AS WE SEE IT – A Year in Review

AS WE SEE IT - The American Loggers Council

December 2025

A Year in Review

As 2025 comes to a close, the American Loggers Council (ALC) reflects on a year defined by strong engagement, renewed momentum in Washington, D.C., and meaningful policy progress for the logging and log trucking profession. With a new administration in office, the passage of key timber legislation and accompanying executive action signaled a renewed federal commitment to domestic timber supply, active forest management, and the essential role of professional loggers.

From coast to coast, ALC continues to represent professional loggers in all 50 states, ensuring that the voices of working loggers are heard as national policies affecting forests, markets, transportation, and workforce development are shaped.

Federal Policy Wins in 2025

A significant milestone this year was the passage of major timber and forest management legislation, paired with an executive order focused on strengthening the domestic timber supply chain and improving active forest management on federal lands. Together, these actions represent an important step toward addressing long-standing challenges facing the American timber industry.

ALC worked closely with congressional offices, federal agencies, and industry partners throughout the legislative process to ensure the bill reflected real-world conditions facing loggers, log truckers, and rural forest communities. Key priorities advanced through this effort included:

• Increased emphasis on active forest management to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk

• Recognition of the importance of a reliable domestic timber supply

• Support for rural economies and forest-based jobs

• Improved coordination among federal agencies responsible for forest management and infrastructure

Engagement in Washington, D.C.

Throughout 2025, ALC expanded its engagement in Washington, D.C., meeting regularly with congressional offices, federal agencies, and forest industry stakeholders. With renewed federal focus on timber policy, forest health, and rural infrastructure, ALC ensured that professional loggers were not only included, but actively consulted, as solutions were developed.

In addition to timber legislation and executive action, ALC continued advocacy on:

• Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding

• Transportation safety and efficiency for log trucks

• Workforce development and business sustainability

2025 D.C. Fly-In

One of the highlights of the year was the ALC D.C. Fly-In, where state leaders and members met face-to-face with lawmakers and agency staff. These meetings put real-world experience behind the policy discussions—sharing how regulations, markets, and workforce challenges affect logging businesses on the ground.

Road Map to Recovery

In 2025, ALC released A Road Map to Recovery: The Dawn of a New Age in the American Timber Industry, a comprehensive policy framework outlining the challenges facing the timber supply chain and the solutions needed to reverse long-term decline. The document emphasizes that markets, workforce development, transportation efficiency, and active forest management must work together to sustain the industry and the communities that depend on it.

The Road Map has become a key resource for congressional offices, agencies, and industry partners and reflects ALC’s proactive approach to shaping policy rather than reacting to it.

Read the Road Map to Recovery Here

Annual Board Meeting & Leadership

ALC’s Annual Board Meeting brought together state directors and board members to review progress, set priorities, and chart a course forward using the newly adopted 2025 Strategic Plan. The plan reinforces ALC’s focus on communication, coalition building, public image, workforce development, and legislative engagement.

During the meeting, ALC also elected a new Board of Directors, strengthening leadership and ensuring broad regional representation as the organization moves into the coming year.

Investing in the Next Generation

A major step forward in 2025 was the establishment of the ALC Young Leaders Group, created to engage and develop the next generation of logging professionals. This group is focused on leadership development, industry advocacy, and building a long-term pipeline of talent to ensure that professional logging remains strong for decades to come.

Thank You to Our Members and Partners

None of this work would be possible without the continued support of:

• State and regional logging associations

• Associate and individual members

• Industry partners and sponsors

Your engagement and investment allow ALC to represent loggers effectively at the national level. We also encourage members to review the 2025 State of the States Report, now representing all 50 states, available on the ALC website.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As we look to the new year, ALC is already planning for:

• D.C. Fly-In (dates TBD)

• Summer Board of Directors Meeting (dates & location TBD)

• Annual Meeting: Save the Date!

September 28 – October 1, 2026, Williamsburg, Virginia

Closing

As the year draws to a close, we are reminded that professional loggers are essential to healthy forests, strong rural economies, and a resilient forest products industry. The American Loggers Council remains committed to advocating for policies that recognize that reality and support the men and women who do the work every day.

From all of us at ALC, we wish you a safe holiday season and look forward to working together in the year ahead.