Sections

Log Trucking Solutions: Cost, Safety, and Technology

Georgia Forestry Association, 551 North Frontage Road, Forsyth, GA 31029

Date: 10/06/2023 from 08:00 am to 05:00 pm

Brochure

Brochure and Alternative Registration Form

About the Event

This course will cover current challenges and opportunities in the timber transportation sector. Course content will focus on trends, recent research, and tools to improve the efficiency, safety, and profitability of timber transportation. We will cover transportation challenges along with trucking safety, trends in log truck insurance premiums, and opportunities to reduce liability risk. We will share recent research on recruiting, retaining, and training safe truck drivers. We will provide instruction and examples of both logging and trucking production analysis along with opportunities for fleet management and incorporating technology to improve trucking productivity. We will detail the development of fuel cost adjustments and examples of trucking cost analysis strategies. Innovative solutions and case studies will be provided that highlight examples of successful business practices in timber transportation. Upon completion of this course, participants should be well-equipped to apply cost, safety, and technology solutions to a wide range of timber transportation challenges.

Location

Georgia Forestry Association, 551 North Frontage Road, Forsyth, GA 31029

Who Should Attend?

Foresters, wood buyers, suppliers, truck drivers, logging business owners, contract trucking companies, logistics managers, and anyone involved in wood procurement, timber harvesting, and timber transportation. Forest engineers, forestry and trucking equipment representatives, and others who service the timber harvesting industry would benefit from the course content.

Hotel Accommodations

A block of rooms has been set aside for course attendees at the “Hampton Inn by Hilton, Forsyth GA" for the night of October 05. The hotel address is 360 S. Frontage Rd, Forsyth, Georgia. Rooms are $129.00 per night plus sales tax. Contact Dr. James Johnson at 706-308-6396 or james.johnson26@uga.edu if you would like to make reservations. Please make reservations early since the number of rooms is limited.

Instructors

Dr. Joe Conrad is an Associate Professor of Forest Operations in the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business at the University of Georgia. He earned a B.S. in forestry from the University of the South and an M.F. and Ph.D. in forest operations from Virginia Tech. Prior to his appointment in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, he was an Assistant Professor of Forestry at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for four years. Joe teaches courses in timber harvesting, field measurements, and senior project (capstone). He conducts applied research on timber harvesting and wood supply chain efficiency. His recent research has focused on timber transportation safety. Specifically, he is evaluating how new technologies can reduce accidents and increase the productivity of timber harvesting and transportation. Joe actively collaborates with forest industry in his research. He has received multiple awards from the Forest Resources Association for his communication of research results to the forest products industry. Joe has authored or co-authored 25 peer-reviewed publications. He is associate editor for the Journal of Forestry and is chair of the Southern Region Council on Forest Engineering. He is an active member of the Society of American Foresters, Council on Forest Engineering, and Georgia Forestry Association.

Dr. Chad Bolding is a Professor and Langdale Endowed Chair in the Harley Langdale Jr. Center for Forest Business at the University of Georgia. He has a B.S. and M.S. in forestry from Auburn University, an M.F in silviculture, and a Ph.D. in forest engineering from Oregon State University. Before joining the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources in 2022, he was a Professor of Forest Operations/Engineering at Virginia Tech for 14 years and at Clemson University for 2 years. Chad teaches graduate courses in forest business and conducts research on supply chain management, harvesting system feasibility, transportation and logistics, biomass utilization, and forestry best management practices. His focus is to solve applied, industry relevant, problems that will aid in advancing efficiency, profitability, and environmental sustainability. He has received numerous teaching and mentoring awards, including the 2022 Carl Alwin Schenck Award for Outstanding Teaching in Forestry, which is a national award presented by the Society of American Foresters. He has published 68 peer-reviewed journal articles, completed 30 graduate students, and secured over $14 million in research grants and contracts. He is active in professional organizations such as the Society of American Foresters, the Georgia Forestry Association, and the Council on Forest Engineering. He serves as Associate Editor for both Forest Science and the International Journal of Forest Engineering.