January 10. 1U22 



HARDWOOD RECORD 



^PdwEB Logging i4iVD; 



Handling 



WW 



The Use of Tractors in Logging 



By Nelson Coartlandt Broit.ni 



N. Y. State College of Forestry 



Professor of Forest Utilization, 



Till following paper on ' ' The Use of Tractors m Logyinii ' ' has 

 hceii prepared after an corteiuled study of this subjert and an aiialijuis 

 of the replies to a question n-vire sent broadcast to all lumbermen 

 thromjhout the countrij irho hare used tractors of all nudes, types and 

 sizes. An opportunity has also been (jiven to all of the larger and 

 more prominent tractor manufacturers to throw as much light as possi- 

 ble on the subject from their viewpoint. The replies that have been 

 received and the arguments that have been heard, although varying 

 on many points, are mo.^t interesting, instructive and illuminating. 



It is proposed here to treat briefly on a fern of the more important 

 points which our study luis shinen have an important bearing on the 

 subject, luimely: 



1. Selection of proper tractor as regards type, make, size, etc. 



'2. Selection of proper auxiliary equipment. 



3. Employment of competent drivers and mechanics. 



4. Properly adapting tractor and equipment to the rrork. 

 ">. Saving effected liji the iisi of tractors. 



Selection of Proper Tractor as Regards Type, Make, Size, Etc. 



AltlioujJ'h it might be saiil tli:it tractors have been used in tin' 

 logging industry as long as :iO years ago, when the first steam log 

 liaulers were liuilt, it is jiracf ically within the last five years that 

 they have been developed to any great degree or used extensively 

 for timber hauling. 



Within this short i)erio(l. many manufacturers liave developed 

 numerous machines and much ex]ieriniental work lias been done by 

 both manufacturers and users. The result of this experimental 

 work clearly shows that to date the caterpillar crawler or track- 

 laying type of tractor has produced by far the most satisfactory 

 results and seems without i|uestion the better adapted to this type 

 of work, whether for hauling in summer through swanijis ur over 

 dirt roads, or during the winter in the woods over snow or ice roads. 



Each tractor nuinufacturer naturally claims for his product special 

 merits and advantages over his competitors, Init in planning the 

 purchase of a tractor, very careful consideration should be given 

 to the actual work for which the tractor will be used, in order that 

 the proper weight and size of machine may be selected, as many 

 have labored long and with much grief in a vain effort to make 

 too small or too light a tractor do the impossible or have tried 

 to use tractors for work to which no tractor is suited, as not all 

 logging operations are practical tractor jobs. Careful consideration 

 should be given and those who have had experience or who are 

 familiar with the matter should be consulted, in order to insure, 

 first, that tractors are practical for that particular job; second, 

 that the tractor selected be of sufficient horse power and weight 

 and of the proper construction to handle successfully that particular 

 job; third, that it is backed by a reliable manufacturer, whose 

 guarantee can be depended upon and who is properly equijiped to 

 ]n-ovide adequate service after purchase. 



Such preliminary investigations will without <|uestion jirevcnt 

 many losses as well as be very instructive. 



Selection of Proper Auxiliary Equipment 



In changing from animals ur other systems of logging and )iiu- 

 chasing expensive tractors, many have passed over too lightly the 

 question of suitable equipment to be used with the tractor. Nunier- 



'Dtbivore-it before the Emiiirr stote I'onyl rioiliirts Assneinli'jii: nl 

 I lirii. y. Y.. A'orembcr 10. 1021. 



ous cases have been fcjuud ot purchasers attempting to utilize oM 

 anim.-il equip]Tient behiinl high-powered tractors without sufficient 

 rebuilding or ieiutor<-iiig to stand the added strains of tractor 

 work. It is only sound imsiness judgment that dictates that the 

 same careful consi<leration should be given to providing prober 

 auxiliary eiiuipjuent as is used in the purchase of the tractor, as 

 without siu-h proper auxiliary ei]uipment the most efficient tractor 

 might be .-in utter failure on the job. 



Competent Drivers and Mechanics 



So mucli of the ultimate success of any tractor depends upon its 

 proper operation and care and the ability of the driver to so handle 

 the ni.achine that the maxinjum results possible are obtained, that 

 to attempt economizing by the use of incompetent or inexperienced 

 operators is without ()U<'stion a sign of poor business judgment. 

 High grade, expensive tractors not only require but are entitled 

 to the same rare, attention and ojieration as any other highly 

 developed piece of mechanical e(piipment. Xot only is it most 

 practical to have a man thoroughly familiar with the care and 

 proper operation of the tractor, Init to have if possible one who is 

 also familiar with logging work in general. Not all chauffeurs or 

 woodsmen make good tractor drivers, but it is not difficult to pro- 

 cure competent tractor o|ierat(irs, as the extent to which tractors 

 were used in the recent war re()uired the training of many men in 

 this work, who oftentimes can be located and employed through 

 the CO operation of the tractor manufacturer. 



The small difference in salary between that necessary to employ 

 .1 thoroughly competent .ind reli.able man who can be depended 

 upon to get the utn)Ost out of a tractor .and that amount for whicli 

 one can pick u]) most anywhere at :niy time one who would himself 

 claim to be an operator, but who really had had little or no 

 experience and knew practically nothing of that type of work, is 

 (|uickly overshadowed and forgotten by the greatly increased 

 results which have been obtained by the utilization of experienced, 

 careful drivers. It may be said by some that to jirocure such 

 qualified and capable men is difficult, but on investigation we find 

 that such thoroughly cajiable men are available and are becoming 

 more so as the pr(>sent re.adjustnu'iit of labor condition's continues. 



Properly Adapting Tractor and Equipment to the Work 

 By studying carefully the troubles and obstacles that have been 

 encountered in working out some tractor hauls as compared with 

 the immediate successes which hav.^ Iieen obtained by others, our 

 study seems to show clearly that at least 90 per cent of the actual 

 success of tractors in the logging industry depends upon their 

 proper application to each particular job. 



Conditions vary so, not only between winter and summer logging 

 but between various timber districts, th.it the jilan. organization 

 and ei|uipment which works out very satisf.actorily and profitably 

 in one section does not necessarily mean the same success in another 

 section. To obtain the maximum results and obtain the greatest 

 saving it is most important that the hauling problem for that part 

 of the work in which tractors are concerned be so planned and 

 arranged that the tractor and tractor equipment be utilized or kept 

 in motion to the fullest extent possible, as losses are immediately 

 expei^enced if the investment represented by a tractor and trailer 

 or sled equipment is required to stand idle on account of improper 



