The United States is seemingly lined with wood utility poles.
Why? What are the benefits of wood poles? What kind of American wood is used?
This article will answer these and more questions to teach you everything you should know about wood utility poles.
Wood Utility Poles Basics
Many wood utility poles are made from Douglas fir and western red cedar trees. Red pine utility poles are another popular option. Treated poles made from these trees can be cost-effective. Untreated poles can be vulnerable to decay, fungi, and insects. The benefits of wood poles could overshadow the disadvantages depending on how they are used.
Benefits of Using Wood Utility Poles
Utility companies typically use wood poles for many reasons, some of which include:
Cost-Effectiveness
Wood poles are relatively less expensive than their steel and concrete counterparts. Producing a wood pole usually requires less labor and manufacturing.
Environmental Friendliness
Protecting wood is currently an important environmental priority. Preserved wood utility poles require fewer resources and less energy for production, demonstrating a smaller environmental impact than that of steel and concrete. Once wood poles reach the end of their life cycle, they can often be recycled.
Resilience
Wood can withstand many natural elements and weather events quite well. Treated wood can become even more resilient.
How Long Do Wood Utility Poles Last?
Although they are a cost-effective option, wood utility poles are not as durable as steel or concrete. Despite this, they can last between 25 to 50 years. Some treated poles can last up to 70 years or longer.
However, their longevity depends on where they are erected. They can be more vulnerable to weather damage, rot, and insect infestation than other materials. They might not last long in habitually wet or harsh climates.
When to Use Wood Utility Poles
Despite their weakness, wooden poles are not without merit. Utility companies use them when they want:
To Save Money
Possibly the best aspect of wood utility poles is how cheap they are compared to steel and concrete poles. Not only are wood poles cheaper but they can also be cheaper to transport.
To Quickly Obtain Poles
Wooden poles are usually readily available because they are easy to produce. They are a great option if a utility company has to repair an infrastructure after a severe storm.
A Suitable Material for Dry Areas
Wooden poles can last a long time in dry areas. Without humidity and rainy weather tearing them down, wooden poles can stand strong for a lifetime.
Wood Utility Pole Prices
A standard 40-foot wood utility pole can cost between $250 to $400. However, prices ultimately depend on several factors:
Who’s Buying the Poles
An individual might pay more for wood poles than contractors and utility companies. Pole providers that regularly work with companies could have working agreements that financially benefit both parties.
Treated or Untreated
It should make sense that treated wood can cost more than untreated wood. After all, more work has to go into treating the poles.
Pole Length
Prices change based on the pole length. The longer the pole, the higher the cost.
Wood Market
The wood market is like most markets. If wood prices are low, then buyers can purchase wood poles at a bargain. If wood prices are high, then buyers might have to dig deeper into their wallets.
Hauling Wood Utility Poles
Hauling any type of pole is not a simple procedure. Wood utility poles can prove just as challenging to haul as steel and concrete poles. The arduous process usually involves:
1. Renting the Trucks and Other Equipment
You will obviously need a truck to transport your poles. You will probably also need to rent a forklift or a telehandler to load and unload your poles.
2. Hiring Drivers and Riggers
The trucks will not drive themselves. You need competent drivers to get your poles from the material yard to your job site. You should also hire a rigger to hook up the load, maneuver along the flatbed, and securely wrap ropes around the poles.
3. Getting Permits
Utility pole hauling could require a permit, perhaps multiple ones if your load passes through several states.
4. Loading the Poles
Now the actual physical work can begin. Your team must load the poles onto your truck’s flatbed.
5. Transporting the Poles
Your driver must abide by all local traffic laws to keep everyone around them safe. Depending on regulations, they might need a pilot car escort. That’s something else you will have to figure out before the transport.
6. Unloading the Poles
Once your poles arrive at the job site, your team has to unload the load from the truck’s flatbed safely.
The Easiest Way to Haul Wood Utility Poles
The North American electric grid can not maintain itself. When utility poles fail, power lines can fall, leaving people in the dark. Approximately 150 million wood utility poles remain in use across the continent. They must be routinely repaired and replaced. Transporting them is not easy but it is not impossible.
Blackwood Resources can provide you with the easiest way to haul wood utility poles. Our focus on quality control and customer service means the pressure is on us to deliver your poles as safely and promptly as possible. Our reputation relies on how well we complete every delivery.
Let us take care of wood pole hauling today. Skip the hassle of renting equipment, hiring drivers and riggers, permitting, etc. All you have to do is wait for our expert drivers to roll onto your work site with your shipment.
Please contact us today.