The logging industry must increase profitability and change public perception to maintain its workforce to survive, reports the director of the American Loggers Council.
The remarks came at the recent Greensboro, NC, meeting of the Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club. Scott Dane, Council Executive Director, said the national organization represents loggers in 38 states through local chapters and was formed in 1994 to serve as a unified, national voice for professional loggers across the United States.
Dane said the industry is struggling with an aging workforce and low profit margins. The average age of a logger in the U.S. is over 55 years and not enough young people are considering the profession.
The Council supports the Future Logging Careers Act legislation which proposes to exempt minors of age from employment by their parents in any occupation on a job site owned and operated by their parents. Minors 16 and older may perform any job, whether hazardous or not, which is similar to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Dane said logging companies have not been able to raise rates to match the rising costs of insurance, equipment, fuel, and wages. Dane noted that primary and secondary manufacturers were very profitable in 2021 and 2022 when demand for products were high.
“This really was not shared in the logging community,” he said. “Loggers did not receive the same increases your companies did.”
The American Loggers Council is the only national organization solely dedicated to representing the rights and interests of independent loggers and log truck contractors on a national level. Dane said the Council combines the power of its members with state and regional logging associations across the country to help the industry by sharing the benefits of education, training, networking, research, promotion, and legislative advocacy.
The Council is producing a series of four videos to explain forest management and sustainability, promote careers in logging and educate the public. The first is available on the group’s website www.amloggers.com.
The next meeting of the ALC is March 12, 2024 at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, VA. The Spring Beach Meeting is set for May 2-5 in North Myrtle Beach, SC.
More information is available at www.lumberclub.org..
