Summary
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Stronger Eucalyptus timber mats help leasing programs reduce attrition and keep mats earning longer. Longevity counts.
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Standardized Eucalyptus mats simplify tracking, billing, and redeployment, which makes lease fleets easier to manage and more predictable.
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Eucalyptus timber mats typically allow more mats per truck than mixed hardwood, lowering freight cost per mat and improving total cost of ownership for leasing programs.
Can A Better Timber Mat Help Your Leasing Program?
Leasing programs work best when assets are predictable: strong enough not to fail, consistent enough to standardize pricing, and durable enough to stay in service for many projects.
A better timber mat is not just a commodity mat; it is a standardized tool that supports safer work, fewer disputes, and more reliable lease revenue over time.
How Did We Get Here?
Declining forest quality, no timber mat standard, competition on price alone, and moving down the quality ladder.
Market Changes: 2020 → 2026
How Declining Timber Quality Changed The Economics
2020 Market Conditions
✓ Mixed hardwood #1 grade available
✓ Moderate mat prices
✓ Reasonable cost per PSI
6 Years of Decline
2026 Market Conditions
✗ Only #2 and #3 grade timbers
✗ Prices increased 40%+
✗ Cost per PSI soared 3x
The Result:
177%
Higher cost per PSI
for mixed hardwood
66%
Savings with Eucalyptus
vs 2026 mixed hardwood
Why Leasing Programs Care About Mat Quality
When a leasing fleet relies on mixed hardwood mats from multiple mills and species, performance is all over the map. Multiple vendors typically means multiple species and grades.
Mechanical strength varies by species and grade, so some mats fail early while others last much longer.
Unknown defects, wane, bark, and rot increase the risk of breakage and safety incidents.
Inconsistent sizing and weight complicate trucking, yard handling, and lease pricing.
Accordingly, these uncertainties show up as unplanned write‑offs, lost invoice days, and more time spent arguing about whether a mat “should have” broken on the job.
What Makes Eucalyptus Timber Mats Different
World Forest Group Eucalyptus timber mats are built as a standardized product, not an opportunistic mix of whatever hardwood happens to be available.
Every WFG mat is guaranteed to have:
- Single Eucalyptus species with known mechanical properties.
- Plantation‑sourced, sustainable fiber with bug treatment compliant with USDA regulations.
- End sealant, end caps, substantially no wane, no rot, no bark, and square edges.
- ASTM F1554‑grade or better bolts.
- A unique bar code tag and serial number for easy tracking, billing, and fleet management.
That consistency makes it easier for leasing programs to forecast performance, set rates, and reduce surprises in the field.
Pricing Assumptions For Leasing Models
For simple apples‑to‑apples leasing comparisons at 8″ thickness, you can use:
- 8″ Eucalyptus timber mat: $650 per mat (illustrative fleet price level).
- 8″ mixed hardwood timber mat: $550 per mat (typical market level for comparable size).
Obviously, the mixed hardwood option looks cheaper up front. But, the combination of lower and more variable strength, heavier weight, and shorter life often drives a higher total cost per leased month.
Monthly Depreciation: Lower For Eucalyptus
Leasing programs care less about sticker price and more about how quickly mats depreciate under real jobs.
Eucalyptus timber mats commonly deliver many years of useful life in demanding fleets. In contrast, mixed hardwood mats can be fully used up much sooner, especially under cranes and heavy tracked equipment.
Monthly Depreciation Analysis
| Mat Type | Purchase Price | Expected Lifespan | Monthly Depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eucalyptus 16’×4″×8″ | $650 | 60 months | $10.83 |
| Mixed Hardwood #2 16’×4″×8″ | $550 | 21 months | $26.19 |
Eucalyptus Advantage
+18% higher initial
~3x expected life
Much lower monthly depreciation, caused by increased strength, fewer failures, and more mats per truck
Monthly depreciation calculations, Houston location, based on industry experience 2026.
Lower Monthly Depreciation With Eucalyptus
Total Cost of Ownership (16'x4"x8" timber mats)
$650 / 60 months
$550 / 21 months
Eucalyptus
Purchase: $650
Lifespan: 60 months
Mixed Hardwood #2
Purchase: $550
Lifespan: 21 months
Save $15.36 Per Mat Per Month
Illustrative monthly depreciation comparison for 16'x4"x8" timber mats, based on industry experience.
More Mats Per Truck: Freight Favors Eucalyptus
Freight is a major cost driver in mat leasing, and stronger, lighter Eucalyptus timber mats usually allow more mats per truck than comparable mixed hardwood fleets.
Mats Per Truck Table
Align this with your preferred ranges for 8″ mats, anchored in your “More Mats Per Truck” content and examples.
| Mat Type (8" Timber Mats) | Approx. Mats/Truck (New) | Approx. Mats/Truck (After Wear-In) | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eucalyptus | 20 mats/truck | 24 mats/truck | More mats per load because Eucalyptus is both strong and relatively light. |
| Mixed Hardwood | 18 mats/truck | 18 mats/truck | Heavier, so fewer mats per load at similar weight limits. |
Operational Benefits For Leasing Fleets
Beyond raw numbers, leasing programs gain practical advantages from higher‑quality, standardized mats.
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Fewer attrition write‑offs: Stronger, more consistent mats reduce catastrophic failures and field‑level damage disputes.
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Easier tracking and billing: Bar code tags, consistent sizing, and predictable performance make it simpler to manage inventory and reconcile invoices.
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Better redeployment value: Mats that stay straight, square, and intact can be redeployed or sold, extending their revenue‑earning life.
For a leasing program, these benefits translate into more billable days and less time arguing about mat quality.
Where Better Timber Mats Fit Best
Eucalyptus timber mats are particularly well‑suited to:
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Power delivery and transmission work where access reliability and environmental performance matter.
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Large leasing fleets that serve multiple contractors and owners and need predictable, standardized assets across regions.
The more frequently mats move and the longer they stay in service, the more pronounced the advantage of a stronger, standardized mat becomes.
Discuss Your Needs
If you want to see how Eucalyptus timber mats would change your leasing program’s depreciation, freight, and uptime numbers, World Forest Group can help run the scenarios with your actual rates and utilization.
Contact World Forest Group or request a quote to review your current fleet and explore whether a stronger, standardized, and safer mat can improve your leasing margins.
