These workers usually use gas-powered chain saws. Riggers set up and dismantle the cables and guy wires of the cable yarding system. Log handling equipment operators operate tracked or wheeled equipment to load logs and pulpwood off trucks or gondola railroad cars, usually in a sawmill or planing mill yard. Log graders and scalers inspect logs for defects, measure logs to determine their volume, and estimate the marketable content or value of logs or pulpwood. Other timber cutting and logging workers have a variety of responsibilities.
Some workers hike through forests to assess logging conditions.
Laborers clear areas of brush and other growth to prepare for logging activities and to promote growth of desirable species of trees. The timber cutting and logging industry is characterized by a large number of small crews of four to eight workers. A typical crew might consist of one or two fallers or one feller machine operator, one bucker, two logging tractor operators to drag cut trees to the loading deck, and one equipment operator to load the logs onto trucks. Most of these crews work for self-employed logging contractors who possess substantial logging experience, the capital to purchase equipment, and the skills needed to run a small business successfully. Most contractors work alongside their crews as working supervisors and often operate one of the logging tractors, such as the grapple loader or the tree harvester.