How
to choose a logger
The final aspect of a timber harvest, choosing a logger, is perhaps one of the most important decisions. Make sure the logger you choose is a careful, skilled professional who is willing to work with you and your objectives. A common way to increase your chances for success is to work with a professional forester to select a professional logger through a competitive bidding process.
You can make an informed decision by asking a few questions:
Training and Education
Membership with organizations such as the Forest Industry Safety and Training
Alliance (FISTA) and the Wisconsin Professional Loggers’ Association
can help indicate the level of competence and training the logger has
received.
Experience with your type of sale In selecting an operator, be sure to
ask whether he is skilled in the harvest system you require and that he
is familiar with the necessary equipment.
References
Check with references provided by the prospective operator. Call the landowner
and visit the harvest site to accurately judge the quality of previous
jobs.
Proof of Insurance
Make sure the operator has sufficient insurance to cover themselves and
their employers. A good contract should protect you from liability, but
you want to be sure that you are not responsible if subcontractors are
injured.
For more information on selecting a logger, contact the Forest Resource Association for a copy of the publication, How to Choose a Quality Logger (FRA: Pamphlet 97-A-16).
Why Should I Supervise an On-going Site?
There are several good reasons to visit your site often. By seeing what
is going on, both the landowner and the forester can detect oversights
or errors early on before they become major problems. Any questions that
come up can be addressed easier if you and/or the forester are on-site.
Finally, your presence is an indication of your care and concern for the
overall smooth operations and quality assurance.