CURRENT PROJECTS

Logging Cost Indices (Dr. William Stuart and Dr. Laura Grace)
Develop Logging Cost indices for six forested regions in the United States. Key cost elements of the wood supply chain will be tracked and trend lines established. Summarization of cost trends into five quarterly “Logging Cost Indices” reports. (Ongoing project.)

Cost of Log Sorts (Dr. Dale Greene et al., University of Georgia)
Determine what log sorting at the stump entails and establish standard cost baselines for typical longwood and cut-to-length systems. Describe and estimate costs associated with additional sorting to provide guidelines for use during price negotiations. (To be completed 2007.)

Double Shifting on Southern Harvesting Operations (Dr. Tom Gallagher and others,
Auburn University)
Research ways that U.S. loggers have successfully implemented more than one shift per day and make recommendations for expanding the use of these multi-shift operations to improve harvesting efficiency on other logging operations. (To be completed 2007.)

Decoupled Trucking (Buck Ford, International Paper)
Implement third-party trucking systems for hauling roundwood for selected wood suppliers in Alabama and South Carolina to increase the percent of loaded miles while meeting their trucking needs. Use pilot project results to develop a “blueprint” that may be used to implement third-party trucking systems in other areas. (To be completed 2008.)

Fiber Cost Per Ton Impact (Dr. Matthew Smidt, Auburn University)
Provide credible cost/value of loaded wood at the mill gate and quantify the cost to the supplier and the consumer for unloading delays over 20 minutes turn time. The costs will be determined for the landowner, harvesting, trucking and mill woodyard links of the wood fiber supply chain. (To be completed 2008.)

What findings have emerged from previous WSRI Projects? Please click here.

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