The Landing; A Timber Industry Podcast

In Episode 83 of The Landing, Jason sits down with third-generation truck driver Jon Hileman to talk oversized loads, lowboy work, and life behind the wheel.

Jon grew up riding with his father and grandfather and knew from an early age that trucking was what he wanted to do. He shares how he went from earning his CDL and hauling flatbeds to moving logging equipment in the woods—and eventually transporting some of the largest machinery on the road across multiple states.

Jon and Jason discuss hauling the twin D8, moving 130-foot-long scraper loads, navigating different permitting rules from state to state, and dealing with traffic, construction, pilot cars, restrictive travel windows, and weeks away from home.

Jon also shares some hard-earned lessons from hauling equipment into the woods, including getting stranded on remote logging roads, using a drill to pull his own truck out of a muddy hole, and learning why you should always scout the road before taking a loaded lowboy into the unknown.

It’s an honest and entertaining conversation about three generations of trucking, the realities of oversized hauling, and the experience required to move heavy iron safely from one end of the country to the other.

The Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference is a proud founding partner of The Landing. For more than 75 years, the conference has brought together loggers, truckers, contractors, foresters, equipment manufacturers, and timber families for three days of equipment, education, competition, and timber community.

Drew’s Boots is a proud show partner of The Landing. Built for steep ground, wet brush, shop floors, and long days, Drew’s Boots are rebuildable and made for people who depend on their footwear. Use code JASON DAVENPORT at checkout for 10% off.

In Episode 82 of The Landing, recorded in Rogue River, Oregon, Jason sits down with forestry contractor Garrett Dees to introduce Blaze Runner, a new equipment system designed to bring water directly onto the machine and into the fight.

Garrett’s work in fuels reduction, wildland fire, and small forestry projects showed him a problem: shutdown restrictions, limited access, and the need for additional water trucks or ground personnel can quickly bring production to a stop. His solution was to create a removable, self-contained water system that mounts to an excavator and gives the operator immediate fire-suppression capability.

Working with Summit Attachments & Machinery, Garrett turned that idea into a fully functioning prototype. Blaze Runner carries nearly 600 gallons of water, delivers up to 300 PSI, includes foam and drafting capabilities, and can be removed or exchanged in minutes. The modular system can also be mounted to other equipment or staged independently along a fireline.

Jason and Garrett discuss the engineering behind the project, real-world testing, equipment versatility, wildfire contracting, reducing downtime, and what Blaze Runner could mean for mastication, fuels reduction, forestry work, and wildland firefighting.

This episode is sponsored by Drew’s Boots: rebuildable boots made for steep ground, wet brush, shop floors, and long days. Visit Drew’s Boots and use code JASON DAVENPORT at checkout for 10% off.

The Sierra Cascade Logging Conference is a proud founding partner of The Landing. For more than 75 years, the conference has brought together loggers, contractors, foresters, equipment manufacturers, and timber families while investing in education and the next generation of the industry.

In Episode 81 of The Landing, Jason sits down with Chris Cone for a wide-ranging conversation about log trucking, operating heavy equipment, military service, and a lifetime spent finding ways to stay useful.

Chris grew up around logging and trucks before serving as a heavy-equipment mechanic with the Navy Seabees. After deployments to Kuwait, Iraq, and Cuba, he returned home and built a career hauling logs, moving equipment, running chip trucks, and operating everything from skidders and bunchers to grapple yarders.

Jason and Chris get into the realities of hauling logs in the Pacific Northwest—including overweight loads, changing technology, electronic logs, TireBoss systems, difficult landings, rising equipment costs, and why new technology can never replace proper training. Chris also shares why he treats every truck like it belongs to him and how slowing down can save more money than chasing one extra load.

It’s an honest, funny, and occasionally sideways conversation about hard work, old equipment, modern logging, family life, and the experience it takes to keep wood moving without destroying the truck—or yourself—in the process.

The Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference is a proud founding partner of The Landing. Through scholarships, education programs, forestry competitions, logging sports, and in-woods demonstrations, the conference is helping introduce young people to careers in forestry, welding, diesel mechanics, heavy equipment, and the timber industry.

Drew’s Boots is a proud show partner of The Landing. Built for steep ground, wet brush, shop floors, and long days, Drew’s Boots are rebuildable and made for people who depend on their footwear. Use code JASON DAVENPORT at checkout for 10% off.

