industry will have to support the few remaining schools in order for them to stay in existence and make sure they are training the most important asset a hardwood lumber company has – its people.
Most of the inspectors and owners in the Quebec hardwood lumber business attended the Duchesnay School and many were at one time employees of NHLA.
Sincerely,
Mark Barford, CAE, Executive Director National Hardwood Lumber Association www.nhla.com
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
WHAT ARE YOU FOR? Several associations have invited both proponents and opponents of the proposed Hardwood Lumber and Hardwood Plywood Commodity Promotion Program to present their respected positions before their members. Although welcomed, and I believe productive; it is unfortunate that these forums were not conducted prior to the publishing of the proposed Order in the Federal Register. As a presenter for an opposing viewpoint at two such meetings, I was asked by representatives of the proponents the question, “If not this, then what are you for?” This question has somehow become popular in today’s political arena. I am not for something, just to say I am for something. I do and do not support the following: I am in support of a program that has a defined need. I am not in favor of a program that was conceived during a period of, and perhaps even a result of, a severe recession and desperation. I am in support of a program that meets the widely recognized needs of a unique multi-faceted industry. I am not in favor of a program that may have been successful for some unrelated commodities but appears not to fit our industry. I am in support of a program that has a unified industry mandate. I am not in support of a program that has no association endorsements, for fear of membership attrition, as well as some explicit association opposition. I am in support of free enterprise and the American Spirit that rewards dedication and hard work. I am not in favor of expecting a committee of volunteers to do my work for me.
I am in support of fairness and equity. I am not in favor of unfairly burdening sawmills, excluding over 50 percent of the industry, and staging a referendum weighted by sales only and not giving each company an equal vote. I am in support of solid hardwood lumber manufactured in the U.S. I am not in favor of promoting competing products, giving imports a free ride and encouraging the export of logs. I am in favor of strong industry and state associations, which provide rules, structure, education, and research for the industry. I am not in support of programs that will adversely affect the structure already successful and in place. I am in favor of encouraging youth to engage in the hardwood industry by providing opportunity and financial rewards. I am not in favor of expecting a program with limited funds and ambiguous direction to be a panacea for the many issues facing our industry. Although the future of the proposed Order is now in the hands of the USDA, the proponents have already suggested that the changes in their Comments on the proposed Order will be adopted. If the USDA decides to make changes to the original Order or proceed to referendum, only time will tell. The question isn’t that the opposition is not for anything; the question is whether or not the industry understands what it is for. Respectfully, Larry Evans, President – Industrial Timber and Lumber
I am in support of free enterprise whereby I can spend my money as I so desire. I am not in favor of delegating volunteers to spend my money on unspecified projects.
SUBMIT A LETTER Letters to the Editor should be sent to Renee Hornsby, Director of Communications/Editor of Hardwood Matters at r.hornsby@nhla.com, by fax at 901-382-6419 or by mail to : NHLA, Attention Renee Hornsby | PO Box 34518 | Memphis, TN 38184 Comments are also accepted at www.nhla.com/nhlablog The letters which appear are the opinions of the authors and do not represent the opinions of the Association.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
BILL BUCHANAN’S HARDWOOD CHECK-OFF SPEECH AT NWFA WOOD FLOORING EXPO How did we get here? I want to take you back in time for a little bit and hope that it will help everyone understand the process that got us to here.
committee put up their own money and invested their own time towards this effort.
It’s 2005, Eastern hardwood lumber production for the year is 11.3 billion board feet, and total housing starts are 2,068,000 with single family housing starts hitting 1,715,000, their highest on record since they started keeping statistics in 1959. July of 2006, prices for homes peak and multifamily and single-family housing starts end the year at 1,800,000. April of 2007, New Century Financial Corp., a major subprime lender files for bankruptcy and total housing starts end the year at 1,355,000. In March of 2008, Bear Stearns collapses and is bought out by J.P. Morgan. On September 15, Lehman Brothers files the largest bankruptcy case in U.S. history and the very next day the Fed bails out insurance giant AIG. On October 3, President Bush signs into law the TARP program. Combined housing starts for 2008 are 908,000. Then comes 2009, eastern hardwood lumber production falls to 5.73 billion board feet, half of what is was in 2005 and housing starts finish the year at 554,000. There are times during this year that starts actually fall below replacements. Replacements are those houses that were hit by tornados, or other weather related events and those that caught on fire. Economists will call this the bottom of the “Great Recession”, but they aren’t in the forest products or building industry. For those of us who are, 2009 was the bottom of the pit.
In 2008, the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities commissioned an independent study, which concluded that check-offs are the most logical, sustainable model for funding forest products promotion. The Endowment agreed to match the funding raised by the Blue Ribbon Committee. So far, $400,000 has been raised for funding the draft order, staffing, establishing the website hardwoodcheckoff.org and industry outreach.
