The Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety (THATS) Foundation met on May 7 during FRA’s Annual Meeting in Miramar Beach, Florida. The meeting followed a memorable evening of great food, lively entertainment, and generous giving. The night before featured FRA’s National Awards Dinner and the popular THATS Live Auction—an annual highlight where members gathered to celebrate the National Outstanding Logger, the Technical Writing Award winner, and to raise funds in support of future logging and transportation safety projects. For those who attend regularly, the evening delivered on its reputation for priceless entertainment. Richard Schwab was, again, the MC and the auctioneer for this event!  He provides his own version of Let’s Make a Deal, or else! No one is safe; all movement is a potential winning bid!  At the end of the evening, the Live Auction secured $9,850.  Richard provided an additional $150 and raised the total amount received that evening to $10,000!  Together with the online auction, the THATS Foundation raised over $12,000.   

The Foundation’s mission is to “promote, support, and serve as a catalyst for safe and professional work attitudes, practices, and conditions in timber harvesting and transportation.” Through this mission, the Foundation supports a wide range of safety initiatives that directly benefit the logging and trucking sectors. Each year, the THATS Foundation reviews and approves grant applications for projects designed to improve safety outcomes across the industry.

Four projects were selected recently for funding, each advancing safety in unique ways. The first—The Six Rules for Logging Safety Kit, launched in July with funding from John Deere—has already demonstrated a positive impact. The kit includes a large-format weather-resistant safety poster, 20 safety stickers, and five safety-themed keychains. To date, 78 kits have been distributed to FRA member associations and 11 individual companies.

A second grant project, scheduled for completion later this year, is being led by the Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative/State Implementation Committee (SFI/SIC). Loggers are often required to miss workdays to attend in-person safety training to meet SFI standards. This project is developing an online training platform that will allow Pennsylvania loggers to complete the required training at a time that works best for them. A key benefit of this platform is its scalability—it can be shared and adopted by other states to support logger training nationwide.

The third grant project, in partnership with Mississippi State University, is focused on improving driver safety and reducing liability risks. The university is using video footage and driver behavior data to create learning opportunities that promote accident avoidance, ultimately helping to moderate insurance costs and reduce legal exposure. Two workshops have already been conducted, with a third scheduled soon. Survey results from participants will be compiled and shared with the THATS Foundation following the final workshop.

The final grant project comes from Oregon State University (OSU) and may be the most high-tech initiative the Foundation has supported to date. Titled “Virtual Canopy Immersive Training for Future Forestry Professionals,” the project will develop a 3D immersive health and safety training module for logging operators. The new software will expand OSU’s existing Steep Slope Logging Virtual Reality Simulation to include:

• An exploration mode where users can virtually navigate a logging site to identify equipment, hazards, and safety protocols
• A glossary of logging terms enhanced with embedded safety information
• Interactive safety checks built into simulated logging scenarios

This innovative tool will be especially valuable for onboarding new employees, with built-in tracking of individual progress, scores, and module completion for performance evaluation.

I’m excited to share these updates on the impactful grant projects supported by the THATS Foundation. The Foundation plays a vital role in advancing logging and trucking safety, but it’s the people behind it who truly make the difference. Your support, whether through financial contributions or the gift of your time, is what makes these accomplishments possible. As we move further into 2025, let’s stay committed to promoting safety in every aspect of our work. After all, in this industry, nothing happens by accident.