HOOD RIVER, Ore. - The lone lumber mill in the county, Mt. Hood Forest Products is hiring for a second shift for the first time since it began operations 16 years ago.

 

Recent upgrades at the plant have led to increased demand for the company, it says. Mt. Hood produces 100 million board feet of 2x4 and 2x6 green douglas fir lumber a year.

 

The company currently employees 50 in one shift. It is currently hiring 45 more to work in a second shift. Those positions include millwrights; mechanics; forklift drivers; and tipple, hula saw, gang ender, and twin horizontal gang operators. Pay begins $15.25 hourly, with insurance and 401K available, reports Hood River News. A third of the positions have already been filled.

 

The second shift will begin when hiring is complete, potentially in eight to 16 weeks said the company. The new shift will boost capacity to at least 175 million board feet.

 

The company credits its success to its recent upgrades which include a new gang edger, a hug loader and automated grading system, and a barker upgrade.