On August 10 & 11 of 2010, at the invitation of the Hardwood Publishing Co., which is George Barrett’s publication, 77 people from the hardwood industry met in Charlotte, North Carolina, to identify a common vision for the future of our industry. These 77 people represented 25 different hardwood segments, from landowners to brokers, and 24 different states. We were asked to set aside past and current differences and focus instead on common challenges, which if addressed, would strengthen all or most hardwood industry segments. The top 5 challenges identified were: (1) The lack of hardwood’s brand identity, (2) the public perception that harvesting trees is bad for the environment, (3) the lack of cooperation between industry members to address major challenges, (4) the high cost of doing business, and (5) the industry’s lack of resources to get its message out. Surely most people in this room have been to something like this and once you’ve identified challenges… what’s the next thing they ask you to do? That’s right… come up with solutions! When you look at these challenges #1, 2, & 5 are about promotion, education and funding and out of this… the idea for a check-off was reborn. That is what a check-off does, it provides funding for promotion, education and research. As a result of this meeting a group was formed to research and seek passage of a check-off program. I’m not sure who started the group; it was probably several people not just one. I was asked to participate and accepted. I had NO idea that 3½ years later we’d still be working on this. I’m sure there is a lesson in that for me. I can tell you that each and every member of the 8
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Since its inception the BRC has listened and responded to many different industry groups. Believe me when I tell you, we had meeting upon meeting upon meeting cussing and discussing what was the right and fair thing to do regarding assessments. Did we get it 100% right, I doubt it, but I know that we did our very best. Presentations have been given to more than 20 state and national association meetings. In November of last year the draft order was published in the Federal Register and comments were solicited. The comment period was extended through the middle of February. There were over 900 comments posted. I can tell you that I personally, and most of the committee members, have read maybe not all but certainly over 850 of these comments. As a result of listening to the feedback given at presentations and reading what people were saying, the BRC made suggestions to the USDA that the order be narrowed to exclude industrials, and only include 3A and better grade lumber. We also asked that the paperwork requirement on exempted small mill owners be removed. I know there were a lot of comments concerning the fact that pre-finished flooring was excluded and unfinished was included. If you’re looking to pin the tail on that donkey, then I’m your man. As I recall, the rationale for not including prefinished was that those in the pre-finish business already invest an inordinate amount of money into developing their brand and putting forth displays. Unfinished flooring, on the other hand, is more generic in nature and once laid, sanded and finished virtually indistinguishable as to the manufacturer. At the very least, since my company only manufacturers unfinished, you certainly can’t say I was prejudiced regarding only assessing unfinished flooring. Although I believe that both unfinished and prefinished will both benefit from promotion, I believe that assessing only unfinished was the fair thing to do. Presently, to the best of my knowledge, it still stands that unfinished is subject to the assessment but that may be changed as we move forward. (There is an example on the back of the handout that shows my interpretation of how the check-off fees apply to an unfinished flooring producer.) As you can see, sales are at $12,650,000 on 5,500,000 square feet and you are allowed to deduct the costs of green and kiln dried lumber that applies to these sales. The green lumber deduction is $5,600,000 and the kiln-dried deductions are $2,200,000. This leaves $4,850,000, which is assessed at 75 cents per $1,000 of sales, so this manufacturer would owe $3,637.50. To put this in perspective, if a load of flooring has 18,000 square feet on it and the total production in this example is 5,500,000 square feet then this equates to W W W. N H L A .CO M
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
305 ½ loads then the assessment is about $12 per truckload. Think about that… $12 dollars per truckload of flooring. The USDA is currently reviewing all the comments, and there are 3 possible actions: (1) the USDA could rescind the draft order (2) publish the order with modifications and call for an industry vote, or (3) recommend substantial changes which could lead to another round of public comments and a vote at a later date. Obviously, I’m in favor of the check-off. Business is somewhat better than it has been but remember the old saying, “those who ignore the mistakes of the past are destined to repeat them.” The forest products industry has a great story to tell. We are America’s foremost environmentally sustainable industry. Our product is not only recyclable; it’s renewable. I’m going to say that again, it’s “renewable”. That’s a hard story line for our competition to compete with, but you can’t tell your story sitting on the sidelines. You’ve got to get in the game and in this game you can’t make much of a difference whispering in the dark or crammed into the corners. You need to stand up and shout it out to the masses, and teach it in the classes. It’s ok to harvest timber because it gives the tree a second life as flooring, furniture, or other wood products. We are no longer just flooring manufacturers; we are carbon sequesters! Earlier I told you about the five challenges that came out of that meeting in North Carolina and how the check-off is ideally suited to resolve three of those challenges. That still leaves two challenges! I’m here today to ask you for your help in resolving number three. Number three is the lack of cooperation between industry members to address major challenges. I’m asking you for your support of the hardwood check-off. Bill Buchanan, Buchanan Hardwoods, Inc. Hardwood Check-off Speech at the NWFA Wood Flooring Expo, April 2014
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INSIDE NHLA
NHLA TRAVELS TO CANADA FOR THE DUCHESNAY GRADUATION CEREMONY
NHLA ATTENDS NWFA WOOD FLOORING EXPO IN NASHVILLE
Executive Director Mark Barford and Chief Inspector Dana Spessert spoke at the graduation for the School of Technology for Forestry and Wood of Duchesnay. The school is located near Quebec City, Canada and along with a varied assortment of various woods and production training the curriculum includes and NHLA endorsed hardwood lumber grading course. The course is equivalent to the Inspector Training School in Memphis, Tenn.; with the notable difference that it is taught in French.
The staff team of NHLA traveled due east this past April and descended upon Nashville and the NWFA Wood Flooring Expo. The staff team of John Hester, Director of Membership; Renee Hornsby, Director of Communications and Dana Spessert, Chief Inspector took the opportunity to educate the flooring industry about the Association and what it can offer along with the promotion of the upcoming NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase.
“The School brings together an amazing assortment of training and includes a fully functioning sawmill with dry kilns,” noted Barford. “The government of Quebec is an important partner, but many of our members donate both money and time to insure its success. Special thanks to lead instructor Mario Welsh and NHLA Canadian Supervisor Simon Larocque for their cooperative efforts to make the school an ongoing success.”
‘Strike A Cord’ was the theme of the 2014 Wood Flooring Expo, held April 16-19, at Music City Center in downtown Nashville. This year’s show offered in-depth education, a tradeshow floor packed with a record-setting 3,000+ registrants, and plenty of opportunities to experience the Nashville scene.
NHLA received a special invitation to attend this year’s graduation ceremony as 2014 marked twenty years of direct NHLA involvement and certification of the Duchesnay Inspector Training program. “We thank the school and the Canadian industry for including us in this special day and training new future inspectors and leaders for the hardwood industry,” concluded Barford.
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The NHLA booth was part of the Industry Partners Pavilion and offered a direct line of site to the Exhibitor Demo Theatre, which featured the Hardwood Forest Foundation’s Truth About Trees program on day one of the show.
