From the Field: Can Lumber Inspection Go Viral?

When most people hear the words lumber inspection, they picture someone grading boards.

Drew Snider, an NHLA National Inspector, says that’s one of the biggest misconceptions about his job.

“A lot of people don’t consider everything that goes into the work,” Snider said. “They think we just grade lumber. But we’re looking at the technology involved, every step

in the trickle-down process, and how the entire operation flows.”

National Inspectors aren’t simply evaluating lumber; they’re evaluating systems.

Every visit to a mill is an opportunity to identify inefficiencies, improve lumber recovery, and ultimately help members get the most value from every log that enters their yard.

“We’re investing resources in our customers,” Snider said. “Our goal is making sure they’re getting the most for their dollar.”

Sometimes that means something as straightforward as helping a grader fine-tune their technique. Other times, it means uncovering a costly problem hiding in plain sight.

One project still stands out.

“Tom [Byers], Benji [Richards], and I were doing a yield study, and we discovered the mill was losing about $800,000,” Snider recalled. “It ended up being a laser on the edger that was out of alignment.”

Finding issues like that isn’t luck.

“You have to be a detective,” he said. “You’re looking for clues, putting the pieces together, and learning from other inspectors who have seen similar situations.”

That investigative side of the job is what keeps the work interesting.

Every mill operates differently. Every challenge has its own variables. Every solution requires experience and collaboration.

For Snider, sharing that side of the profession became the inspiration behind something unexpected: TikTok.

“I started making videos because people really don’t know what I actually do all day,” he said with a laugh. “At first I thought, ‘This is kind of cringey,’ but then I realized it’s actually interesting.”

The response has surprised him.

Many viewers have never considered the amount of technology, analysis, and problem-solving involved in hardwood manufacturing. Others are simply fascinated by a career they didn’t know existed.

Snider hopes those conversations eventually translate into something larger.

NHLA, like much of the hardwood industry, will need the next generation of inspectors.

“We have to grow with the times,” he said. “If people don’t know this career exists, they’re never going to consider it.”

Becoming an NHLA National Inspector requires years of industry experience, specialized training, and completion of NHLA’s Inspector Training School. But Snider believes it’s a career worth discovering for people who enjoy solving problems and helping others succeed.

His TikTok videos are one small way to pull back the curtain.

“If we can get more people interested in becoming inspectors,” he said, “that’s good for the industry. And the more people understand hardwood, the better off we’ll all be.”

Give Drew a follow at @drewsnider12 and give our official TikTok account a follow at @nhla_official