Some more NZ log trucks.

[Ianab]

Thought this might interest some. These trucks are operated around Kaingaroa forest. The oversize ones aren't road legal (length and weight) and only operate on the private roads around the forest.

YouTube

[hacknchop]

Big loads and all on the wrong side of the road. Thanks for sharing.

[sawguy21]

That is interesting. Tree length loads are common here but certainly not on the highway with the length and weight of some of those. The truck with a long load and a pup is certainly intriguing.

[dgdrls]

The cab-over at 24:00 min+/- is a dandy,
Not too many CO trucks left here in NY

D

[cutterboy]

That certainly is a busy place. Lots of wood moving.

[Ianab]

That is interesting. Tree length loads are common here but certainly not on the highway with the length and weight of some of those. The truck with a long load and a pup is certainly intriguing.

The trucks tagged Oversize aren't road legal, they are used on private owned roads only, although many of the roads are open to the public as well. The H tagged trucks are road legal but have to come up to higher standards, with ABS brakes etc. I think 55 tons all up for them. 

[Ianab]

That certainly is a busy place. Lots of wood moving.

The forest around Murupara is about 1500000 acres of pine, growing on a 25-30 year rotation. So its continuous harvesting, and lots of wood moving.

[frazman]

I was amazed on how they harvested the trees along the hill sides in NZ when I was there last year to visit my daughter. Trees , trees and more trees.

[Dale.NZ]

To be honest, I'm always amazed what us kiwis can get away with harvesting. Number - 8 mentality at work. 

[Riwaka]

The Central North Island, NZ where the truck video was filmed has been the primary area for large scale radiata pine forestry. The carbon credit/ forestry investors have been moving into other areas of New Zealand over the last 30plus years.

Sizeable areas of the Central North Island pine forest estate were converted to farming in the past 25 years. Some of 'carbon credit' areas are not so well suited to large scale pine forestry as the Central North Island. 

Typical NZ tv media item. No interviews with loggers.  
James Shaw will consider biodiversity credits for farmers planting trees on their land | Newshub

[Hogdaddy]

ooopps.. one is named the General Lee... would offend someone in the states....

[Riwaka]

The truck might have been named in honor of this General Lee
Robert Merrill Lee - Wikipedia

There are a few Halsey Streets in NZ named after the US Navy WW2 Admiral.

William Halsey Jr. - Wikipedia.

The world has officially gone crazy......for this one below.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2020/06/the-dixie-chicks-drop-dixie-from-name-thank-nz-band-the-chicks-for-letting-them-share-name.html

[Riwaka]

What does the Pacific North West do to reduce the issue of lost logs and logging debris in the waterways etc?

NZ beach covered in old logs again, after a winter rain event.

Used heavy equipment to get the timber above the waterline to dry out and then the piles were burnt.
Lack of a pulp market in close proximity to that area has not helped.

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/its-pretty-tough-tolaga-bay-locals-frustrated-more-timber-debris-washes-up

[sawguy21]

That is a real problem. The majority of logs are trucked to the mills but due to the sheer size of our forests much is still  brought by barge instead of booms. Many mills still have a 'wet sort' to store them but storms create havoc resulting in lost logs, debris which are navigational and environmental hazards. Another major problem is on reservoirs, it is a challenge keeping the penstocks free of debris. Imagine what that would do to turbines.

[Ianab]

Another recent clip, mostly log trucks going into the local port. There is also an overview of the port and a log carrier loading nearer the end. 

Trucks in and out of Port Taranaki - YouTube

[moodnacreek]

Both tree length and CTL debarked. What are the destinations?  Thanks.

[Ianab]

Export sawlogs going to China, India, Malaysia mostly. All the logs are processed and sorted at the landing, although I saw a few mixed grade loads.

The logs are sold on weight, hence the uniform loads. 

[dgdrls]

Some nice trucks there,
Quite a port as well,

Thanks for posting Ianab

D

[Ianab]

Quite a port as well,

Port used to be set up for containers as well, but as the ships have become bigger it got dropped from their route. The increase in the log trade has made up for it and they have converted that large dockside area to log marshalling. The other ships there look like oilfield support, so a couple of loads would be offshore drilling supplies, and I see a fertiliser ship / trucks there as well.   The port also handles bulk fuel / oil / methanol and LPG, but nothing going on that day.

If you want a live view, it's webcam #3 on this page. 
https://www.primo.nz/info/primo-webcams

[Resonator]

Guys down there must like those cabovers. There aren't near as many here in the US as there were years ago, when big trucking fleets had THOUSANDS of them on the road.

[Riwaka]

In the NZ hills. rain shadow area so it can be quite dry at times between the storms. 
A few cabover KWs that are put together in Australia. Tire inflation systems for the slow off road stuff with lower tire pressures.
Processors with the old style rops over excavator cab conversions. Fixed rotating grapple on the Doosan. (Might be a Sany (Chinese made) excavator conversion in this which is becoming a lower budget machine choice for forestry use compared to the specialist North American machinery)

Log Trucks in New Zealand (Marlborough) 4K!!! Part 2 - YouTube

[sawguy21]

Interesting that cabovers are used, we don't see them hauling logs. A conventional tagging a bank means a new front clip, a cabover its a new cab. The other problem is overheating with all the required emission equipment.
I wonder why they use a tandem with an an extra steer axle rather than our increasingly popular tri drive.

