National Hardwood Magazine - March 2024
Read the March 2024 issue of National Hardwood Magazine to get the latest hardwood industry news! This issue features stories on Edensaw Woods Ltd., updates to the American Hardwood Lumber Grading workshop, the LSLA Winter Meeting, insights from the the ALC meeting and much more.
Read the March 2024 issue of National Hardwood Magazine to get the latest hardwood industry news! This issue features stories on Edensaw Woods Ltd., updates to the American Hardwood Lumber Grading workshop, the LSLA Winter Meeting, insights from the the ALC meeting and much more.
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ALC Meeting: Logging Leader Says Rising Costs Hurt The Industry<br />
The logging industry must increase profitability and<br />
change public perception to maintain its workforce to<br />
survive, reports the director of the American Loggers<br />
Council.<br />
The remarks came at the recent Greensboro, NC,<br />
meeting of the Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club. Scott<br />
Dane, Council Executive Director, said the national organization<br />
represents loggers in 38 states through local<br />
chapters and was formed in 1994 to serve as a unified,<br />
national voice for professional loggers across the United<br />
States.<br />
Dane said the industry is struggling with an aging<br />
workforce and low profit margins. The average age of<br />
a logger in the U.S. is over 55 years and not enough<br />
young people are considering the profession.<br />
The Council supports the Future Logging Careers Act<br />
legislation which proposes to exempt minors of age from<br />
employment by their parents in any occupation on a job<br />
site owned and operated by their parents. Minors 16 and<br />
older may perform any job, whether hazardous or not,<br />
which is similar to the Fair Labor Standards Act.<br />
Dane said logging companies have not been able to<br />
By Tom Inman<br />
raise rates to match the rising costs of insurance, equipment,<br />
fuel, and wages. Dane noted that primary and<br />
secondary manufacturers were very profitable in 2021<br />
and 2022 when demand for products were high.<br />
“This really was not shared in the logging community,”<br />
he said. “Loggers did not receive the same increases<br />
your companies did.”<br />
The American Loggers Council is the only national<br />
organization solely dedicated to representing the rights<br />
and interests of independent loggers and log truck contractors<br />
on a national level. Dane said the Council combines<br />
the power of its members with state and regional<br />
logging associations across the country to help the industry<br />
by sharing the benefits of education, training, networking,<br />
research, promotion, and legislative advocacy.<br />
The Council is producing a series of four videos to<br />
explain forest management and sustainability, promote<br />
careers in logging and educate the public. The first is<br />
available on the group’s website www.amloggers.com.<br />
The next meeting of the ALC is <strong>March</strong> 12, <strong>2024</strong> at<br />
the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, VA. The Spring Beach<br />
Meeting is set for May 2-5 in North Myrtle Beach, SC. n<br />
More information is available at www.lumberclub.org.<br />
Eddie Carson, Beasley Flooring, Franklin, NC; Steve Counts,<br />
BPM Lumber, London, KY; Jamie Straka, Tree Brand Packaging,<br />
Denver, NC; and Brian Turlington, SII Dry Kilns, Lexington, NC<br />
Jesse LaSon, Rossi Group, Emporium, PA; Skipper Beal and<br />
Scott Hanks, Beal Lumber Co. Inc., Little Mountain, SC; and Beryl<br />
Beagle, Stella-Jones, Goshen, VA<br />
Rick McCreary, ETT Fine Woods, SC; Doyle Kitchings, Corley<br />
Manufacturing Co., Chattanooga, TN; and Mark Depp, NHLA,<br />
Memphis, TN<br />
Wayne Law, New River <strong>Hardwood</strong>s Inc., Mountain City, TN; Will<br />
Schmertzler, Rex Lumber, Crozet, VA; Logan Josey, Josey Lumber<br />
Co. Inc., Scotland Neck, NC; and Bob Bell, McDonough Manufacturing<br />
Co., Eau Claire, WI<br />
Additional photos on next page<br />
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36 MARCH <strong>2024</strong> n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE www.RealAmerican<strong>Hardwood</strong>.com/industry<br />
www.RealAmerican<strong>Hardwood</strong>.com/industry<br />
MARCH <strong>2024</strong> n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 37
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