“For the Long Haul…” was a saying that I recently saw on a local billboard advertising personal injury lawyers. To me, “for the long haul” evokes feelings of commitment, integrity, strength, and honor. I thought how sad it was to take a saying used often and so proudly within the trucking and/or logging community and use it against us.
Gray Logging, LLC is proud to be a locally owned and operated company which employs 30+ Madison County residents. You may not realize that within any given day, just one of our log trucks may make “a long haul” to Homerville, Ga and “a long haul” to Cross City, FL and “a long haul” to Hazelhurst, GA. Each of these mills are vital as they produce different wood products for consumption. While one mill may produce paper products like paper and boxes, another mill may produce cellulose which is found in a whole range of goods from toothpaste to medicine.
During the COVID crisis, truckers and loggers were considered “essential” because the products that we produce and haul were considered “essential”. We all remember the shortage of toilet tissue! Thankfully, life has gotten back to usual, but we cannot forget how important paper items are in our life. I must remind you and/or make you aware of three things: 1) wood products are essential, 2) wood products come in a variety of consumable goods, and 3) the log truck driver and the logging company is NOT the bad guy.
What seems to be a problem in our industry, is mirrored in larger portions in our country. So far, only one message has gotten out. And that message is that trucks are bad. The truth is that trucks are not bad. They are greatly needed and deserve recognition. The truth is “Wood is Good”. The truth is that wood is a renewable resource. It is planted, harvested, and replanted in order that we might use the goods that we do every day.
So…when you hear or read “for the long haul”, let good thoughts come to mind. Good thoughts about the good life and the good things that you enjoy with your family. And good thoughts about the truckers that haul those things for you!
Ginger Gray
Gray Logging, LLC