Long Bay Trucking, Inc., is one example of a company that has strong roots and the know-how to get the job done while working in the woods. For its toughest jobs, the company turns to John Deere and its equipment to accomplish a wide range of tasks out in the field. Since 1979, Long Bay Trucking has been working in construction and logging, and has come a long way since its humble beginnings.
Starting Off on the Right Foot
For almost two decades, the Freeman family has been operating Long Bay Trucking in the wetlands of southeastern North Carolina. The deep ditches and large embankments aren’t enough to scare away Trey Freeman and his brother, Ty, who are now foremen for Long Bay Trucking. Their father, Darren, and their uncle, Harry, run the other crew at the company.
“Half of our crew is family,” says Trey. “We really try to foster a family atmosphere with everyone. We’re all kin.”
Trey and Ty’s grandfather, C.W., is responsible for founding the company back in 1979 with his three sons: Freddy, Harry, and Darren. They were all working in construction when they decided to start a logging crew, and the rest was history.
“I’m proud of Trey and Ty,” says C.W. “They love logging, like their dad and I always have. You can see it in how hard they work. I’ve seen so many other younger people get into logging, but as soon as the money isn’t flowing right, they get out. You have to work at it. Work hard and it will come. Things will start falling into place.”
Incorporating John Deere
The 748L Skidder and a tracked shovel logger make up the heart of operations at Long Bay Trucking, but they aren’t the only pieces of machinery in use. The company also runs a John Deere 853M Tracked Feller Buncher, which provides the necessary flotation to fell the trees. There is also a 953ML Shovel Logger on the job site, which helps operators handle logs more quickly and efficiently. James River Equipment is the company’s local John Deere dealer.
“Our local John Deere dealer, James River Equipment, is nearby so we can get parts and service right away,” says Trey. “With the competitor brand machine, it always takes a while to get parts. Deere machines are very reliable, but if we have an issue, our dealer takes care of it right away. With JDLink™, they can remotely monitor the machine and let us know if we have an issue. They can send out a service tech who already has the right part in hand, saving a costly extra trip.”
If you have any questions about logging equipment from John Deere, you can contact your local John Deere dealer.
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