In Episode 80 of The Landing, Jason sits down with DJ Erickson of Gelfand Insurance Group to discuss commercial insurance from the perspective of someone who has actually worked in the industries he now protects.

DJ grew up around logging, spent years behind the wheel of a log truck, and operated his own trucking business before moving into insurance. That experience gives him a firsthand understanding of equipment, jobsite risks, operating costs, and the consequences of discovering a coverage gap after something goes wrong.

Jason and DJ break down insurance for loggers, truckers, contractors, and owner-operators—including liability, workers’ compensation, occupational accident coverage, wildfire exposure, claims, equipment changes, and why the cheapest policy may become the most expensive option when it fails to cover the work you actually perform.

They also discuss what insurance carriers look for, how businesses can make themselves more attractive to underwriters, and why an honest relationship with a knowledgeable agent matters.

The Sierra-Cascade Logging Conference is a proud founding partner of The Landing. Through scholarships, education programs, competitions, and in-woods demonstrations, the conference is helping prepare the next generation for careers throughout the timber industry.

Drew’s Boots is a proud show partner of The Landing. Built for steep ground, wet brush, shop floors, and long days, Drew’s Boots are rebuildable and made for people who depend on their footwear. Use code JASON DAVENPORT at checkout for 10% off.

Disclaimer: This discussion is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to provide individualized insurance, legal, tax, claims, or risk-management advice. Coverage depends on the specific policy, terms, conditions, exclusions, endorsements, and circumstances involved. A disclaimer does not replace careful communication or professional advice when addressing an individual situation.

If you have questions for DJ about your specific insurance coverage and needs for your business, reach out to me for his contact information.

In Episode 79 of The Landing, Jason sits down with Brock Cota of Timber Harvesting, Inc. for an honest conversation about growing up in a logging family, running a modern timber harvesting operation, and the challenges facing tower logging in the Pacific Northwest.

Brock shares how he was raised around the industry, from spending his childhood on landings to eventually taking on greater responsibility within the family business. He and Jason discuss planning difficult tower units, balancing production with safety, retaining experienced employees, and carrying decades of hard-earned logging knowledge into the next generation.

They also explore the rising cost of operating a logging company, the importance of strong relationships between contractors and landowners, and why the lowest bid does not always provide the best value. Brock offers his perspective on changing technology, the loss of experienced woodsmen, public timber policy, fluctuating log markets, and what the future may hold for contractors working increasingly difficult ground.

This episode is sponsored by Drew’s Boots, offering rebuildable logger, fire, and work boots made for long days and demanding conditions. Visit Drew’s Boots and use the code JASON DAVENPORT at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

In Episode 78 of The Landing, Jason sits down with Hogan Haeber, owner of H4 Fabworks, to talk welding, fabrication, millwright work, and the leap from steady employment to running his own business.

Hogan shares how learning to stick weld on the family farm sparked a career that took him through WyoTech, a millwright apprenticeship, lumber mills, logging, and industrial fabrication before he decided to bet on himself. He discusses the challenges of building H4 Fabworks, managing a growing crew, finding the right employees, and earning the trust of customers who need difficult repairs completed correctly—and often under serious time pressure.

Jason and Hogan also get into portable line boring, heavy-equipment repair, machining, old-school trade knowledge, and the problem-solving mentality required to keep mills and equipment running. It’s an honest conversation about mastering a trade, taking risks, and learning how to build a business while doing the work.

This episode is sponsored by Drew’s Boots, offering rebuildable logger, fire, and work boots made for long days and demanding conditions. Visit Drew’s Boots and use the code JASON DAVENPORT at checkout to receive 10% off your order.

In this episode of The Landing, Jason Davenport sits down with Gary Warner of Warner Enterprises to discuss nearly five decades of logging, forestry, firefighting, and innovation in Northern California's timber industry.

Gary shares the story of Warner Enterprises, founded by his father in 1977, and how the company has evolved from traditional logging operations into a diversified business involved in biomass utilization, wildfire mitigation, forest restoration, emergency response, and infrastructure projects.

The conversation dives into the realities of modern logging, including the rising cost of equipment and fuel, the challenges of recruiting and training the next generation of operators, and the incredible advances in harvesting technology that have transformed production in the woods. Gary also discusses his involvement with the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference, educating future generations about forestry, and why public understanding of forest management matters now more than ever.

