money

Think about how much it costs instead. Then you will see where there is a profit or not.

 

It depends on how you're being paid. Some jobs pay by the ton, some pay by the board foot.
If you're working by the board foot be aware that what you haul out of the woods and what you get paid for hauling after the logs are scaled can be two different things.
For example, if you have a 5000 bf load and the scalers deduct 1000 bf for defect, you'll be paid for hauling 4000 feet.
It's not unusual for a logging truck to earn a thousand dollars a day but bear in mind that it's seasonal work and there will be many many days when you don't earn anywhere near that much.
Figure on working some hideously long hours for that kind of money and remember that what the truck makes and what you wind up putting in your pocket are two different things. Logging is hard on equipment...and people, too.

 

REO said it all, but spending the time in the wilderness is priceless. The smells of fresh cut timber, newly turned earth and diesel smoke are better than any French perfume.

 

The wood market is in the dumper. Many of the pulp wood facilities are closing and/or not paying that much per ton. At least in my neck of the woods. Therefore pulpwood, which is mostly like trees that firewood is cut from and not big or straight enough for boards to be cut from, is being hauled much further away to facilities just to get rid of it. As for your question, I wouldn't want to own a rig and put it in the woods. Usually loads are well over 100,000 lbs and even brand new equipment breaks daily from the beating. DOT is always after you too, as you're usually always overweight with wood or chips and there aren't any CAT scales coming out of the woods. It's a cool job with long hours in dead of winter and hot summers. I enjoyed driving for someone else, but wouldn't personally want to be responsible for the upkeep and repairs. Also, without personally owning your own logging company, where you're splitting the percentage with the land owner, I don't think the profit margin is that high. However, I do know people that make an honest living doing it. They just have an "IN" with a larger timber harvesting company. Hope this helps a little.