(Below) Duchesnay École de Foresterie et de Technologie du Bois
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INSIDE NHLA
Active Member with Annual Sales Over $40 Million ■ Tides and Times Group USA, Inc, | Charlotte, NC Active Member with Annual Sales less than $5M ■ Campbell Lumber Co. | North Garden, VA ■ Mirabel Wood Ltd | Boucherville, Quebec, Canada ■ Scierie G.V. L., Inc. | Wotton, Quebec, Canada ■ Swift River Pecans LLC | Martindale, TX ■ Tradewinds International | Conover, NC ■ Virmurco Inc. | Seville, OH
Partner Member ■ Greatree Forest Products | Guangzhou, China
Sustaining Member ■ Bio Mass Engineering | Indianapolis, IN ■ FSI Technologies | Summerfield, NC ■ Michigan Works Northeast Consortium | Onaway, MI ■ Veneer Services, LLC | Indianapolis, IN
Associate Member ■ Anthony Oak Flooring, Inc. | Bearden, AR ■ East Texas Oakwoods | Tyler, TX ■ Heritage Home Group, LLC | St. Louis, MO
Inspector Member ■ Brian Hoschek | Cary, North CA ■ Kyle Welliver | Los Angeles, CA
Quarter Ending March 2014
®
If you know a company that could benefit from membership in NHLA please contact John Hester, Director of Membership at 901-399-7558 or j.hester@nhla.com.
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MEMORIAL
IN MEMORIUM: HAROLD L. WHITE Hardwood industry icon, Harold Lee White, age 85, of Morehead, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at his home. Born June 22, 1928, on Holly Fork in Rowan County, he was a son of the late Ray Lee and Ethel Mae Hall White. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Rebecca White Carter and Ruth Smith; two brothers, Eugene Fortune White and R. Victor White; one granddaughter, Dixie Ann White; and two great granddaughters, Bonnie Suzanne and Sophia Elizabeth Keating. Harold is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Leslie White, whom he wed September 1, 1950; five children: Richard Lee (Valerie) White, Michael Todd (Doris) White, Janet White (Larry) Dacci, Ray Delmar (Marisa) White, and H. Lee II (Tonya) White, all of Morehead; 14 grandchildren: Jason, Betsy, Suzanna Morgan, Emily, Taylor, Andrew, Larry Jr., Stella, Laura, Maria, Ray Jr., Sawyer, Spencer, and Slade; and four great grandchildren: Walker, Jaxon, Jed, and Braxton. Other survivors include his sister, Aileen Moore of Vanceburg; two special longtime coworkers and friends, Milton Hamilton and John “Bull” Bowling; numerous nieces and nephews; extended family; and friends. A graduate of Rowan County High School, Harold attended Morehead State University and graduated from the NHLA Inspector Training School in Memphis in 1954. He was a member of First Baptist Church for 58 years where he also served as deacon and Sunday school teacher. In addition to founding Harold White Lumber Company and operating lumber companies for more than half a century, he was actively involved in community and professional organizations. He was a founding member of the KY Forestry Industry Association, served on the board of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, was a former board member of Clark County Bank, a KY charter member of the World Trade Center for Economic Development, and a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner. His success in business endeavors, as well as his service to others, has been recognized by various organizations. He was selected as the U.S. Small Business Exporter of the Year in the 1980’s, the White Conference Room in the Combs Building at MSU was named in his honor by the College of Business, and the U.S. Senate paid tribute to him in the Congressional Record, May 26, 1993, for his work ethic and service to others. Mr. White proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Despite these achievements, his greatest legacy is his children and grandchildren and the compassion and generosity he showed to all living creatures. Funeral services were held on May 10 at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals Memorial Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to STAR (Saving the Animals of Rowan), P. O. Box 454, Morehead, KY 40351 or Morehead First Baptist Church, 123 E. Main, Morehead, KY 40351.
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LOG SHORTAGES MAY BE IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER ERIC JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE EDITOR THE NORTHERN LOGGER & TIMBER PROCESSOR MAGAZINE 16
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Running out of logs and loggers to produce them is a fear often expressed by North American sawmillers, especially as lumber markets continue to recover and demand for quality sawtimber increases. No mill owner or manager wants to be caught in a situation where they can’t produce and ship lumber for lack of logs. Log procurement people worry that the number of loggers currently in business isn’t enough to simultaneously supply both the lumber industry and competing markets, such as pulpwood and biomass, which are also booming. Your level of concern around this issue probably has a lot to do with where you operate and buy logs. If you’re procuring wood in an area, such as Pennsylvania, with a high-quality hardwood resource and a history of manual logging, you may be more secure than a mill in a state like Maine, where mechanization is much more prevalent. The high costs involved in buying, operating and maintaining mechanized equipment makes it more difficult for new and lapsed loggers to enter or re-enter the business. Plus, mechanized equipment tends to be used in high-volume applications like the production of biomass or pulpwood, rather than grade sawlogs. Heavily mechanized loggers need to focus on production, which means they may lose interest in selecting, sorting and preparing grade logs, especially when good markets for pulp and biomass will buy all that they can produce. And if they’re operating in an area where high-grading has been widely practiced, there may not be a high enough percentage of grade logs left to make it worth trying to find and produce them in the first place. Areas where loggers continue to produce logs with chain saws and cable skidders are usually stocked with good sawtimber. That’s because you don’t need a big investment in equipment to make a good living in valuable timber. As a result, many operators have paid off their machinery and can afford to let it sit idle during down markets while they pursue other ways to make a living. When prices and demand pick back up, however, they are in a position to begin producing and selling logs again. The market incentive is enough. Mechanized operators, by contrast, can’t usually park their equipment for very long under any circumstances. They are compelled by the economic reality, known as monthly equipment payments, to keep their equipment productive at all possible times. They can’t enter and leave the industry as easily as their manual logging peers. They need to find a market and production environment suited to their capabilities, and that usually means biomass or pulpwood – or perhaps some ancillary activity like landclearing or right-of-way preparation. (Left) A cable skidder is perfectly capable of hardwood sawlog production – with much lower overhead and expense than a mechanized operation with a grapple skidder or forwarder.
