Forest Operations > Conduct Skidder Operations > Skidder Operation

Operator skill

The key skill you will need to develop as a competent skidder operator is the ability to move the machine around the forest worksite.

To be able to carry out work tasks efficiently, you will need to position the skidder so that you can make best use of its capabilities. 

In some operations the skidder takes the trees / stems to a landing site for a mechanical processor or chainsaw operator to process into required log products.

However these types of tree harvesting operations are changing with the introduction of single grip harvesters.

Some examples below indicate the type of tree harvesting operations where skidders are put to good working use.

Grapple skidding / snigging can be a single; usually a large tree, or pre bunched trees laid out by a feller buncher in an organised pattern for quick and efficient snigging by the skidder.

• A clear fell operation can be a process where the trees are felled and placed in bunches by a feller buncher, then snigged by the skidder to a landing site in the forest for further processing.
• This is a unique way of moving bulk timber quickly.
• Clear fell operations can be trees felled by chainsaw operators, then snigged with the skidder to a landing site; where chainsaw operators will cut the trees to length. 

Skidders also work in forest operations where it is difficult for other types of forestry machines to work.

An example of this is:

• Salvage work of storm damaged forest, where trees are blown over.
• The tree cut off at the stump, either by a chainsaw operator or a machine.
• The skidder operator will then grapple the tree(s) at the butt and snig it to a landing site for further processing.