American Loggers Council 2022 Logger Survey

American Loggers and Truckers,

This will be the fourth year in a row that the American Loggers Council will conduct the annual survey so that we can monitor trends in the industry. For most of us, completing a survey about our businesses or livelihoods is no big deal, unless it competes with the time needed to run parts, attend business meetings, repair equipment, attend little league ball games, or get a little extra rest. To be certain, we often find ourselves distracted from participating in a survey simply because life is short, and there are a lot of other things needing to be accomplished on our to-do list.

For that reason, surveys are usually generated to as wide and broad a group as possible, and sometimes the end results can be a little confusing. That is why the American Loggers Council has targeted this survey to those that are directly engaged in the timber harvesting and hauling industry.

We worked with many of our Associate Members to develop the questions to establish direct input that will frame the current state of the timber industry. This will assist them in developing a better understanding of the needs, trends, challenges, and threats to the timber industry. This has been a collaborative effort by many of the participants, and their feedback has helped form a survey that can be replicated every year so that a baseline and metrics can be established to gauge better the trends and nuances in the timber harvesting profession. The information you provide will contribute to a better analysis of what is expected, not only for our Associate Members as they continue to supply the industry with products and services but also for those working directly in the timber industry.

Realizing that all regions across the country are not the same, survey participants will remain anonymous, but the regions or states of those participating in the survey will be revealed. We hope to have a strong response from across all regions of the country.

The American Loggers Council exists to represent professional timber harvesters and log truckers. Without you completing surveys like the one presented, it is difficult for us to keep our finger on the pulse of the industry and to know what some of the driving issues are outside of Washington, DC. If we are going to continue to effectively represent the membership, then we need your input to make certain that we are remaining focused on those things that are impacting you the most, and those that support and supply us with the many goods and services that are required by our industry.

We need your input and taking the time to complete this simple survey will ensure that your needs are known to all of those who are working together to make the industry stronger.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this survey, and please feel free to share it with others in the industry who you feel should be responding as well.

Sincerely,

Scott Dane
Executive Director
American Loggers Council

Economic Barometer

Question Title

* 1. We are interested in logger’s financial health. Compared to a year ago, would you say that your operation today is:

Financially better off

Worse off

About the same

Question Title

* 2. Now, looking ahead, do you think that a year from now your operation will be:

Better off financially

Worse off

Just about the same as now

Question Title

* 3. Turning to the general forestry economy as a whole, do you think that during the next twelve months there will be:

About the same financially

Better times financially

Bad times financially

Question Title

* 4. Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely? U.S. forestry during the next five years will have:

Widespread good times

Widespread bad times

Widespread about the same

Question Title

* 5. Thinking about large investments (like buildings and machinery) - generally speaking, do you think now is a good time or bad time to buy such items?

Good time to make large investments

Bad time to make large investments

Question Title

* 6. Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely? U.S. logging operations during the next 12 months will experience:

Rising timber prices

Declining timber prices

Just about the same as now

Employment

Question Title

* 7. Thinking about additional hiring – like drivers, equipment operators or mechanics– generally speaking, do you think now is a good time or bad time to expand your operation with additional employees?

Good time to hire additional employees

Bad time to hire additional employees

Question Title

* 8. In today's employment environment, how do you feel about your ability to replace or add new hires?

Almost impossible to find qualified employees

Easy to find or replace employees

Question Title

* 9. Is the fact that logging is a dangerous occupation impacting your ability to hire new employees?

Yes

Question Title

* 10. Are logging wages and benefits in your region sufficient to attract the right kind of workers?

Yes

Question Title

* 11. How much higher do wages need to be to attract or compete for the right kind of workers?

1-4%

5-10%

More than 10%

Equipment Manufacturers

Question Title

* 12. What are the biggest factors influencing your machine purchase decision, identify the top three.

Dealer proximity

Brand name

Machine performance

Operating cost

Purchase price

Dealer sales representative

Service parts availability

Ease of maintenance

Dependability of equipment

Online research

Recommendations from other loggers

Lead time to obtain a machine

Dealer support and uptime

Availability of financing

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 13. What do you value the most in your best equipment salesperson, identify the top three.

Honesty

Product knowledge

Business knowledge

Industry knowledge

Ability to reach them when needed

They do what they say

Ongoing relationship

Other (please specify)

Trucking

Question Title

* 14. Looking specifically at your operation's ability to move logs from landing to mill, please identify the three most important impacts:

Finding quality drivers

Keeping quality drivers

Insurance cost

Insurance driver restrictions

Safety constraints

Truck availability, new or used

Availability of subcontract truckers

Trucking rates

Question Title

* 15. What is your operation doing to move logs from the landing to the mill? Mark all that apply.

