The scope encompassed by the term ‘forestry management’ is very wide. This industry is all about the sensible management of the woods which involves responsible utilization of all available resources. It includes wild life preservation; basic woods maintenance; tree harvesting and replanting; and even landscaping. It covers acres of area and harsh terrain conditions.

Forest maintenance could not exist without forestry trucks. It is only through the use of these vehicles that the task of this type of management can be effectively and efficiently performed. It is not surprising that there are so many different vehicles used, each specifically designed for a particular task. Two types in particular are maintenance and logging.

Maintenance

Keeping the woods in its best condition is a tough job. Nature is capable of surviving on its own; however, humans have always had the tendency to be destructive at times. The task of the forest service is to avoid as much damage as possible or restore anything back to its natural state when damage has already been done. That role also includes keeping areas a safe place for visitors. There are three unique types of equipment used for these tasks.

• Bucket Truck - The forestry bucket truck is aerial equipment used to getting workers close enough to the trees to perform necessary tasks. This is a particularly popular vehicle because it has many possible applications including tree trimming and harvesting. Dead branches that could break off and injure anyone below them can be safely cut down instead of just letting them fall. This vehicle is a valuable piece of equipment because it can get workers at the required working height safely and with ease unlike conventional ladders and/or the rope and pulley system.

• Grapple Truck - Clearing up tree trimmings is a back-breaking manual job unless you have a grapple truck to use. This vehicle is equipped with a massive claw attached on the end of its boom. It is particularly useful when used for hauling and transporting logs, branches and timber.

• Spade Truck - Landscaping and tree planting is also included in the scope of forestry. Planting a tree at the right spot is essential to keep parks visually appealing. However, how do you transport a mid-size leafy monstrosity from one place to another without damaging it? The answer is the spade truck. This vehicle is a massive spade on wheels. It can easily dig up a tree right down to its roots, safely transport it to its new home, dig the proper size hole at the new location, and place the tree in the new hole.

Logging

Trees are a necessity for the survival of the human race. Although it is important to protect the woods, it is also necessary to use logging in just the proper way to allow for thinning of the woods and re-growth. Forestry is not just about protecting the woods but also about using those resources wisely. Several vehicles are used in this particular industry depending upon the type of wood being harvested.

• Flat Bed Truck – Just as the name implies, flat-bed trucks have a completely flat bed making it suitable for transporting massive loads such as timber from the harvest site down to the mill. Although the width of the truck is suitable for carrying many logs at a time, the short length of the bed limits the length of what it can carry. It is still advantageous at logging sites with tight roads because its short length only requires a small turning radius.

• Log Dolly - For serious loggers, there’s the log dolly. This dolly is designed to be pulled by a road tractor. It comes with its own set of axles and wheels with a U-shaped bracing to hold the timber in place. The advantage of this dolly is that its distance from the road tractor can be adjusted to accommodate the logs regardless of their length.

Conclusion

Maintaining the woodlands is a tough business as are the trucks used in this industry. Although there are various designs used in the forestry application, they have one common bond - they have to be rigid enough to withstand the unforgiving terrain and powerful enough to get the job done. The proper forestry truck can indeed manage the forest!