This week the PLC released results of a survey of Member companies in Maine showing the severe and ongoing financial losses from the powerful Dec. 18 storm. Results of the survey were also presented by PLC Executive Director Dana Doran Monday at a stakeholder meeting with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree for a roundtable discussion in Portland with other agricultural stakeholders to discuss the impact of recent storms on the state’s farms and the logging industry. The press release summarizing the survey and a link to the survey itself may be found HERE.

PLC Hosts University of Maine School of Forest Resources Winter Camp

PLC Members and Master Logger companies Madden Sustainable Forestry of Milford and Balanced Forestry of Montville hosted visits by University of Maine School of Forest Resources students who are participating in the university’s annual weeklong Forest Operations Winter Camp this week. Company owners Derek Madden and Brian Bell joined PLC Executive Director Dana Doran and Northeast Master Logger Certification Program® Executive Director Ted Wright sharing the challenges loggers face and the expertise they bring to proper forest management as well as the value of Master Logger Certification with these future foresters. Following presentations in the morning at UMaine, students visited active logging jobs in Greenbush and Knox. It was a great day!

Read the Winter 2024 Issue

Maine PLC Legislative Breakfast – RSVP Today!

RSVP Today!

Should PLC Offer Free & Easy CDL Training – Learn More

Date: February 1, 2024

Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Location: Online via Teams Meeting/ PLC Office, Augusta

Have you wanted to train your own drivers to help them obtain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL), but you were overwhelmed by the new Federal Motor Carrier Services Administration (FMCSA) driver training rules?

The PLC is exploring the possibility of providing a new opportunity to help members train new drivers but needs feedback from the membership to see if we should move forward with the opportunity. If there is interest from the membership, the PLC would take care of the classroom portion at no charge, and you would do the behind-the-wheel training – just like the good ol’ days!

Please join us online via Teams, call-in, or join us at our office in Augusta and let us know if this is something that you want us to offer in 2024.

Interested? Call 207-688-8195 or email office@plcloggers.org and we will send you the agenda and teams link!

PLC Safety Committee Meeting Online – Jan. 24 – Please RSVP!

Please join us online from 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday Jan. 24 for a PLC Safety Committee (open to ALL PLC members) meeting.

The meeting will include:

-Acadia and MEMIC Loss Control Updates

-Loss and Risk Information Updates from Agents

-PLC Safety & Training Coordinator Update

-2024 Safety Training Planning and Topics

Please RSVP to: office@plcloggers.org or call 207-688-8195 ext. 1

The purpose of the PLC safety committee is to assist PLC companies create and maintain a safe work environment. A safe work environment will not only increase productivity, but also reduce cost and ensure long term sustainability. The safety committee assists with planning for our annual safety training events.

The Northeastern Loggers Association is now accepting nominations for industry achievement awards through January 31, 2024!

Awards Program

Through its annual awards program, NELA strives to recognize significant achievement in eleven categories. A maximum of one award will be given in each category. There may be circumstances when no awards are given in a category or categories. A plaque will be awarded in each of the categories.

To be eligible for one of those awards, or to make a nomination, the person or organization need not be a member of the Northeastern Loggers’ Association. An individual can nominate themselves or their organization, or it may be done by an outside party. The nominee must reside or conduct business in the Northeast and Lake States. Awards are presented each year at the Loggers’ Banquet held just prior to the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Exposition. Look for the call for nominations in The Northern Logger and Timber Processor.

More information is available at https://www.northernlogger.com/awards/.

Submitting a Nomination

Fax to (315) 369-3736
Email our office: nela@northernlogger.com
Mail to NELA, PO Box 69, Old Forge, N.Y. 13420

Nominations must be received by January 31, 2024. You can also get your nomination started over the phone, so feel free to call at (315) 369-3078 with any questions.

Award Categories:

Outstanding Logging Operator

Outstanding Sawmill Operator

Outstanding Industry Advocate

Outstanding Wood Manufacturer

Outstanding Service to the Forest Industry

Outstanding Management of Resources

Outstanding Leadership in Industry

Outstanding forest products trucking operator

Outstanding Contributions to Forest Industry Education

Outstanding Use of Wood

Outstanding Contribution to Safety

MAINE FOREST SERVICE ANNOUNCES A TEMPORARY BRIDGE COST-SHARE PROGRAM

The Maine Forest Service has announced its Temporary Bridge Cost-Share Program is now open for applications. This project is funded through a grant from the USDA Forest Service that was created as a result of input from the American Loggers Council.