Training your own drivers

Hiring experienced drivers from other loggers

Using drivers/trucks supplied by the mill

Advertising in/at driving schools

Using independent contractors/owner operators

Increasing pay levels to drivers

Working with mills/landowners to get truck rates that will allow for driver recruitment

Question Title

* 16. We all know that operational costs continue to rise, in your opinion which of the following operational costs has risen the fastest? Rank these from 1 to 8, with 1 being the fastest rise in cost and 8 being the slowest rise in cost.

Demographic Profile Section

Question Title

* 17. In general, which one of the following best describes your general attitude toward using NEW TECHNOLOGIES on your company's off-road forestry equipment?

I like to try new technologies when they first come out on the market

I usually wait until they have been reviewed and I have researched them

I usually wait until other people have purchased and shared their opinions about the technology

I usually wait until they are widely used with an established reputation

New technologies do not matter to me, I am happy to keep using what I have

Question Title

* 18. In general, which one of the following best describes your general attitude toward using EXISTING TECHNOLOGY such as dash cameras and telematics in your company's log truck(s)?

I like the technology and currently use either dash cams or telematics or both

I am looking into using the technology

I do not plan on acquiring the technology for my company's truck(s)

Question Title

* 19. To what extent do landowners or mills (or the clients for whom you work) in your region value the following? Rank 1 through 7, with 1 being the most important.

Question Title

* 20. Which of the following best describes your job title and position within your company?

Owner

President

Vice President

Superintendent

Equipment Manager

Service Manager

Equipment Operator

Service Technician/Mechanic

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 21. How many logging crews (sides) does your company typically operate?

None

1 crew

2 crews

3 crews

4 crews

5 crews

6 or more crews

Question Title

* 22. In which state or province is your company located? If you work in more than one, please select the one that you work in most often.

State/Province

Question Title

* 23. Approximately what percentage of the timber your company harvests is softwood and what percentage is hardwood. Please provide your best estimate using the slider below.

SOFTWOOD

HARDWOOD

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

* 24. For how long has your company been in business?

Less than 5 years

5-9 years

10-24 years

25 years or longer

Don't know/not sure

Question Title

* 25. Are you a member of a State or Regional Logging Association?

Yes

American Loggers Council 2022 Logger Survey

Question Title

* 1. We are interested in logger’s financial health. Compared to a year ago, would you say that your operation today is:

Question Title

* 2. Now, looking ahead, do you think that a year from now your operation will be:

Question Title

* 3. Turning to the general forestry economy as a whole, do you think that during the next twelve months there will be:

Question Title

* 4. Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely? U.S. forestry during the next five years will have:

Question Title

* 5. Thinking about large investments (like buildings and machinery) - generally speaking, do you think now is a good time or bad time to buy such items?

Question Title

* 6. Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely? U.S. logging operations during the next 12 months will experience:

Question Title

* 7. Thinking about additional hiring – like drivers, equipment operators or mechanics– generally speaking, do you think now is a good time or bad time to expand your operation with additional employees?

Question Title

* 8. In today's employment environment, how do you feel about your ability to replace or add new hires?

Question Title

* 9. Is the fact that logging is a dangerous occupation impacting your ability to hire new employees?

Question Title

* 10. Are logging wages and benefits in your region sufficient to attract the right kind of workers?

Question Title

* 11. How much higher do wages need to be to attract or compete for the right kind of workers?

Question Title

* 12. What are the biggest factors influencing your machine purchase decision, identify the top three.

Question Title

* 13. What do you value the most in your best equipment salesperson, identify the top three.

Question Title

* 14. Looking specifically at your operation's ability to move logs from landing to mill, please identify the three most important impacts:

Question Title

* 15. What is your operation doing to move logs from the landing to the mill? Mark all that apply.

Question Title

* 16. We all know that operational costs continue to rise, in your opinion which of the following operational costs has risen the fastest? Rank these from 1 to 8, with 1 being the fastest rise in cost and 8 being the slowest rise in cost.

Question Title

* 17. In general, which one of the following best describes your general attitude toward using NEW TECHNOLOGIES on your company's off-road forestry equipment?

Question Title

* 18. In general, which one of the following best describes your general attitude toward using EXISTING TECHNOLOGY such as dash cameras and telematics in your company's log truck(s)?

Question Title

* 19. To what extent do landowners or mills (or the clients for whom you work) in your region value the following? Rank 1 through 7, with 1 being the most important.

Question Title

* 20. Which of the following best describes your job title and position within your company?

Question Title

* 21. How many logging crews (sides) does your company typically operate?

Question Title

* 22. In which state or province is your company located? If you work in more than one, please select the one that you work in most often.

Question Title

* 23. Approximately what percentage of the timber your company harvests is softwood and what percentage is hardwood. Please provide your best estimate using the slider below.

Question Title

* 24. For how long has your company been in business?

Question Title

* 25. Are you a member of a State or Regional Logging Association?

Question Title

* 26. I wish my local equipment dealer would...

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* 27. I wish the equipment manufacturers would...

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* 28. I wish my insurance broker would...

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* 29. I wish the American Loggers Council would...