My last cutting I had some loads bring around $1600/load. Hard wood logs. 1 of those a week not accounted for adds up. Advantages and disadvantages to both lump sum and by the load. Last one was by the load. They came in and cut all the good timber and the rain set in. They went to pull out leaving me with about 10 acres of junk that I knew they wouldn't come back for. Heck NO!!! Talked to the forester and made sure they finished before they left. Lump sum - by the load = flip a coin.