Thanks to Matt (Hedgerow), I got to sample some hedge last year. Ironwood (eastern hophornbeam) is the great white North's equivalent. Better, cause it's an understory tree that grows straight , worse in that it grows DANG slow, and that most don't make it to an efficient cutting size. Most tip over due to a root fungus type stuff at 6" give or take. Burns very similar to Hedge, but with a much smaller spark show. Burn it with elm or oak, and you'll have coals falling out the door in no time. Silver maple, pine, or even box elder are a much better mix to keep the coaling to a reasonable level.
On the trucking, I called around a little earlier this year on a semi load of oak, quotes were mostly $1.40-$1.75/mile for delivery, some up to $2. $70/cord loads turn into $100/cord pretty easily. If you want wood from any distance, it's not gonna be cost effective. With diesel @$4 or so, and a log truck (not any wonder of modern aerodynamics for sure) getting about 5MPG, they've got $.80/mile in fuel cost alone. Loads up here run in the 10-13 cord range, with the heavier end being on winter overweight permits or very bold haulers.
"Here", I could turn a reasonable profit @$200/cord, at anything less I might as well be fishing. It's doable, I just don't know that I'm that motivated. I like cutting my own wood, and the occasional charity cut, but if it started to feel like I HAD to do it, I'd probably loathe doing it in a big hurry. The old saying about do what you like and you'll never work a day in your life is BS.