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But of course, the fear of log shortages is not all about equipment. One major concern is that the logging workforce is steadily getting older, with far too few young people entering the logging industry to sustain it in the coming decades. This, in my view, is an impression based more on what people believe than what they observe. If you believe that today’s young people are motivated by money but unmotivated to do hard work, then you would logically assume that few would gravitate towards logging. If you realize that most loggers’ return on their investments are below what most financial analysts would consider acceptable, then you probably believe that few young people would be interested in embarking on a career that promises modest financial rewards. But, you’d be wrong, in my opinion. In fact, nearly every logging job that I visit – and I’m on logging jobs all the time – involves at least one young person working there who is hoping to take over the business at some point. These tend to be family members, since logging is, and always has been, basically a family-oriented and -operated business. Their primary interest isn’t money. And it isn’t fear of hard work. They grew up in logging families, and they like the lifestyle. It’s not your typical job, and that obviously has some appeal to a certain segment of today’s youthful, rural workforce. It is true that the number of loggers operating in the woods today is far lower than it was just a decade or two ago. It’s way below what it was before the last recession. But, the reality is that you don’t need big crews anymore to produce a lot of wood. And since modern logging has become mostly a production game, trading silicon, iron and rubber for human labor works out nicely. We simply don’t require the number of people we once did to produce the wood we need. So, the main growth in the logging industry has been on the mechanized side and this, as we’ve seen, tends to hurt grade sawlog production. Does this trend help sawlog customers in any way? Mechanized loggers aren’t stupid, and they like to produce the most valuable product they can. And oftentimes, that involves high-grade timber. There’s no law saying you can’t harvest sawlogs with a Timbco or rubber-tired harvester paired up with a forwarder or grapple skidder. And enterprising loggers will cut high-grade timber any time they can profitably do so. But here’s the catch: Our industry has changed fundamentally in recent decades, including the way timber is bought and sold. Now, instead of loggers buying most of their timber on their own from landowners, more likely the local sawmill is the one buying the stumpage. Loggers don’t like to compete with sawmills on bid sales because they usually lose. Increasingly, the only option for loggers who want to cut grade sawlogs, is to cut them for a mill that owns the stumpage and pays the logger for the volume produced. Suddenly, instead of being an entrepreneur, the logger is simply a production worker— one who has to supply his own equipment, insurance, etc. Where is the logger’s incentive to cut grade sawlogs, if he doesn’t control how they are bought and sold? When it becomes more profitable to become a pulpwood or biomass volume producer than it does to cut somebody else’s sawlogs, sawlog production is going to decline. (Top) Running out of logs is something all sawmills fear. (Bottom) This beautiful ash was obviously bucked to length on the landing with a slasher, but is certainly too big to have been felled in the woods with a machine. Photo credit: Eric Johnson
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Most observers would agree that modern sawmills have little alternative but to secure their own supply of raw material, given how large the typical sawmill’s appetite for logs has become. Any mill needs a guaranteed supply of logs to survive. Or, as one Massachusetts sawmiller recently explained to me, “The only way I can keep that wood from going to Canada is to buy it myself.” Nobody is really blaming sawmills for acting in their own best interest, but it pays to recognize and acknowledge the consequences of this important change in the way our industry operates. Another consideration loggers have is the supply of raw material. I recently spoke to a New York State logging contractor who has decided to focus exclusively on chipping biomass, “because I wanted to work closer to home.” He explained that he has good markets and a plentiful supply of low-grade wood to cut within a small radius of his home base on the Tug Hill Plateau. He said that to find good sawtimber, he had to drive a lot farther, and spend more nights away from home. Put another way, without a strong biomass market, he would be driving farther and spending more time away from home to produce sawlogs. But now he doesn’t have to. Finally, price is a critical factor. There is no shortage of logs if you’re willing to pay enough for them. If your job is to buy sawlogs at the lowest price possible, you would naturally like to see a glut of logging capacity, since the competition between loggers would bring prices down. Loggers would rather be burdened with producing more wood than competing with other loggers for the same stumpage and markets. In short, your perception of whether there is enough production capacity to meet demand, is going to depend to a large extent upon which side of the procurement equation you call home. All this being said, if you believe in free markets, then you have to believe that the law of supply and demand will, over time, balance out the log supply equation. Despite the rise of mechanization – and in some very real ways, because of it – the logging industry remains a very diverse and flexible production system, fully capable of responding to market demands. The question then becomes, “What can you do to attract the right loggers, in sufficient numbers, to cut the logs you need to run your mill?” That’s an individual decision, but I believe it’s going to be the critical element in sawlog procurement, moving forward. Eric Johnson has been the editor of The Northern Logger since 1982. His background is in logging and journalism. Upon his retirement, in four years, Eric plans to return to Central Wisconsin to run the family tree farm. (Top) This is a typical, tracked feller buncher on a biomass operation in northern New York State. (Bottom) Hardwood sawlogs are still produced manually in many parts of the country. Photo credit: Eric Johnson
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MEMBER TO MEMBER
WORKERS COMPENSATION BEST PRACTICES By Randy Hervey, Vice President – Underwriting, Bituminous Insurance Companies
Business success depends on meeting customer expectations. Prices should be fair, hours should be reasonable and employees should be helpful. The list of standard, expected service is changing. The next generation of buyers does everything online, from paying taxes to ordering pizza. They are going to expect the same open access in business-to-business interactions. Dealers must have effective online resources to be relevant to these buyers. One of the easiest ways to reduce the cost of your Workers Compensation (WC) premium is to improve the quality of your hiring procedures. Why would any employer want to hire their next Worker’s Compensation claim? Yet, we witness this situation almost every day in our claims handling process. Hiring the first person who walks through the door without a formal qualification program normally results in nothing but future discipline and injury problems.
There are many federal, state and local laws/regulations governing employment practices including hiring. Therefore, it is important that your hiring procedures be reviewed by an attorney who is well versed to ensure compliance. Good Hiring Practices include: • Completion of a written job application to enable verification of the statements made by the applicant that later may provide impeachment capability if any of the statements are proven to be false; • Background reference checks are needed both from acquaintances and former employers to establish character and work ethic; • A criminal records check should always be conducted; • Have a job description that defines the job requirements including any physical skills or abilities needed to perform the job; • Conduct a drug test and provide a notice that as a requirement of the job the potential for future random testing is possible; • Obtain a copy of the applicant’s current motor vehicle record for review. In some states, a government website is available to search for any prior WC claims an applicant may have filed. Since drug and alcohol abuse is rampant in today’s society and contributes to many workplace injuries, random drug testing is an extremely important part of any employment program. At Bituminous we find that conservatively 20 to 25 percent of all WC claims can be completely eliminated though the use of proper hiring practices in screening out undesirable job candidates. Attempting to hire good quality employees is always a challenge but the use of a formal program to assist in the selection process and eliminate unqualified individuals can only result in improved WC loss ratios and a reduction in WC premium. Remember, why would you want to hire your next WC claim? Randy Hervey, Vice President – Underwriting, Bituminous Insurance Companies Bituminous is BB&T’S-NFPP’s partnering insurance provider for the NHLA Member Workers Compensation Dividend Program. Randy Hervey is VP of Underwriting and Manager of the Bituminous Forest Products Program based in Rock Island, Illinois.
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LEGISLATIVE LOG
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS TO BRING SWIFT POLITICAL CHANGE Dana Lee Cole, Executive Director, Hardwood Federation Although Washington D.C. has the reputation of moving slow and incremental change, there are times when major shifts happen quickly and have significant impact. The November elections could prove to be the catalyst for swift changes as the 114th Congress is seated in January of 2015. While political pundits generally agree that the House of Representatives will remain under the control of the Republicans in 2015, the Senate is definitely still up in the air. Although it is an uphill battle according to many, there is a chance that Republicans could win a slim majority in the Senate, bringing new leadership to priority committees for the Federation. In fact, change is already happening. There have been several changes at the leadership level of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that could resonate with the goals and objectives of the Hardwood Federation during the balance of 2014. On February 6, the Senate approved longtime Senator Max Baucus of Montana to be the U.S. Ambassador to China; a position that became available late in 2013. Mr. Baucus served as the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, a powerful position that he held for many years. He was known for his willingness to work in a bipartisan manner and was well respected by his colleagues. A vacancy on the Finance Committee may not seem like it would have a direct impact on the hardwood industry, but the Senate leadership tapped Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon to take Mr. Baucus’s place as Chairman of the Finance Committee. Senator Wyden was a strong ally to the Hardwood Federation in his role as the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, and although he will continue to be a member of the ENR Committee, his time as Chair has come to an end. Moving into the Chair of the ENR Committee is Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. While Ms. Landrieu has also supported the Hardwood Industry in the past, she faces a tough re-election campaign and we anticipate her focus, at least in the short term, will be on oil and gas issues, important industries in Louisiana to both business and the public.
These changes are only a taste of what we may see after the November elections. We already know that there will be plenty of new faces. As of the end of April, 24 members of the House will retire, including some long-time friends of the Federation, including Howard Coble (R-NC), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Tom Petri (R-WI), and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA). Seven Senators have also chosen to retire or move on to other duties. More announcements are anticipated over the next several months. New Members of Congress will mean new committee leaders and committee members. Doc Hastings’ departure will leave a big void on the House Natural Resources Committee. The Chairman of this Committee is an important position that can influence policies that impact us the most. Who will replace him? What do they know about the hardwood industry? How soon can we meet with them? Who is the key player on the staff focused on our issues? How can we be heard? And how many other industry groups will be asking the same questions and making the same plans to get to the new members as soon as possible? The competition will be fierce. The point is that there are a lot of voices out there calling for attention. The Hardwood Federation is privileged to have many dedicated members of our industry who lend their voice and are actively engaged in communicating with those who represent us in Washington, D.C. about the issues that impact us most. But the more voices we have, the louder our message will be. The Hardwood Federation staff is already planning how we will reach out to new members of Congress… and new congressional leaders. As we look forward to the elections of 2014, consider how you and your company can be involved, whether it is writing letters, meeting with candidates and telling your story or contributing financially, every action makes a difference. If you would like to get more involved, please don’t hesitate to contact Dana Lee Cole, Executive Director of the Hardwood Federation – 202 -637-2075.
However, the Hardwood Federation is taking steps to remind Senator Landrieu of the importance of the hardwood industry to her state. We will also continue to work with Senator Wyden and the Committee staff, particularly on issues related to the national forest system. W W W. N H L A .CO M
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FOUNDATION FOCUS
FOUNDATION AND MEMPHIS LUMBERMEN CELEBRATE EARTH DAY IN A BIG WAY By Crystal Oldham, Executive Director, Hardwood Forest Foundation The Hardwood Forest Foundation and Lumbermen’s Club of Memphis continued its tradition of partnering with Memphisarea Morgreen Nursery for Earth Day Celebrations throughout the Mid-South. The celebrations, which spanned over a two day period, reached nearly 750 young people, including patients of LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. “The longstanding tradition of presenting the Foundation’s Truth About Trees program and planting trees in our area is the highlight of the Club’s calendar…I don’t think anyone truly knows the exact number of trees we’ve planted across the MidSouth, as there have been so many,” said Jim Duke, Lumbermen’s Club of Memphis President. “Although the City of Memphis was once the ‘hardwood capital of the world,’ misconceptions about the forest products industry are still abundant. By working together, we can utilize the Foundation’s curriculum the best way possible… through the experience and stories told by lumbermen who work in the field every day. There are no better people to tell our story than ourselves. In addition to sharing firsthand knowledge, the best way to show children we are good stewards of the forest is to plant a tree with them,” Duke said.
