30% of US log truck drivers are over 55 with almost no replacements entering

The logging industry faces a workforce collapse in log truck driving that is structurally different from the general trucking shortage. Approximately 30% of log truck drivers are over 55, and the pipeline of replacements is nearly empty. This isn't just a labor market issue — it's an existential threat to the entire timber supply chain. Without log trucks, standing timber cannot reach mills, period. The problem is uniquely severe because log trucking requires specialized skills beyond a standard CDL: navigating unpaved forest roads, operating hydraulic loaders, securing irregular loads on steep grades, and handling weight distribution for raw logs. Yet there are almost no formal training programs — unlike long-haul trucking which has hundreds of CDL schools. The economics are punishing: log trucks operate on gravel roads that destroy tires, brakes, and suspension at 2-3x the rate of highway trucks, while per-mile rates are lower because haul distances are short. A log truck owner-operator might gross $150K-200K/year but net only $40K-60K after maintenance, fuel, and insurance on a $250K+ truck. Young workers look at these numbers and choose Amazon delivery instead. The problem persists because mills have historically treated hauling as a commodity service and resisted paying rates that would sustain the fleet.