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Chilean Forest Classroom

BTB met with Francisco Sandoval, a shovel logger instructor from Chile, to learn about a logging training program and how Tigercat machines have become a valuable learning tool for future Chilean machine operators.

— Jorge Victoria

Francisco Sandoval, shovel logger instructor
ARAUCO is a vertically integrated global forestry company based in Chile. Francisco Sandoval is a shovel logger instructor at Academia Forma Arauco, the company’s inhouse training centre. The academy was born from the need to respond to the new demands of the forestry industry and with the aim of training and educating workers to achieve a high standard of safety, quality and productivity. It is a pioneering industry training program in Chile. Since the academy launched three years ago, it has trained 1,000 people in timber harvesting, environmental protection, heavy equipment maintenance, road building and transportation. Currently, the program has 70 specialist instructors.

Francisco’s career path started with a technical degree in industrial maintenance. After graduating, he joined a forest harvesting company as a mechanic. He worked for two years performing scheduled maintenance and basic repairs on processors, feller bunchers, skidders and loaders. But his curiosity, and desire to learn and grow in his job led him to ask his supervisor for the opportunity to operate a processor. From that moment on, he didn’t want to get out of the seat. After a few months of training, he began his career as a forestry equipment operator in 2016.
Tigercat LS855E shovel logger in Chile
The challenging terrain makes initiatives such as Academia Forma Arauco an important and valuable endeavour.
For the past three years Francisco has been working as an instructor. He has experience with a range of forestry machines beyond the shovel logger, having operated everything from harvesters and processors to loaders and feller bunchers. However, his preference is the shovel logger. “I love the machine,” he says. “It’s a very dynamic job, involving a lot of strategic thinking.”

Chile’s geography presents challenges for timber harvesting, constantly encouraging harvesting professionals to be creative and resourceful, to traverse the cutting edge of forestry technology. “The main challenges I have encountered are related to the different types of conditions on the hill that we are presented with,” says Francisco. “You don’t just have to know how to approach a steep slope and cut trees, you have to study the hill – you have to have an overall plan to be able to harvest in the different scenarios that arise. Every hill is different. There have been cases where, regardless of my experience, I have had to stop and do a much more rigorous study of the slope, and based on this, rework my strategy.”

Training process

The training program that Francisco delivers includes both theoretical and practical elements related to the operation of shovel loggers equipped with directional felling heads. The program trains students on falling and shovelling to roadside, pre-bunching for a cable assisted skidder, and line falling for a yarder. Students learn the basic movements of the machinery, winch assist equipment, felling and shovelling techniques, and work strategies. Each group of students is assigned to an ARAUCO forestry operation where they participate in what are referred to as training tasks.
Francisco (centre) along with students Milton Jara (left) and Cristopher Roca (right).
Francisco (centre) along with students Milton Jara (left) and Cristopher Roca (right).
Since the training is carried out within an active forestry operation, the study and planning of the slopes and terrain are exhaustive and governed by an assist table that sets out decision rules based on slope, soil conditions and other factors. Francisco explains that it is essential to have a slope plan, contour maps and a general plan of the harvest area. The next step is to do a tour of the sector. Based on this preliminary study, the harvest plan is created. Once these steps have been completed, the team proceeds with the harvesting operation. “The most important challenge for me personally is strategy. There comes a point where the slope can be very steep, but that is the machine’s habitat, its normal environment. If the machine meets the conditions to be able to climb well, it makes our work much easier,” says Francisco.

The training phase does not have a set duration. Depending on the previous experience of the students, it may last anywhere from three to nine months. Once completed, the students move on to the productive stage where they become employees of ARAUCO and are assigned to the harvesting machinery they used during training. Although moving on to the productive stage means the training program has ended, the instructors come back sporadically to visit the former students to check on their work, offering support, assistance or further training as required. Francisco summarizes the program cycle. “ARAUCO buys new machines, and a new site is set up. As instructors, we come in, we teach people how to operate the equipment until they have learned it thoroughly and then they can continue harvesting on their own, autonomously. And so, we follow that cycle.”