With visits to two elementary schools, two high schools, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital and Girls, Inc. (an afterschool program designed for at-risk girls), the Foundation’s message was certainly heard throughout the Mid-South. “Partnerships are at the forefront of the Foundation’s mission in teaching young people the benefits of properly harvesting. There’s no doubt about it, we have to work together as an industry to protect our reputation in regards to harvesting. For far too long, children have been taught that we are the ‘bad guys,’ while there is no focus on the benefits of selective cutting and a basic understanding of carbon sequestration. Most adults can’t even tell you what either means, so it is important that we work together in ensuring these concepts are a part of school curriculum across North America,” said Crystal Oldham, Foundation Executive Director. “Imagine the impact the Foundation’s message would have if every major city in North America celebrated Earth Day the way the folks in Memphis did,” Oldham added. To learn more about Lumbermen’s Club of Memphis, visit www.lumbermensclub.com To learn more about Truth About Trees or the Foundation, visit www.hardwoodforest.org.
(Top Left) These Houston High School (located in Germantown, TN) students stayed after school to learn the benefits of harvesting and explore career opportunities in the forest products industry. (Bottom Left) The young women of Girl’s Inc. of Memphis spent their afternoon planting this beautiful tree and learning the benefits of properly harvesting. (Center) Although none of the young patients of Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis were able to attend the actual tree planting on the facility’s campus, the Foundation and Club members visited them room by room and distributed tree educational materials such as coloring books, crayons and videos. (Right) The young men of Collierville High School in Collierville, TN were eager to replace a storm damaged tree at the school’s entrance. Morgreen Nursery of Collierville, TN donated all of the trees and manpower for the plantings.
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INSURANCE CORNER
UNDERSTANDING THE ‘INS AND OUTS’ OF MOBILE EQUIPMENT COVERAGE By Kevin Mershimer – Regional Manager, Lumbermen’s Underwriting Alliance What is Mobile Equipment?
Why can’t I get replacement cost on my mobile equipment?
We often refer to this type of property as ‘rolling stock’, portable equipment, contractor’s equipment or mobile equipment. The definition of ‘Mobile Equipment’ found in commercial property policies are similar but it is important to review the definition in your property policy to determine what is included and what is excluded under ‘Mobile Equipment’. A typical definition would include language such as portable equipment or land vehicle that is first, not subject to motor vehicle registration. Second, it is primarily designed for use off of public roads and third, designed or maintained for the sole purpose of affording mobility to equipment. As with most insurance policies, pay particular attention to language regarding exclusions, or in this case, what is not covered as ‘Mobile Equipment’. Some of the standard items under property that are not covered under ‘Mobile Equipment’ are: Self propelled vehicles subject to motor vehicle registration with permanently attached equipment designed for snow removal, road maintenance, cherry pickers and street cleaning. Also not covered are vehicles designed for highway use, watercraft, aircraft, motorcycles, snowmobiles or property that is permanently installed to a building.
There are policies that provide Replacement Cost on mobile equipment. However, keep in mind that Replacement Cost does not mean ‘new for old’. If you lose a four-year-old loader and a four-year-old loader is readily available, that would fit the definition of Replacement Cost. Mobile equipment coverage typically carries a higher rate, so make sure to review the values annually and keep the schedule updated based on the coverage valuation included in your property policy.
The mobile equipment form works to define itself in a way that avoids any ‘automobiles’ or permanently installed equipment. There are more appropriately defined coverage forms for those exposures.
Does my bucket truck qualify as Mobile Equipment?
So where do you start? Separate your automobiles and mobile equipment and prepare a detailed schedule of the mobile equipment that includes: make, model number, serial number and ‘value’. Why does it need to be scheduled and what does that mean? Mobile equipment coverage is a lot like a personal auto policy where each car/ truck to be insured must be reported to the agent with the model and serial number. Scheduled coverage just means that a specific amount of insurance is placed on a specific item. If there is a total loss, this is the most you will receive. It does not mean that is what you will receive, just like a personal auto policy, mobile equipment is typically valued at Actual Cash Value at the time of the loss. Actual Cash Value takes depreciation into consideration. If mobile equipment is valued at Actual Cash Value, you should review the values at each renewal to account for depreciation. Visiting with your local equipment dealer is the best method to help determine the value of the equipment.
Next, review if the equipment will remain on the premises or venture off premises. Many carriers have a specific exclusion in the policy for equipment in the woods. This is a unique risk and not many carriers cover this exposure. Policies may differ on coverage availability for on and off premises as well as separate deductibles for on and off premises. Why? There are typically more safety controls and maintenance procedures utilized for ‘on premises’ equipment. Review this closely with your agent.
Normally, a bucket truck does not qualify. Most inland marine policies cover equipment that is not registered for on road use. This can include yard mules, loaders, skidders, fork trucks, certain cranes, man lifts, scissor lifts, bobcats and golf carts. If uncertain, ask your agent whether it is covered under a business, auto or inland marine floater. Do I have to buy an Inland Marine policy for my lifts and loaders? Not necessarily, if the mobile equipment does not leave the premises, then it is usually covered under the business personal property (depending on the policy). Understand that it would then have the same deductible as the property policy, ACV coverage and limited coverage territory. How can I protect my Mobile Equipment? Preventing theft, vandalism, unauthorized use, fires and injury to youths is the goal: 1. Shut down the propane when you are finished with the shift. 2. Provide batter disconnects to shut down the power at the end of the shift. 3. Provide locks for fuel caps and engine departments if the equipment is stored outdoors. 4. Place all keys in a secure area and not left in the units. 5. Fixed fire extinguishing media is available for larger expensive equipment.
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INSURANCE CORNER
Continued from page 23 6. Space the vehicles apart. This way, if one unit burns at night, you won’t lose all of them. 7.
Clean units daily (depending on use). Oil and debris can gather in the belly of the unit.
8. Inspect the vehicles daily for oil build up, electrical wire harness wearing, and fuel hose damage. 9. Use deer cameras if the equipment is stored outdoors. 10. Provide video recording signage to deter vandals. 11. Provide plenty of lighting if the units are stored outside the buildings. a. Use brush or park in valleys to obscure the ME in the woods. 12. Mark your name on units in a hidden location. 13. Ensure all units are equipped with a mounted/charged fire extinguisher. 14. Ensure all vehicle ‘add-ons’ (radios, CB’s, etc.) are installed using fuses and preferably by a vendor. 15. Wrap all fuel and oil lines with Kevlar hose wrap to prevent atomization of fuel or oil when ruptured. While this is a brief overview of the topic, we recommend having detailed conversations with your agent in regards to newly acquired units, leased and rented equipment, deductibles, and how the policy will respond to your operation.
