TCI Magazine Audio Edition

By Christopher Lyon  There are good reasons for many fleets to switch to electric power. But converting a fleet of work trucks to run on electricity is no flip of a switch. To start with, producing a work truck is far from simple. These vehicles are often constructed in multiple stages and by multiple manufacturers. Converting from powering them with internal-combustion engines to electric-drive s...

By David M. Anderson, CTSP  As arborists, pruning is a very important part of our work. Most arborists and horticulturalists are passionate about pruning. Most enjoy pruning and believe in their methods. The question is, how do you know what’s right? Pruning should be more than just removing branches. Before you prune trees and shrubs, you need to ask a few important questions that lead to a speci...

Electric Work Trucks: The Greening of the Green Industry BY JONATHAN T. PARROTT, PH.D., CTSP Thanks to a preponderance of empirical evidence, it is now clear that our climate is changing; the impacts of which can readily be seen on the nightly news. It appears we humans have literally altered our planet’s weather. In response, many individuals, companies and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) h...

By Stephen Connally, CTSP  Past actions guide our decisions in similar settings. Consider evaluating the safety of climbing a hazard tree. Since no absolute way of knowing the integrity of the tree may be readily available, we go by previous experiences in similar situations. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

Five Revenue-Generating Strategies to Power Up Your Tree Service  By Edward Morrow Business growth takes time, energy and consistency. Sound familiar? Sort of like what it takes for a tree to grow. In fact, we can look to trees as a model to follow in building a sustainable tree care service.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

Cultural and Efficiency Excellence- Using Personality Assessments to Benefit Your Organization  By Joshua David Caudill, CSP, ASP, CHST  How can we create a safe working environment, where efficiency modeling is used to highlight our biggest resource – our people?  Being open to actively listening to differing opinions can enhance leadership effectiveness, creating engaging and sustainable work. ...

Get the Butterflies in Formation with Effective Presentation Techniques By Wayne Coleman Being an effective speaker can be beneficial to your career. Why? Because people perceive great speakers to be experts, and people like to work with experts. Speaking in front of others can enhance your reputation and increase the opportunities given to you. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazi...

The Importance of Credit in Commercial Lending  By Liz Boone Many times customers, especially those just getting started in the industry, wonder why credit is so important in commercial lending. I can tell you, sometimes it’s easier to buy a brand-new car than a used piece of equipment. In this article, we will go over the importance of credit in commercial lending. Let’s start with the basics. Re...

Exploring the Benefits of Plant Health Care  Insights from Two Industry Veterans - Hosts of the "Discovering Forestry" Podcast  By Kelly Rostad  In today’s ever-changing climate, both corporate and environmental, an increasing number of arborists and green-industry professionals have questions regarding plant health care (PHC) and its potential benefits for their business. What better so...

By Mark E. Battersby The recent wave of bank failures has put a new focus on the security and stability of financial institutions. Even with protections in place, a bank’s failure can be disruptive. It can cause delays and confusion regarding access to funds, particularly the potential impact on the funding so necessary to every commercial tree care business. Remember to get your free subscription...

By Chris Girard, CTSP Trees killed by emerald ash borer (EAB) can be dangerous to climb and rig. In this article, we’ll look at felling, climbing and rigging critical-risk trees killed by EAB.   Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

By Jim Kasper Perhaps one of the least-sexy topics in all of arboriculture is that of rope management. It doesn’t get the same attention some other topics do, but probably deserves more than it gets. This article is a brief attempt to shine a light on an underrated and underappreciated part of tree work. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

By Lawrence Schultz Good old-fashioned aerial friction, before ropes were double braided, before hardware was king. Its resurgence is upon us, although with a modern take on the tried-and-true method. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

By Jeff Inman Jr., CTSP  Our industry is unique in many ways, but one thing that stands alone is that we don’t have rated points in the tree like other climbing and rigging disciplines.  With rigging, the goal often is to take the largest piece we can fit into our drop zone. Most of the time that weight is going to be much heavier than, say, the weight of the climber in the tree. So here are a few...

A New Niche for Tree Climbers: Banding Eaglets  By Susan Dipietro with Ryan Torcicollo Ryan Torcicollo, CTSP, is no stranger to climbing, but his latest adventure was an unforgettable experience for him. Based in Essex, Massachusetts, Torcicollo is a safety and skills trainer with SavATree, an accredited, 37-year TCIA member company. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, known as M...

By David Rattigan  TCIA Career Pathways, a new online education and training program, offers tree care workers new opportunities to advance their careers. At the same time, it provides individual companies an opportunity to provide structured training and create career pathways that can help stabilize their workforce.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

Training Tree Crews on Wildland Fire Prevention and Suppression  By Geoffrey Taylor, MA The constant threat of wildland fire events seems to be growing more intense and destructive each year. Equipping arboricultural workers with the knowledge to address the looming risk of fires is critical to protecting not only the people on the ground, but the communities they serve.  As tree work often turns...

Seven Important Questions to Ask When Buying Climbing Gear, Part 2 BY TIM BUSHNELL, CTSP;  ALEX JULIUS, BCMA; and  EMMETT SHUTTS, CTSP The last decade has seen a large influx of new climbing equipment that can potentially make climbing safer and more efficient. But it is important we use products that are reliable, safe and intended for tree care, so we can keep our focus on the work to be done an...

 Tree-Related Electrical Incidents: Us vs Them BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP Continuing the popular “Us Versus Them” series, this article focuses on tree-related incidents that occurred on distribution lines – the primaries and secondaries, including house drops –by arborists, landscapers, other occupation workers and the public. The percentage of incidents from direct or indirect contact while...

The Economics of Mechanization: Rise of the Machines BY DAVID RATTIGAN   Tree care companies are increasingly incorporating machinery into their operations to improve efficiency, safety and profitability. For many business owners, the investments are paying off. “Mechanized solutions in the agriculture industry have a higher initial cost up front, but they lead to greater savings,” says Ed Martine...

BY TAMSIN VENN In the realm of tree care equipment, the allure of brand-new machinery is undeniable. Yet the used equipment market holds its own appeal. With new equipment still facing challenges, including availability and increased costs, many tree care companies are turning to the used market. Not only does used equipment offer readily available options at a fraction of the cost, but it also pr...

What Incidental Line-Clearance Arborists Need to Know About Working Around Electric Utilities BY GEOFF KEMPTER AND STEPHEN HILBERT  Incidental line clearance refers to work near electrical hazards when arborists are not employed by or contracted to a utility-system operator. The ANSI Z133 standard requires that incidental line-clearance arborists must be able to identify exposed energized parts, t...

By LEO ROLDAN, CTSP, QCL Chris and I each had made several cuts when Vale started to yell. Chris was in danger. He said a branch had hit Chris and was resting on top of him. Vale was repeatedly asking, “What do we do?” At that moment, I wasn’t focused on the problem. I could not react to what was happening. I was in a state of shock. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicki...

BY SUZI GUZMAN Experience the transformative power of integrating safety into your business at our upcoming Executive Arborist Workshop August 7-9, 2023, in San Diego, California. Join industry experts and thought leaders as we delve into the crucial intersection of safety and business strategies, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to cultivate a safety-centric culture within your tree car...

BY TAMSIN VENN  Andrew “Drew” Dunavant was a professional tree climber for more than a decade and a three-time Mid-Atlantic Chapter (MAC) ISA champion working for Truetimber Arborists, a 22-year TCIA member company based in Richmond, Virginia, when a new opportunity came his way. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .