Paper and lumber companies grow trees the way farmers grow corn--as a crop to be planted, cultivated, and harvested. Log handling equipment operators play a crucial role in the harvesting process. Most work as part of a team employed by a logging contractor. After loggers have cut and trimmed the trees and cut the logs to a specified length, the logs are taken to a loading area called a "landing." Here, log handling equipment operators use tracked or wheeled equipment to load the logs onto trucks or railroad cars. Since logs vary in weight, it is important to place the logs in a way that creates a safely balanced load. For a job of this sort, you will almost certainly need a high school diploma, and possibly some previous summer or part-time experience in the logging industry. Training or experience in operating heavy equipment of any sort is also a definite plus.