MARCH 2019
Edmonton City Police Stop an Alleged $3.5-million Lumber Theft Operation
According to an article in the Edmonton Journal, police in Edmonton, Alberta have laid 80 charges and recovered about $3.5 million in property in connection to the year-long investigation of a commercial vehicle theft ring. The operation was launched in February 2018 after several thefts of semi-tractor-trailer units loaded with lumber.
Investigators reported that rigs parked overnight in various industrial areas around Edmonton were targeted. The lumber was then sold to unknowing clients. The trucks and trailers have been recovered. Four people have been arrested and charged.
Virtual Reality Technology Used for Loading Logs on Trucks
In 2018, UK-based sawmill and pallet company James Jones & Sons invested in two Volvo FH500 HiVision loglift trucks, according to a news article. Instead of the driver required to be outside to operate the crane to load and unload logs, the company’s drivers can now safely operate the crane from the comfort of the cab by using a virtual reality (VR) headset. The headset is fed high resolution images from a camera mounted on the crane.
The first unit was received by James Jones & Sons in the Spring of 2018, and the second unit was put into action in September. The trucks boast a range of other high tech features. They have a tire pressure monitoring system that allows the driver to adjust tire pressure depending upon needs. The rigs also feature Nav Man fleet monitoring system, Tamtron wireless weight system, Wire Watcher’s overhead cable alarm detection alarms and more.
According to one forestry official, VR is being increasingly used in the forest sector, not only for truck loading, but also for forest equipment operator training. The article reported that James Jones & Sons is considering expanding its fleet of VR-equipped trucks.
A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees at The Courtyard by Marriot in Blacksburg, VA. It is located only a few miles from where the Pallet Design and Performance short course will be held. More information can be obtained by calling The Courtyard by Marriot at 540-552-5222 and asking about the rooms reserved for the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials. These rooms will be held until March 20, 2019.
This short course is co-sponsored by the Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design at Virginia Tech and the National Wood Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA).