Potential for shared log transport services

Abstract

A simulation model of a log transport logistics network was developed. The model could be structured to either share truck capacity among a group of loggers, or to assign a fixed number of trucks to individual loggers. Another variation of the model allowed the use of a staging yard to set out loaded trailers and deliver them to destinations using dedicated shuttle trucks that operated continuously. Pooling trucks among loggers provided more flexibility in dealing with driver shift length constraints, and consequently delivered more wood to mills than did individual ownership. The magnitude of the difference was related to dispatch method. Accounting for logger status when dispatching trucks increased wood volume moved and reduced average trailer waiting times for all loggers. Staging yards were effective in maintaining delivered volume of wood when severe delays were probable at destination mills.