| If you're looking for a challenging career where you | | | | type of pulling device - usually either a winch or a |
| can work in the outdoors, you should consider the | | | | tractor. Then the logs are pulled to the loading site. |
| job of logger. Loggers are workers who cut down | | | | Like the fallers, chokers work in teams of 2 or 3 and |
| trees and trim the felled trees into manageable | | | | are supervised by a rigging slinger who provides |
| lengths. Then the loggers load the logs onto trailers | | | | assistance as needed. Rigging slingers also drive |
| or railroad cars for transport to processing mills. | | | | tractors, if they are used to pull the logs. |
| There are few independent loggers - most work for | | | | Once the logs arrive at the loading site, loader |
| large lumber companies. Within the logging job | | | | engineers take over. These workers pick up the logs |
| description, there are a few major subdivisions: | | | | using specialized machines and drop them onto the |
| fallers, buckers, scalers, chokers, rigging slingers and | | | | flatbeds or rail cars that transport the logs to lumber |
| loader engineers. | | | | mills for processing. |
| The process of felling a tree begins when a forester | | | | Overall employment of forest, conservation and |
| marks a tree as ready to cut down. After the | | | | logging workers is expected to increase more slowly |
| forester does this, the fallers take over. Fallers work | | | | than the average for all occupations in the U.S. |
| in teams of 2 and always work some distance from | | | | through the year 2014 and Texas is expected to |
| each other and other logging workers like chokers. | | | | follow this trend. Some niche jobs in specific areas |
| This is done to reduce the risk of injury to both the | | | | may be created due to recent Federal legislation that |
| fallers and other loggers. The faller team cuts a | | | | requires thinning of forests in an effort to prevent |
| V-shaped notch into the tree's trunk near the base. | | | | wildfires. |
| They then move to the side of the tree opposite | | | | The median annual wage for loggers in the U.S. is |
| the notch and cut laterally toward the notch. This | | | | $29,700. In Texas, the median is significantly lower at |
| causes the tree to fall on the notched side. | | | | $26,650. Despite the lower wages, the job outlook |
| Once the tree is on the ground, the buckers cut off | | | | for loggers in Texas is expected to remain level |
| the limbs and branches with chainsaws so that only | | | | through the year 2016. However, as logging |
| the tall, straight trunk remains, along with some larger | | | | processes continue to be mechanized, employment |
| branches that will also yield straight lumber. The | | | | of fallers, buckers, scalers, chokers, rigging slingers |
| scalers measure the usable portions of the felled tree | | | | and loader engineers will decline steadily. Those who |
| to determine how much finished lumber they will | | | | are considering a career in logging in Texas need to |
| provide. | | | | carefully consider the long-term declining trend jobs |
| At this point, the chokers take over. Chokers wrap | | | | and wages. |
| chains around the logs and attach the chains to some | | | | |