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Working For Your Team!
Shown from left to right: David A. Jacobs, President, Reinier Taapken, President of The Salamanca Lumber Co., Inc., Harry E. Jacobs, The Coach, BSME, BAC, CLU, CHFC, N. Clifford Nelson, Director of Investments
TJT client success stories all begin with the goal of helping business owners and their team leaders
make appropriate choices through sensible and carefully developed strategies. The combination of strategic long-term planning along with the agility to react tactically to changing market conditions and immediate opportunities are a few things that makes TJT stand out from the crowd.
“As a family owned and operated business, we put continuity and legacy at the heart of any business decision. In this regard, TJT has proven to be a perfect fit by providing sound advice and implementation of those policies necessary to allow the family’s next generation to enter into the business with maximum opportunity and resources. I am pleased to endorse TJT, who through their personal approach and clear vision has become a valuable and much appreciated partner of our company and family.” Reinier Taapken, President of The Salamanca Lumber Co., Inc.
- Reinier Taapken, President
Business Succession Planning • Financial Planning 4001 Legion Drive • Hamburg, NY 14075 Call Toll Free: 866-287-5919 or (716) 649-4460
E-mail: djacobs@tjt4001.com • www.tjtconsulting4001.com
Confidence • Commitment • Results W W W. N H L A .CO M
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CALENDAR
WH ERE IN THE WOR LD IS N H LA?
EDUCATION & TRAIN I NG
American Hardwood Export Council 19th Southeast Asia & Greater China Convention
4-Day Lumber Grading Short Course
Tianjin, China | June 25–26 Participating: Mark Barford, CAE, Executive Director Dana Spessert, NHLA Chief Inspector
Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers 2014 Summer Conference
Hot Springs, VA | July 26–29 Participating: Mark Barford, CAE, Executive Director John Hester, Director of Membership
IWF 2014
Randolph, NY | June 23–26 | Raber’s Mill Instructor: Thomas Byers, NHLA National Inspector Contact: Becky Miller | 901-399-7569 | b.miller@nhla.com
4-Day Lumber Grading Short Course
Sandy Lake, PA | July 21–24 McKeever Environmental Learning Center Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector Contact: 724-376-1000 | info@mckeever.org
3-Day Lumber Grading Short Course
Atlanta, GA | August 20–23 Participating: John Hester, Director of Membership
Sherwood, OR | August 5–7 | Hardwood Industries Instructor: Jack English, NHLA National Inspector Contact: Becky Miller | 901-399-7569 | b.miller@nhla.com
Hardwood Federation 2014 Fall Fly-in
Flex-Day Lumber Grading Short Course
Washington, DC | September 8–10 Participating: Mark Barford, CAE, Executive Director
2014 NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase Las Vegas, NV | October 8–10 Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa
Memphis, TN | August 18–22 | NHLA Headquarters Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor Contact: Becky Miller | 901-399-7569 | b.miller@nhla.com
Basic Hardwood Lumber Drying Short Course
Memphis, TN | August 25–27 | NHLA Headquarters Instructor: Dr. Adam Taylor, University of Tennessee – Knoxville Contact: Becky Miller | 901-399-7569 | b.miller@nhla.com
4-Day Lumber Grading Short Course
Millersburg, OH | August 25–28 | Yoder Lumber Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector Contact: Gayla Fleming | 614-497-9580
175th Class NHLA Inspector Training School
Memphis, TN | September 3 – November 21 | NHLA Headquarters Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor Contact: Becky Miller | 901-399-7569 | b.miller@nhla.com
4/5 Day Lumber Grading Short Course
Elkins, WV | September 8–12 West Virginia Wood Tech Center Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector Contact: Matt Wyatt | 304-637-7500 | matt@wvwoodtech.com
Flex-Day Lumber Grading Short Course
Indianapolis, IN | November 3–7 Wood Mizer Products, Inc. Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector Contact: Denice Helmbrecht | 317-875-3660 Visit www.nhla.com/calendar for more updates.
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JOB BOARD Lumber Inspector
Lumber Inspector
Gutchess Hardwoods offers competitive pay and a superior benefits package. If you share our vision of excellence, then we invite you to join our winning team!
Sitco Lumber Company has an immediate opening for an experienced lumber inspector, contract labor to hire. Salary is negotiable and candidates with more than three years of experience are preferred. Send resumes to t.jackson@sitco.com or p.shatzer@sitco.com.
