In Finland, logging is based on the so-called assortment system. This means that a tree trunk is cut immediately after felling into saw-timber and pulpwood, based on its quality and diameter. The butt end of a large tree gives about 2 or 3 logs which can be used for saw-timber, whereas the top is used for making pulp and paper. The thinnest part of the tree top can be used for energy. A timber load, when it arrives at the factory, may consist of logs from a number of small separate road-side landings.
Private contractors transport the timber from intermediate landings to the factories.
The timber lorry's computer shows the driver the way to the right road-side landing. Roundwood transports constitute a major part of all haulage on Finnish roads. In addition to logging, forestry includes forest management and improvement work. About three quarters of this is financed by the forest owners themselves and the rest is covered by state subsidies. The State supports those forestry investments which would not immediately profit an individual forest owner but which are, nevertheless, desirable from the point of view of national economics.