A forwarder comprises a load space and a crane with a gripping assembly (6) for lifting timber pieces from the ground and placing them in the load space. The gripping assembly has gripping members (7, 8) and at least one additional gripping arm (13, 14). The gripping assembly is controllable to, when gripping timber pieces, firstly grip timber pieces of a first assortment through said at least one additional gripping arm and then grip timber pieces of a second assortment by said gripping members while holding the timber pieces of the first assortment in a separate space (17).
