Description
Operate mobile or stationary log chippers to convert felled trees and slash into wood chips; set up and position equipment, feed and process material, monitor chip quality, load chip vans or piles, and perform inspections, routine maintenance, and safe jam clearing.
- • Inspect chipper, feed system, knives, guards, and safety devices before use; perform basic maintenance and lubrication.
- • Position and stabilize chipper at the landing; align infeed and discharge to trailers or chip piles.
- • Operate controls to feed logs, tops, and slash into the chipper using infeed rollers, conveyor, or grapple; regulate feed rate.
- • Monitor chip size and quality; adjust knife/anvil clearances, screens, and hydraulic settings to meet specifications.
- • Clear plugs and jams safely using lockout/tagout procedures; remove metal or debris from the infeed.
- • Coordinate with skidders/forwarders and truck drivers to stage material and load chip vans efficiently.
- • Track production, fuel use, and material types; complete shift reports and haul or scale tickets.
- • Maintain a clean, safe work area by managing chip piles, dust, and noise; place guards and signage as required.
- • Move or reposition mobile chippers within the landing or along roads as needed, observing terrain, stability, and traffic.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