[Ianab]

I think a lot has to do with local regulations regarding axle weights and total vehicle length. If the cops check weights they weigh each axle to make sure it's not over spec.  With the twin steer they would have better weight distribution, and more steering control, especially off-road. In the last video it's a nice dry "East Coast", plenty of dust and no mud. Here on the West Coast it's more likely to be raining, and they still need to navigate those hill tracks. 

The cab over also gives you more load space with the same total vehicle length.  It's not a deal breaker, as you see there are plenty of regular cab trucks as well. But the overall design of the rig is pretty much the same, it's like the optimal design that fits in the regulations. The "H" rated trucks generally have the 3 rear axles to allow the higher weight while keeping the individual axle loads the same. 

The  H rated trucks can run up to 55,000kg (121,000 lb), but have to be high spec units with ABS and stability control etc. 50,000 kg otherwise. As mentioned they often have onboard tyre pressure adjustment and weight scales. 

The modified excavator is used my most crews because it's so versatile. On a smaller job they may only use that. Or more commonly with a skidder, and the excavator doing the trimming and sorting at the landing. But it can also build the skid trails and access roads

[snowstorm]

Interesting that cabovers are used, we don't see them hauling logs. A conventional tagging a bank means a new front clip, a cabover its a new cab. The other problem is overheating with all the required emission equipment.
I wonder why they use a tandem with an an extra steer axle rather than our increasingly popular tri drive.

quite a few twin steer trucks in eastern canada. all the trucks in europe are cab over and most are single axle some with a tag pulling a 3 axle trailer.been to europe 5 times the only long hood truck said u s army on it

[snowstorm]

and most of the trucks had 315 22.5 drive tires instead of 11 22.5 

[Resonator]

I wonder why they use a tandem with an an extra steer axle rather than our increasingly popular tri drive.

On excessive weight trucks you want the extra steer axle, not only because you have fewer tires dragging sideways in a turn, but also to fight "torque understeer". That's where the drive wheels all hook up with traction, and shove the truck in a straight line regardless of which way your trying to steer. (The reason why almost all giant mine haul dump trucks have only 1 drive axle).

[Riwaka]

Return of the CNI triple log trailers(central north island). 
This part of the forest region(trees) is majority owned by Canadian PSP Investments.

578hp Cummins, 18speed manual Road Ranger, (Australian assembled Kenworth 509.) 140 metric tonne load, 50 tonne truck, 190 tonnes plus over the scales. Little wonder the road corrugations make the truck look a bit bouncy.

GITI Tyres Big Test Kenworth C509 6x4 Day Cab - YouTube

[barbender]

That is an impressive load! I bet a 578 hp X15 feels underpowered tugging all of that around.

It just occurred to me that in a right hand drive, I would have to run a manual tranny with my left hand. It would make for a very long day jumping in a truck in that part of the world! 

[Walnut Beast]

Cummins power baby!!

[Ianab]

Did you notice in the video where the rig drives over an overbridge? That's because the company trucks aren't road legal, so can't even be driven across a public road with that sort of load. On the company roads they can of course make their own weight and length rules. But they have to use a bridge to cross the State Highway that passes through the forest. 

[teakwood]

they should use some of the european truck brands with up to 750hp engines

https://blog.truckscout24.com/allgemein/the-10-most-powerful-trucks-in-the-world/#:~:text=%23%203%3A%20Scania%20R%20730&text=Strong%2C%20stronger%2C%20Scania!,and%203500%20Nm%20of%20torque.

[moodnacreek]

Very interesting. Sawguy used a term that I here alot nowadays; Front clip. A front clip repair is a very rare thing. Back in the day I did quite a few rear clips, roofs and only once a quarter section. A front clip would include the fire wall, windshield post cut offs and part of front floor. I guess 'clip' is a neat thing to say but the term is nose.                              Running low tire pressure is not for every tire. I ruined both wide singles on my 'new' forklift running 75 lbs instead of 150. It broke up the sidewalls on the inside.

[Resonator]

Like an Australian road train, drives only on a set pre planned route. Notice how long the drawbar between trailers is to spread out "bridge" weight. I know the few times I drove doubles you have to plan it all out. And you do not back up, except a couple feet to hitch and un hitch. Pre-trip would take a while with all those tires to thump, and lots of brake lines to listen to for hisses. Like Barbender said, driving on the right and shifting an 18 with the left hand would be a challenge to learn.

[Ianab]

they should use some of the european truck brands with up to 750hp engines

Some of the local on-road trucks are up around 800hp now, , but that's so they can keep up speed on the hills and pull away from slow corners quicker. The closer they can stick to ~55mph, the more trips they can get done in a day.  That truck looks to be operating on gravel roads and pretty flat country most of the time. Keeping highway speed isn't a priority, and I'm guessing traction is an issue on the gravel. 

