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Deliveries of Wood Products are Also Organized in Snowy Winter Conditions

To ensure the continuity of wood product deliveries even in conditions of heavy snow and frost, JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) uses route planning system data in the planning of wood product deliveries, which also includes current weather conditions, so that the planned delivery times correspond to the real situation in nature. Continuity in the supply of wood products is also ensured by the selection of appropriate roads, experienced service providers, drivers of timber carriers, and specially equipped timber carriers for winter conditions.

Loggers of LVM service providers are adequately equipped to continue work even in winter conditions and reduce possible risks when driving on snowy forest roads. An important role is played by the experience and driving skills of the drivers of the timber trucks in winter conditions.

Both the day-to-day planning of deliveries and the movement of drivers of timber carriers on snow-covered and icy roads must be adjusted to winter weather conditions.

“An experienced log truck driver is able to assess the condition of the road, whether the layer of snow formed on the road during heavy snowfall will be safe to pass through. LVM logistics specialists, in cooperation with the drivers of timber carriers and the information provided by them, promptly carry out cargo and route replanning if necessary,” says Jānis Mellums, LVM Supply Planning Manager.

In the process of cargo delivery, most of the time is taken by driving on public roads, choosing a safe driving speed, less by loading and unloading cargo. In winter, 700-800 cargoes are delivered to wood buyers per day.

Also, the location of warehouses near forest roads, which can be safely used even in winter conditions, supports the provision of timber deliveries to LVM customers in the usual volumes.

“Long-term cooperation with service providers is important. The service for cleaning the roads from snow is purchased for a longer term, it allows to clean the roads in the specific areas more quickly and in better quality. In some cases, nature literally puts obstacles in the way of winter maintenance work – snow causes increased weight and not all trees can withstand it,” says Ingus Barviķis, Head of Operation and Maintenance at LVM Forest Infrastructure.

At the moment, snow removal has started in the entire territory of the country, for example, in Vidzeme, the snow removal of the roads was started as early as on 24 November.

On 29 and 30 November, the Latvian Centre for Environment, Geology and Meteorology announced an orange and yellow warning for heavy snowfall in a large area of Latvia. It is expected that the snow cover will increase by 5-7 cm in many places, and even by 10-12 cm in central Latvia. LVM will continue the work in more difficult, blizzard and thick snow conditions. During intensive snowing, road cleaning is not very effective, because after a few hours the thick layer of snow has recovered.