83110 – Logging machinery operators
Lead statement
Logging machinery operators operate cable yarding systems, mechanical harvesters and forwarders and mechanical tree processors and loaders to fell, yard and process trees at logging sites.
Main duties
- Cable yarding system operators
- Operate machines to transport trees from logging areas to landing or log loading sites in mountainous terrain in western Canada.
- Mechanical harvester and forwarder operators
- Assess site and terrain and drive heavy equipment to perform a combination of felling, slashing, bucking, bunching and forwarding operations at logging areas.
- Mechanical tree processor and loader operators
- Operate a variety of machines which perform a combination of slashing, bucking, chipping, sorting and loading logs or trees at landing sites.
Employment requirements
- Feller buncher operators and cable yarder operators usually require three to five years of logging experience.
- Mechanical tree processor and loader operators usually require one to three years of logging experience.
- Company certification for mobile logging machinery operation may be required.
- Workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) and first aid certificates may be required.
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
- Mechanical harvester and forwarder operators may require logging experience as a chain saw and skidder operator.
- Experience requirements vary depending on the complexity of machinery operated.
- Certification as a heavy equipment operator may be required.
- Provincial air brake certification may be required in British Columbia, depending on the type of equipment operated.
- Knowledge of tree harvesting regulations is required.
- On-the-job training from three to 16 months is provided, depending on the complexity of machinery operated and the type of woodlands operation.
Example job titles
bunk skidder operator · cable yarding operator · cable yarding system operator · chipping machine operator - logging · crane and claw operator - logging · delimber operator · delimber and buncher operator · feller buncher operator · feller delimber operator · tree-length harvester operator · tree harvester operator · feller forwarder operator · forwarder operator - logging · grapple yarder operator - logging · linehorse operator · grapple loader operator - logging · grapple operator - logging · logging truck loader · loader operator - logging · log loader operator · log loading machine operator · logging crane operator · logging machinery operator · mechanical harvester operator - logging · mechanical tree processor and loader operator · mechanical tree processor operator - logging · tree processor operator - logging · mobile whole tree chipper - logging · slasher operator - logging · steel spar operator - logging · pulpwood harvester operator · shortwood harvester operator · rigging slinger - logging · slasher loader operator · slasher saw operator - logging · slasher sawyer operator - logging · treelength forwarder operator · chipping machine operator · yarding engineer - logging · mechanical harvester and forwarder operator
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $22.00 | $32.00 | $40.78 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $20.00 | $25.00 | $32.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $20.00 | $23.00 | $33.00 |
| New Brunswick | $18.00 | $24.00 | $33.00 |
| Quebec | $24.00 | $30.00 | $35.00 |
| Ontario | $25.00 | $30.00 | $35.88 |
| Manitoba | $20.12 | $25.93 | $39.01 |
| Saskatchewan | $25.00 | $30.00 | $32.00 |
| Alberta | $30.00 | $35.00 | $42.00 |
| British Columbia | $30.00 | $37.13 | $45.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.