Predicting productivity of timber loading operations: a literature review

Abstract

Loading is considered a bottleneck of the forest harvesting system as it acts as a connection between primary transport and secondary transport (from roadside/ landing to mills or central yards). Any delay during the loading component can cause delay in the primary wood extraction and/ or secondary transportation. This article reviewed the current knowledge on loading productivity studies. Based on the results, the main variables impacting the loading productivity include log size, log lengths, load volume per truck, number of logs (or pieces) per truck and number of safety straps. The productivity of loading operations ranged from 3.4 m3/PMH0 in a manual loading to 168.9 m3/PMH0 using mechanised loaders. The results of this review can assist the academic and industrial users for predicting, controlling and managing the productivity of loading operations.