Marcos Fernández transports tree trunks with his Actros

– Marcos Fernández, Actros driver for Forestales

Sobrado dos Monxes, Galicia, 9 a.m. A team of five forest workers is busy under a cloudy sky. The air smells of eucalyptus. Soon there will be enough tree trunks to fill Actros driver Marcos Fernández's loading platform. Marcos looks admiringly at his workmates who are carrying out their work skilfully and professionally: “It's amazing how Rafael makes light work of using the power saw and fells trees that can be up to 30 metres tall and weigh up to two tonnes.” “Whenever I hear the sound of a tree falling, it moves something deep inside me. It's a primitive, ancient sound,” he says.

Working outdoors.

The team is fully concentrated. José Antonio works on the wood processing machinery: he removes the branches and the bark and chops huge eucalyptus trunks at high speed. Although he's watched these processes countless times before, Marcos never ceases to be amazed: “It takes me longer to slice a loaf of bread.” Marcos walks to his truck. They'll be finished soon – the tree trunks are ready for José Luis to load them onto the truck with the forwarder.

Marcos jumps onto the platform to give instructions from there and ensure the weight is balanced correctly. He's not afraid of the huge grabbing arms loaded with wood swinging right before his eyes. “It's essential to work well together. Maybe it's from working in the fresh air that we can work so well and be relaxed and concentrated,” he says.

Galicia's most important resource.

29-year-old Marcos has had eight years of experience transporting wood. He comes from Toques, a small village in A Coruña. He knows just how important the Galician forests are: “Besides fishery, forestry is our most important natural resource,” he says. According to data from the Galician office of statistics, forestry and wood processing make up 50 percent of industrial jobs in a quarter of all boroughs in Galicia. The eucalyptus forests take up by far the largest forest area in Galicia. That is also the type of wood that Explotaciones Forestales Souto Carrillo, the company Marcos works for, sells the most of.

Marcos throws the first belt upwards with skill and precision so as to secure the load. The tree trunks have to be secured properly using straps and suitable lashing elements. Also, their pre-tensioning strength has to be checked precisely and tightened with a spanner if necessary. “There's no room for something going wrong on the road,” he says.

Marcos is convinced that sustainable use and management of natural resources keeps the forests tidy and reduces the risk of forest fires. He points out the importance of correct reforestation and how crucial it is for reducing CO2 emissions.

Difficult topography.

Next, workmate José Manuel's truck is loaded. When both trucks have been fully loaded, the two drivers say goodbye to the others who stay behind in the forest, and drive to the railway terminal in Lugo, with 26 tonnes of wood per truck. From there, seven trains a week go to Portugal – six of them loaded with eucalyptus trunks.

On the road, Marcos keeps the required safety distance to the truck ahead, driven by his workmate José Manuel. Galician topography is difficult: all the steep slopes are a huge challenge for even the most experienced drivers. But Marcos feels safe driving his Actros 1845.

It's only 70 kilometres from Sobrado dos Monxes to the freight depot in Lugo. On the way, Marcos enjoys the scenery: evergreen forests and plants – all year round.

It's busy at the rail terminal. After the weigh-in, Marcos drives on towards the goods wagons in the middle of the line – the front ones are already full. There, huge grippers are waiting to lift the tree trunks onto the loading platform and stack them in the wagons.

Marcos watches the proceedings with a pleased look on his face. He'll drive to Sobrado dos Monxes twice more today to fetch tree trunks.

Photos and video: Begona Tremps