Instilling confidence

Francisco reveals that, although working with a shovel logger on a steep slope used to make him a little nervous, this was mostly eliminated once he had the opportunity to get on a Tigercat LS855E. “Since I’ve been on a Tigercat, a lot of my nerves have gone away. Being able to see the two tracks while going down a 100% slope gives me a lot of peace of mind. I can see stumps and obstacles, and I can easily avoid them. The swing power is impressive compared to other brands. The fact that the joysticks are hydraulically controlled means they feel different in my hands. I can make more precise, smoother movements. Inside the machine is also quite ergonomic. It’s quiet inside. It is fun to work with the machine. The fact that it reduces my nerves and entertains me makes it a very positive piece of equipment,” Francisco emphasizes.

THERE COMES A POINT WHERE THE SLOPE CAN BE VERY STEEP, BUT THAT IS THE MACHINE’S HABITAT, ITS NORMAL ENVIRONMENT. IF THE MACHINE MEETS THE CONDITIONS TO BE ABLE TO CLIMB WELL, IT MAKES OUR WORK MUCH EASIER.


— Francisco Sandoval

Francisco highlights that the winch assist anchor point on the LS855E has several advantages compared to other brands. “I think it’s great that the anchor point comes from the factory. It comes with three holes for different types of assists, for either one or two cables. The other thing I think is great about this machine is that the anchor point is removable because it comes with bolts. So, if the anchor has some play, some wear, you don’t have to take the whole machine to a workshop to have it repaired. You just remove the anchor, take it to be repaired and then bring it back and continue working.”

Forest classroom

Francisco says that the cab’s visibility is excellent, and the cameras also allow him to observe the position and movement of the assist cable. He says that factors such as the stability of the machine and the power of the tracks provide him with a sense of safety and peace of mind while operating. “Tigercat machines are very safe, dependable and durable. They’re very reliable to work with. They’re intuitive. They’re very comfortable, very ergonomic. It’s state-of-the-art technology.”
LS855E shovel logger on steep slope
The LS855E assigned to Francisco’s training task was equipped with the Tigercat 5195 directional felling saw, versatile for felling, shovel logging, bunching, stacking and sorting.
Francisco tells us that throughout his career as an instructor, he has been able to observe certain characteristics that turn a student into a good operator. “I really value the maturity of the person. There are people who don’t have a lot of experience with machines, but they are quite mature and that’s a good positive point. A shovel operator has to be a calm person, someone who thinks things through, who is constantly analyzing the situation to be able to do the job safely, productively and with quality results.”

Concentration is another very important characteristic for a shovel logger operator – the ability to evaluate multiple factors simultaneously. “You have to be very focused,” Francisco explains. “Which side are you going to cut the tree from? How steep is the slope? What tension should you apply to the assist cable to be able to attack that slope? How is the shape of the hill changing? And you must constantly plan and adjust your work strategy. So, there comes a point when the mind is very focused.”

A SHOVEL OPERATOR HAS TO BE A CALM PERSON, SOMEONE WHO THINKS THINGS THROUGH, WHO IS CONSTANTLY ANALYZING THE SITUATION TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB SAFELY, PRODUCTIVELY AND WITH QUALITY RESULTS... AND YOU MUST CONSTANTLY PLAN AND ADJUST YOUR WORK STRATEGY. SO, THERE COMES A POINT WHEN THE MIND IS VERY FOCUSED.


— Francisco Sandoval

Francisco has taken on the responsibility of his role as an instructor with enthusiasm. His desire to produce well-trained operators and promote good practices in the trade led him to create a Facebook page called Tips Forestales in 2021. The page, with more than 7,000 followers, is where Francisco shares what he has learned over the years in Chilean forestry operations. Professionals like Francisco Sandoval and programs like the Academia Forma Arauco move the industry forward. “Thanks to the academy, we can train people, since in the past there was no such thing as training. Many people learned purely from their own efforts. Nowadays, there is constant training. It’s a university in a forest,” Francisco concludes.

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