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Log Load Wrapper Security System
Testing Results The testing began on August 26, 2003, at the Lower Feather Timber Sale on the Mountain Home Ranger District, Boise National Forest, in Region-4. The Purchaser, Boise Building Solutions, Inc. and their contractor Canaday Trucking cooperated in the testing. The initial testing began on the Mountain Home RD on the Lower Feather Timber Sale (~3 MMBF) with the commencement of hauling to LaGrande and Elgin, Oregon in late August. In October, Carson Helicopters, a different Boise Cascade Corporation (BCC) subcontractor, requested the use of the log strapping system during haul on the Roberts Gulch sale (~1 MMBF), which was begun in October. Carson was enthusiastic to use the log strapping system on the Prince John Timber Sale on the Cascade RD and continued it during haul until operations were snowed out for the season and hauling was completed in early December. Forest Service and Contractor personnel that participated in the testing are:
The distances from the logging sales to the mills averaged 260 to 280 miles depending on the mill used to unload the logs. Testing started on August 26, 2003. SDTDC met with the log truck drivers at the sale area and began training them (see figure 10). Also, the loader operator and Forest Service personnel that would be involved in the test at sale site were briefed and trained. SDTDC demonstrated how to use the strapping and ratchet binder, how the seal is installed and how to fill out the test data sheets. There were only three truck drivers trained that day. The other drivers were trained by those drivers in subsequent days. The drivers adapted rapidly to the proper use and installation of the wrappers. During the testing there were between 10 and 12 trucks using the wrappers each day. Boise Building Solutions scaling department imposed their own safety procedures for dealing with the handling of log loads once they reach the mill. These procedures were well within SDTDC safety procedures. When it was necessary to unload a load and keep it bundled until released by the Forest Service, two more wrappers are added by the mill to the existing wrapper with the seal. The load was then removed from the truck and placed in a set of bunks, figure 11. Once the load had settled into the bunks the loader moved away from the load and left it there until it was released by the Forest Service for sorting. The loader then returned and locked onto the load; it remained in place holding the load together while the scaler removed the seal and wrappers, figure 12. When this had been accomplished the loader was signaled to remove the load from the bunks. The mill personnel adapted readily to this procedure and no problems with its use were reported to SDTDC.
During the testing personnel using the wrappers complained that the buckle seal hole (see figure 6) needed to be larger to accommodate larger fingers. Also, some of the buckles experience hinge pin failures. These issues were corrected during the testing. New riveted hinge pins were installed in each buckle and the seal application modified to that shown in figures 13 and 14. No other problems were reported to SDTDC. During the testing the personnel using the wrappers were already finding additional ways to expedite their installation and removal.
There were three follow up inspections by SDTDC to assure the testing was going as planned and to answer any question that arose during the testing period. The testing completed at the end of December 2003. At the conclusion of the testing there appeared to be a positive attitude by both the Forest Service and Purchaser/Contractor that the SDTDC Security Wrapper System would provide a usable tool that would be beneficial to both parties. The testing of the wrapper security system (log strapping) was completed on three Boise NF sales. From all appearances, the tests appear to have provided useful information for evaluation of the log strapping system. When first introduced, most of the truck drivers were reluctant about the process and the strap and ratchet system. However, with help from San Dimas staff, all questions were answered and the drivers seemed comfortable with it. From the local Forest Service perspective, the testing was successful. Some of their observations are:
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