What’s a Wood Carrier?

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A wood conveyor is any type of machinery, or system of machinery, designed to move or transport wood. Typically, the term is used to refer to a specific type of machine used by residential or professional loggers to load wood into trucks or dumpsters. Most are angled metal ramps with moving bucket or divider-type compartments that carry the wood up to a certain height so that a truck or other container can be placed under the end of the conveyor to collect the wood. Some incorporate a log splitter, which allows wood to be split and loaded in a single operation.

Often called firewood carriers, these types of machines are often powered by small engines, designed to be height-adjustable, and pulled behind a vehicle with a standard trailer hitch. They usually incorporate hydraulic controls to raise and lower the ramp or operate the splitter, if equipped with one. The transport mechanism usually works with a system of chains on a ring with metal dividers that form compartments and serve to push the wood along the ramp of the wood conveyor. Some models may use a heavy duty, rotating belt to move the wood, as construction details vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

A commercial model wood hauler may have a seat and control station for an operator, a more powerful engine, hydraulics and heavy components, but they are essentially the same type of machine. They are designed for use by operators with a high volume firewood business, rather than an individual lumberjack cutting for their own use or small volume loggers loading firewood from harvest load. These machines are generally not used by someone who runs a logging business. Log carriers are not designed or intended to transport long sections or very large diameter logs, but to move smaller sections of logs or split lumber.

Some types of wood conveyors may be marketed as multi-purpose machines, as they may also be suitable for handling other materials, such as cut hay, wood chips or gravel for example. Many wood haulers, however, are purpose built, specifically for moving wood, and are not recommended for other uses. Each manufacturer of these machines will have detailed information on their recommended use. Some larger, more complex machines called firewood processors may incorporate a wood conveyor as part of their design. These machines are designed to cut and split wood, then move and, in some cases, even stack the split wood. Some of them are capable of processing up to two cords or more of split firewood per hour.

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