Gutchess Hardwoods has an opening for a hardwood lumber inspector to inspect incoming and outgoing lumber according to NHLA Rules at the assigned grading deck and to saw list requirements. The position will visually inspects lumber according to species, grade, and dimension and uses NHLA lumber grading Rules to inspect lumber. Candidates must possess High School diploma or higher and experience providing skills suitable for this position, with NHLA grading Rules training. Competitive pay plus employee stock ownership; life, health & dental insurance; profit sharing; and 401K deposit matching. To apply email resume to: jlortiz@gutchess.com Gutchess Hardwoods 185 Devereux Road | Latrobe, PA 15650 724-537-6447 | 607-428-8097 (fax) www.gutchess.com Sawyer Gutchess Lumber is seeking a sawyer to saws logs for maximum value recovery by following daily cutting orders and achieving proper levels of yield. The position is accountable for proper operation of the carriage, feed works and log turner; checks lumber thickness at saw; conduct a daily physical inspection of all equipment Two or more years of experience is required. Salary is competitive and perks include: employee stock ownership; life, health & dental insurance; profit sharing; and 401K deposit matching. To apply send resume to:jlortiz@gutchess.com Gutchess Lumber 10699 Maple Grove Road | Freedom, NY 14065 607-428-8097 (fax) www.gutchess.com
Mill Personnel The Appalachian Hardwood Lumber Company, a leader in hardwood lumber distribution in Bedford Heights, OH, is seeking motivated, experienced mill personnel. Due to increased sales growth in our Molding & S4S operation and increased national demand for these products, we are searching for people with a passion for the hardwood lumber business. Primary responsibilities will include running, supervising and maintaining our manufacturing equipment, which includes planers, rip-saws, scanners and molders. Candidates should be knowledgeable in both woodworking equipment and hardwood lumber species and grade rules. The Appalachian Hardwood Lumber Company offers a competitive wage or salary, family medical & prescription drug plans, profit sharing and paid vacation & holidays. Submit your resume to: The Appalachian Hardwood Lumber Company. 5433 Perkins Road, Bedford Heights, OH 44146. Attention: Steve Kaufman Fax or email to: Steve Kaufman at 440-232-6795 or skaufman@appalachianlumber.com The Appalachian Hardwood Lumber Co. 5433 Perkins Road | Bedford Heights, OH 44146 440-343-6767 | 440-232-6795 (fax) Lumber Inspector
Kiln Operator Little River Dry Kilns located in Cadiz, Kentucky is seeking a kiln operator with a proven ability to manage and run all kiln related responsibilities. Salary is dependent upon experience. To apply contact Michael New at 270-522-5959; by email at michaelnew@midwesthardwood.com or send resume by fax to 270-522-5441. Little River Dry Kilns 141 Cerulean Rd. | Cadiz, KY 42211
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Sitco Lumber Company 2050 Kestrel Ave. | Deoto, TX 75103 972-225-4283 | 972-228-5987 (fax)
Hartzell Hardwoods in Kirksville, Missouri is seeking a lumber inspector with a minimum of 2 year’s experience in grading walnut lumber along with other hardwoods species. NHLA schooling is preferred but not mandatory. Familiarity with lumber grading rule, calculator, tally book, pencil, lumber crayon stick, grade console, and board turner is a plus. Hartzell offers a competitive salary & competitive benefits package (Health Insurance, 401K, etc.), relocation expenses covered. Apply online at www.hartzell.com or at https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=9239931 Hartzell Hardwoods 3310 N. Industrial Rd. | Kirksville, MO 62501 937-733-6295 ext: 3210 | www.hartzell.com
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JOB BOARD Lumber Product Procurement Representative
Lumber Inspector
Hartzell Hardwoods is seeking a product procurement representative to direct and coordinate activities of the procurement team including two employees working off site. Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of management experience ideally in procurement, sales or purchasing department and a Bachelor’s degree in business related field.
JT Shannon Lumber Company, a dynamic player in the hardwood lumber and flooring industry, is seeking a Lumber Inspector for its facility in Horn Lake, MS.
Hartzell offers a competitive salary & competitive benefits package (Health Insurance, 401K, etc.). Apply online at www.hartzell.com or at https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=9240031 Hartzell Hardwoods 1025 S. Roosevelt Ave. | Piqua, OH 45356 937-733-6295 ext: 3210 | www.hartzell.com Lumber Sales Representative
This position requires a certificate from the NHLA Inspector Training, grading experience, basic arithmetic, and ability to read & understand work orders, ability to write production records. Three to five years of experience is preferred. Competitive Salary & Competitive Benefits Package available To apply email: scollie@jtshannon.com or send resume via fax to: 662-280-6096
Hartzell Hardwoods is seeking a sales representative. The focus of this position is to maintain and grow the existing customer base as well as develop new markets worldwide for hardwood lumber sales. This role will also coordinate sales information between the sales office and lumberyard.
JT Shannon Lumber Company 2200 Cole Road | Horn Lake, MS 38637 800-473-3765 | 662-280-6096 (fax) www.jtshannon.com
A Bachelor’s degree in management, marketing, business or related field is required; along with 2 to 5 years of sales experience. Experience in the hardwood lumber industry is a plus.
Lumber Inspector
Hartzell offers a competitive salary & competitive benefits package (Health Insurance, 401K, etc.). Apply online at www.hartzell.com or at https://home.eease.adp.com/recruit/?id=8529011 Hartzell Hardwoods 1025 S. Roosevelt Ave. | Piqua, OH 45356 937-733-6295 ext: 3210 | www.hartzell.com
Porosky Lumber Co. Inc. is seeking a full time motivated green hardwood lumber grader. The inspector will grade on a green chain grading using a hand held computer. Majority of species graded include Hard Maple, Cherry, Soft Maple. Experience preferred but will gladly fine tune a NHLA Inspector Training School graduate or equivalent. 401K, health insurance, paid holidays and vacation are included. Porosky Lumber is located in the very northeastern corner of Pennsylvania near the Delaware River where there is fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, etc.
Lumber Inspector
Send resume via mail, email or fax.
Granite Valley Forest Products located in New London, Wisconsin is seeking a lumber inspector for its state of the art operation with indoor grading. The lumber inspector will grade on green lines or dry lines. Two or more years grading green or dry is required.
Porosky Lumber Co. Inc. 1903 Crosstown Highway | Preston Park, PA 18455 570-798-2326 | 570-798-2040 (fax) www.poroskylumber.com
Salary is commensurate with experience. To apply send resume to: mchristopher@granitevalley .com or call 920-982-2542. Granite Valley Forest Products 500 Cty Hwy S | New London, WI 54961 920-982-2542 | 920-982-6726 (fax) www.granitevalley.com
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The position will inspect incoming and outgoing lumber according to NHLA Rules at the assigned grading deck. Reports to Operations Supervisor and receives written and/or verbal orders/specifications. It is the Lumber Inspector/Trainee’s responsibility to maintain the highest standards of grading when receiving or shipping lumber.
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To view current job postings or to post a job, visit www.nhla.com/jobboard.
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but you can thrive with this! Cut with Bandsaw with .082” Kerf Total # of boards: 19 Total Board Feet: 158.25 % Overrun of Doyle Scale: 35%
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