A wood leader is a historic underground logistics worker tasked with moving timber props from the shaft bottom to the working areas. These workers ensured that miners at the face always had a steady supply of structural supports to secure the roof as excavation advanced. The job involved hauling heavy, awkward loads through narrow and often low-clearance tunnels.
We need the wood leader to drop off another dozen props at the third level before the roof starts talking.
In mechanized operations, specialized supply vehicles and steel roof bolts have completely replaced this manual hauling role.
Related terms
Timberman
A skilled underground worker responsible for cutting, fitting, and installing wooden structural supports.
Timber drawer
A specialized miner tasked with safely removing wooden support props to allow the roof to collapse.
Water leader
A historic mine worker tasked with removing standing water from underground haulage roads.