The $3000 to $4000 is the logging rate. Our loads, local area, run about 3.2mbf to 3.5mbf average. The drop axle trucks can load almost 4mbf. Our piece size is small in our area with lots of 50 log count loads. 70 log counts are common. The mills prefer 40' lengths since the scale will benefit them. Maximum scaling length according to bur ea rules is 40' on the west side of the Cascade Mountains, a 42' log would be "pencil bucked" at a 20' in the first segment and then the rest for a 22' top log.
The $325 figure includes trucking. The $3000 to $4000 logging costs is whats need to put the logs on the truck so you would need to add another$600 or so per day per truck. They usually can keep two or three trucks busy, depending of course on hauling distance. So you would need to add another $1200 to $1800 a day for trucking.
Some guys will buy a cable side for allot less than what I said for equipment price, usually they have allot crew turnover since they will be fighting down time due to breakdowns. We also have a serious labor shortage locally so good rigging rats will be working for your competition within hours of a breakdown. It is not uncommon to lose a crew practically overnight to a breakdown.
One of the operators I have just destroyed the shaft on his mainline drum two days ago, last time it cost him about $10,000 and two weeks of down time while the manufacturer of the yarder built a new one.
