In Northern Ontario logging operations you will have no doubt at some point come across the self- loading trucker. The operator /owner is a business person involved in the entire process, from marketing his loading and driving skills and availability, to ensuring he/she gets paid. The Self-loader trucker is an independent breed, and most are always characters.
Think about this business; it is 4-seasons, with the trucker sitting on that loader’s seat between the two trailers exposed to the -40 temperatures in the winter with the wind or contending with a steady downpour and washed –out roads in the spring and fall and pretty much has to look out for himself. He gets paid when he delivers a load. If he gets stuck, breaks down, you name it; their on their own.
I can recall my first experience on one of these monsters when I worked for Weldwood in the 70’s. I always remember being granted permission to jump in with one of the Veilleux’s Self-loader’s to haul a load of aspen poplar veneer logs to Longlac. I was so impressed at the artistry of the operator placing these slippery logs on the deck, and I thought that this must take a lot of practice. If you think about it, the operator has to find the log pile, when usually no-one is around; find the easiest way to get in and out and turn around, and then load himself and then get back out. No small feat. Again, any thing happens in this process and tough luck.
One such Self-Loader man is Reg Blunt of J&R Blunt Trucking located in Pass Lake, Ontario. Reg fits the role as to what I have come to know of these characters over the past 30 years to a “T”. Most people that know Reg will understand my interview with him will make for a long conversation, and as I have come to realize that all these Self-Loader guys are all the same; they like to talk, and because they get around to various mills and logging operations-they are in the know.
Reg is the last of a breed of men that do this job well. They are highly sought-after for their ability and independence. You know when you call Reg for a load to be picked-up and delivered, it just happens. He covers an area almost the size of France, as he hauls wood between White River to the Manitoba border, and as Reg commented, “I know every damn road in between”.
Reg operates an International Pay-Star 5600 series truck from C.C Poulin in Thunder Bay, powered by a 525 HP Cummins. His trailer is made by Timmins Trailers, and the self-loading rig grapple equipment is made by Serco, of Two Harbors, Minnesota. Reg speaks highly of his equipment as he has had to rely on it make it out of some pretty tough road and weather situations. Reg only uses Internationals with a second powered by a 475 Cummins.
Reg has been in this business for the past 32 years and has been witness to a lot of changes, in both logging and trucking. What has not changed is the need for his type of truck. “There is always a load that someone wants moved, and because I am able to do this in one process, I am an economical option for the customer”, Reg stated. “There is always a load of wood that has to be collected into a load and then moved”, Reg commented. Reg explained that in a typical logging operation the loader is constantly being moved around for various functions. This constant shuffling of loaders ensures that there will always be wood missed or left behind, which will need to be moved and this is where Reg makes his livelihood. Other situations requiring Reg’s abilities and equipment are for moving the specialty wood such as sawlogs or veneer logs that are processed after the major volume species such as pulp logs are produced.
Another feature of Reg’s equipment configuration of a “tandem and a pup” trailer, is in some situations he has had to collect and forward wood on some difficult roads and by being able to drop his pup trailer he can get in and out, without the drag of his pup trailer.
Reg like most truckers can relate to stories regarding regulations and he feels that while most are beneficial, some seem to miss the point such as his concerns over cabling and feels that throwing un-needed double cables over his loads will eventually lead to compensation claims.
Reg feels that cell phones have made a positive difference, while fuel; well we all know what that has done to the forest industry, and in Reg’s case was 50% of his costs in 2007.