Jason and Gary explore topics including:

• The history and growth of Warner Enterprises
• Modern logging technology and production efficiency
• Workforce development and operator training
• Forest health, wildfire mitigation, and restoration forestry
• Biomass utilization and emerging wood products markets
• The importance of industry outreach and education
• Family business succession and leadership transitions
• Lessons learned from nearly 50 years in the timber industry

This episode offers a thoughtful look at where the timber industry has been, where it's headed, and the people working to ensure forests remain productive, healthy, and resilient for future generations.

Sponsors:

Finster Forestry is currently hiring an experienced harvester operator for their cut-to-length operations in the Corvallis and Philomath area. Competitive benefits include 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental insurance for employees. Contact [email protected] with the subject line: Harvester Operator.

Drew's Boots — Built for loggers, firefighters, contractors, and anyone who depends on their boots every day. Use code JasonDavenport for 10% off your order.

On this episode of The Landing, Jason Davenport sits back down with Robert “Nemo” Nieman for one of the rawest conversations yet. What starts as a life update quickly turns into an honest deep dive into men’s mental health, weight loss, testosterone therapy, stress, discipline, and the reality of trying to become a better man while working in the Pacific Northwest timber industry.

Jason opens up about losing over 200 pounds, battling high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, and learning how to completely rebuild his relationship with food, health, and self-worth.

Nemo shares his own journey through hormone therapy, fitness, recovery, mental struggles, and the mindset shifts that helped him take control of his life both physically and mentally.

Together, they talk about:

• The hidden mental toll of working in demanding industries
• Why men struggle to talk about stress and emotions
• Weight loss, fitness, and learning discipline later in life
• Testosterone replacement therapy and overall health optimization
• Sleep, recovery, nutrition, and long-term health
• Breaking destructive habits and taking ownership of your life
• Why consistency matters more than motivation

This episode is honest, unfiltered, and packed with real conversations that a lot of men need to hear.

Sponsors:
Drew’s Boots — Premium handcrafted boots built for the toughest jobs in the timber industry. Use code JasonDavenport for 10% off your order.

https://drewsboots.com/?ref=JasonD

Finster Forestry — Currently looking to add an experienced harvester operator to their growing team. Contact [email protected] with the subject line: Harvester Operator.

This week on The Landing Podcast Jason Davenport sits down with Reed’s Fuel & Trucking owner Jason Reed for a deep dive into one of the Pacific Northwest timber industry’s longest-running family businesses. 

From hauling residuals 24/7 with a fleet of 42 trucks, to upgrading into modern technology like digital mirrors and automatic transmissions, Jason breaks down what it really takes to keep sawmills moving around the clock. The conversation covers family business succession, leadership, driver retention, trucking technology, work ethic, weight loss, and the realities of running a multi-generation company in today’s timber economy. 

You’ll also hear stories from the early days of Reed’s Fuel & Trucking, the impact of the 2008 crash, the spotted owl era, and why company culture matters more now than ever before. This episode is packed with honest conversation, industry insight, and blue-collar perspective from two guys who understand what it means to build something that lasts. 

SPONSORS:

Drew’s Boots
Built for the guys who don’t quit. Use code JASONDAVENPORT at checkout for 10% off your order.

Finster Forestry
Finster Forestry is hiring an experienced harvester operator for cut-to-length operations around the Corvallis and Philomath areas. Competitive benefits including 100% paid health, vision, and dental insurance for employees. Contact: [email protected] — subject line: Harvester Operator.

What if the real problem in the timber industry isn’t the work—but the lack of exposure to it?

In this episode of The Landing, I sit down with Austin Ernesti of Trajectory at the Oregon Logging Conference to talk about connecting the next generation to careers in forestry, logging, and the trades.

We cover workforce shortages, the importance of hands-on experience, the fight to keep CTE programs alive, and how getting kids out of the classroom and into the woods can change everything.

We also get real about mental health, industry misconceptions, and what it actually takes to build the future of this workforce.

If you care about the timber industry—or where it’s headed—this one matters.

Drew’s Boots:
Use code JASONDAVENPORT at checkout for 10% off your order at Drew’s Boots. https://drewsboots.com/?ref=JasonD

Finster Forestry:

Looking to add an experienced harvester operator to their growing Cut To Length team. Reach out to [email protected] for more information. Subject line: Harvester Operator