[barbender]

Don't get me wrong either, I love an 18 speed above another transmission I've operated. I'm just picturing sitting on the opposite side of the truck, coming off a woods road on to the highway. Cutting it wide to keep the trailer out of the ditch, getting busy on the steering wheel with my right hand and pulling gears and running the splitter with my left. I'm afraid I'd look like an absolute amatuer for a week at least!😂

[Resonator]

If those are company trucks I would guess fuel economy is a higher priority than horsepower. I drove for big fleets with lower HP engines and restricted speeds, where I knew I'd get there, but I wouldn't get there fast. ;D

[Riwaka]

If they pop a lower horsepower engine and put a conrod through the block. There is more likely to be complete new engine in the local warehouse. Some of the less common higher horsepower replacement engines could be further away in Australia etc.

KW (Australian assembled) T909 logger 'Blue Sue' in the far South Of NZ. Similar to the Southern parts of the US - Southerners of NZ can have their own distinctive 'drawl'.

Dynes Transport NZ T909 Kenworth - YouTube

[Riwaka]

Kenny T659 twin steer, with chain tossers/ tensioners in development.

Kenworth T659 8x4 with chain throwers and auto tensioners | New Zealand Trucks | Beyond the Noise - YouTube

[Old Greenhorn]

Wow, nice rig! Love the chain throwers! Fold up bunks are neat too. Is there a version of this video with English sub-titles or closed caption so I can understand what he is saying? :D

[sawguy21]

 :D The fold up bunks and chain throwers are really neat! She has a pretty good life, our logging roads don't come close to theirs. 

[Riwaka]

Kaingaroa Forest off road log truck. Running 160 metric tonnes/ 352K lbs. Scania 730 euro-horsepower, V8, two driver shifts.
Central tire inflation.

Logs on the truck in one of the runs are 7.8 meters/ 25 feet 7 inches long, might give an idea of the overall length of the truck and trailers.

I think the Harvard pension fund still has some shareholding in the trees. (The 150 page Forest management document (for public reading) was updated in October, 2023)  

GITI Tyres Big Test Super Hero: Scania S 730A6x4HZ XT - YouTube

[Peter Drouin]

How many board feet are on one of the trucks?

[Riwaka]

Ballpark for the 'Black Adam' truck with the 120 metric tonnes payload (264K lb payload) between 102K and 113K board feet minus a bit for the bark still on the logs, approx on the density, most logs appeared well 'skinned'/ debarked from the skidder drag and processor drive wheels. 
-------------------------
Another company's newish Scania truck, the "Red Scania" 560 8x4 with 5 axle trailer. central tire inflation on the drive tires. 560 horsepower, euro 6. 13 liter. 

53.25 metric tonnes (117K lbs) all up on the public roads. 3 x 5 meter (16 feet 5 inch) logs. 
The example filmed route is skid to the sawmill is about 122miles/ 195km one way(244 miles/ 390km round trip). There are mills closer but direct to wharf or log yard (with log train to port connection) log truck trips might be 280 miles or 240 miles (round trip). 

Company log truck so cheap on the chain load binders. 

Fuel use - claimed average 2.14km/ liter which is 5.03 miles per US gallon for 17.5K miles/ 28.5K km (hauling in hills)

Engine - https://traton.com/en.html   (Traton - Umbrella for Scania, M.A.N, Navistar, VW-truck&bus)

Giti Tyres Big Test: Scania G 560 B8x4NA - YouTube

 

[Ianab]

All fun and games until you meet them in the mail van, on a one lane gravel road.   :D
Like today...

Well be both came to a halt and assessed the situation. Luckily I could creep into the ditch, and give him enough space to creep past, along with the cattle truck and trailer that were following. The cattle truck had seen the road signs, and radio channel etc, and waited for a log truck to follow. 2 x 8 axles artic rigs meeting on hat bit of road would have been tricky. 

[Peter Drouin]

Wow! That's a lot of wood. Here in NH USA, I think It's 95,000 LB Truck with logs.
That would be a TT. With 8 to 9000 BF on it. Your roads must be built like a tank.
:D ;) I think a trip for them to a mill runs 50 to 80 miles one-way
Thanks for the info.

[Firewoodjoe]

That's decent fuel mileage. Our trucks run about 50 ton of just wood so 154-164,000 average gross. And they average about 3+/- mpg. 

[Riwaka]

Scania 770S with adjustable width low loader trailer for mainly forest equipment haulage (and earth moving).

Rolling down the road at 86 metric tonnes for this load, (189K lbs).
Scania 770S - heavy haul unit | New Zealand Trucks | Big Business - YouTube

[Peter Drouin]

That's a lot of $$$$$ going down the road.

[Riwaka]

3 Australian log trucks. The Kenworths are assembled in the factory in Melbourne, Australia.

Sunchip long logger australia (North East)
Elphinstone Long-Logger working with Sunchip Harvesting - YouTube

Monaro Logging (Easyloader) Bombala (South East, Australia)
Elphinstone EasyLoader with Monaro Logging - YouTube

Doglogger pole trailer, hardwood in Gympie, Queensland  (North East)
EasySteer DogLogger pole trailer working in Gympie QLD - YouTube