{"id":1325,"date":"2022-09-12T18:01:12","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T18:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8009\/stories\/?p=1325"},"modified":"2025-07-01T18:33:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T18:33:15","slug":"what-does-a-logger-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forestrycareers.com\/stories\/what-does-a-logger-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What does a logger do?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We look at several different types of logging careers and examing what it takes to get into a logging career.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sustainable forestry companies like Rayonier only log a small fraction of the trees we own every year. We typically replant<\/a> baby seedlings within one to two years of a harvest, ensuring we will continuously have a supply of wood to meet the world\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With millions of acres of forests in our care, even a small fraction of our property requires a lot of logging support. In fact, we measure our annual yield of logs by the millions <\/em>of tons!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of having our own loggers within the Rayonier team, we primarily work with small, locally-owned logging businesses across the U.S. to harvest the timber<\/a> and deliver it to mills. The mills then process the logs into everyday products<\/a> like lumber, paper goods and cellulose pulp, which is in 1000s of everyday products such as medicines, paints and even touchscreens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What types of careers are there in the logging industry?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

What is a typical day like for a logger? It sounds like a simple enough question, but there are many different types of loggers. Some work all day on heavy equipment while others work on foot. Some work for themselves driving a log truck while others manage a whole team of employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an overview of some of the key careers available in the logging industry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heavy equipment operators in logging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Heavy equipment operators spend most of their time operating the machinery they work best with in the forest. These days, most cabs are air conditioned and the majority of tasks can be done with joysticks and levers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feller Buncher Operator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On a harvest operation, a feller buncher operator uses his machine to fell the trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe feller buncher has got a big wheel on it with teeth on it, and it’s spinning at like 3,500 RPMs,\u201d explains Chuck Owens, an operator with Wiliston Timber out of Wiliston, Florida. \u201cWhen you go up to the tree, it just cuts it off basically like a big chainsaw. And you grab a hold of it and walk wherever you want to put it and throw it down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to smaller trees, the buncher can actually hold several trees at once, moving with them still vertical until several are \u201cbunched\u201d together, then dropping them in a pile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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