Page 30 - Georgia Forestry - Winter 2019

Nunez Pine Straw, Inc,
a family owned and operated company with over 35 years of experience, is looking to lease Long Leaf pine straw properties to harvest pine straw.
We are paying top dollar.
Registered and Fully insured.
Please contact us at
912-367-7040 or email office@nunezpinestraw.com
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SOYOUCAN PLANT MORE OF THESE
Receive revenue to defray site preparation and/or clearing costs
Reduce fuel loading and smoking during prescribed burns
Promote natural reforestation Open up overgrown areas
Jim McGurn, Forestry Procurement Team Manager, Eastern Region 912.281.5100 jmmcgurn@pinovasolutions.com pinovasolutions.com/sell- your-pine-stumps
r the Benefits of a Second Harvest of your LONGLEAF
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outh’s Land Sales Leader
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takes to get underwriters engaged. “They are not going to approve everybody that comes through the door,” Copeland said. “But ideally, we all want to survive. I’m talking to loggers now, if you think you have somebody who would fit the program, let me know. My position is that just because somebody hasn’t hauled wood doesn’t mean they can’t.
They just never have.”
The success of the first class in 2019
is going to be crucial for the program. “If you get an initial cohort going through the log truck driver training and you are seeing good results from those drivers, that they’re not getting in accidents at a different rate than others with years of experience, and showing this training worked, that will lead to more insurance compa- nies buying in and break the log jam,”
Conrad said.
But insuring drivers is only part
of the problem facing the industry. Henderson said the newer trucks for hauling are not as reliable and the technology behind the in-cab systems requires tools not owned by local shade-tree mechanics. Hender- son said Augusta, 52 miles away, has the closest operation to handle main- tenance. There is also the matter of cost for the rigs, approximately $175,000 to $185,000, he said.
An even bigger problem for drivers is finding benefits.
“I have asked the bigger companies about buying into benefits and they just laugh at me,” Henderson said.
If the wood economy is going to have sustaining momentum, there have to be qualified people looking out through the windshield of the log truck dodging the potholes and staying out of the ditches. The drivers have to be well insured and have rea- sonable benefits.
It’s a challenge, but the good news is that many hands are on the wheel driving toward a solution.
RAY GLIER IS A JOURNALIST WITH 42 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TELLING STORIES IN SPORTS AND BUSINESS. HE HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS CAREER IN THE ATLANTA AREA WORKING FOR USA TODAY, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE BOSTON GLOBE, THE WASHINGTON POST, THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, YOUTH TODAY AND MANY OTHERS.
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28 | GEORGIA FORESTRY
GEORGIA FORESTRY
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