The new cost share program was created to help loggers and other interested forestry professionals purchase temporary bridges for use on forestry operations on Dec. 8. Eligible applicants will be reimbursed for 80% of costs, up to a maximum of $2,000 per bridge, for the purchase or construction of up to three new wooden temporary bridges for use on timber harvests in Maine.

For timber harvesting operations, using portable bridges for temporary stream crossings is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to cross streams. In addition, temporary bridges that are properly installed and removed after use do not cause negative impacts to streams such as chronic sedimentation, damage to the stream banks or channel, or barriers to the movement of fish and other aquatic wildlife.

Who is eligible to apply?

Timber harvesting and forestry service providers based in Maine may apply. Eligible applicants include logging contractors, private consulting foresters, and companies employing licensed foresters. Program funds are limited and applications will be accepted and reviewed on a quarterly basis for as long as funding is available. Note that preference will be given to sole proprietors and companies with fewer than 11 employees. Companies with 11 or more employees should still apply and should not be deterred from submitting an application.

REMINDER: THIS IS A REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE SUBMITTED AND APPROVED BEFORE A BRIDGE IS BUILT OR PURCHASED.

The first application period will be from December 8, 2023 through January 31, 2024. Applications will be accepted on a quarterly basis for as long as funds are available.

For more information, visit the MFS Temporary Bridge Cost Share Program or contact Tom Gilbert at (207) 441-5282 or thomas.gilbert@maine.gov.

Apply Here

Save The Date!

PLC Annual Meeting May 9-10, 2024

This year, the PLC Annual Meeting, Dinner, Awards Ceremony and Live Log A Load Auction will be held on May 9 – 10, 2024at the Samoset Resort in Rockport! Please be sure to block the dates in your calendars.

We are planning for a fun social event on Thursday, so stay tuned for more updates.

Below is the reservation link for early booking information.

Reservation Booking Link:

Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast

Code: 051024plcm

Northeastern Loggers’ Association Expo 2024

PLC Members Only!

Equipment Cost Calculators Available

Members,

With expenses rising rapidly in the industry we know you are struggling to get a handle on your costs. This is a great time to utilize the cost calculators created in 2021 for PLC Members.

These new, easy to use, logging equipment and log trucking cost calculators are available on the PLC Members Only section of our web site You may access this private section of the web site with your member login or set up a login HERE.

These calculators allow you to quickly estimate the hourly cost of operation for any piece of your equipment.

DISCLAIMER: These calculators are being made available for your business use as a member benefit. They produce equipment estimates and are not official products of the PLC nor should they be used for negotiation purposes.

PLC Online Store

Looking for great PLC items and apparel? Gifts? First Aid packs, safety items and more? You will find them at the new PLC Online Store on our web site. Ordering is easy.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Safety Resources

Cross Insurance TPA – Feb SIG Training 2-7-24

Overcoming Negativity in the Workplace

Presented by: Career Management Associates

Is your workplace a positive, uplifting place to be, or do you feel your energy levels drop the moment you enter the door? Negativity can become a vicious cycle where everyone feels irritable and discouraged, leading to higher employee turnover, lower employee engagement, and ultimately decreased productivity. Negativity in the workplace directly impacts individual employees, the team, and the organization itself. This interactive workshop starts with workplace negativity and its causes, and then discusses strategies on how to rebuild trust, stop enablement, hold people accountable, and best practices for long term positive success.

Who Should Attend? Managers/Supervisors; Human Resource Directors; Safety Coordinators

Program Fee: $75/pp

Registration Information

To register for the February 7th session, please copy and paste the link listed below to your web browser. If this does not work return to the original email and select the link located there.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpc–trD4pG9wLglBY3am-aUnKXlYL46r3

Please register by January 24th. Maximum of 80 attendees per session.

If you have any questions or issues with registering, please e-mail us at

tpa-trainings@crossagency.com

Note: In case of inclement weather, please call 1-800-698-3267 Ext 1021 to get a recorded message about training cancellation.

SafetyWorks!

Workplace safety and labor law requirements can seem complex – join the Maine Department of Labor for no-cost upcoming trainings!

To view all January 2024 classes, visit their website at www.safetyworksmaine.gov

Register and browse more SafetyWorks! classes: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/training/scheduled_classes/register.shtml

If you have questions about safety or upcoming classes, reach out to SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE-345 or general.bls-safetyworks@maine.gov.

If you have questions about Wage and Hour compliance, please reach out to the Wage and Hour Division at 207-623-7900 or bls.mdol@maine.gov, or visit www.maine.gov/labor/bls/.

New Small PLC Operator/Driver First Aid Pack!

In response to demand for a smaller/”must have in an emergency” first aid pack to be stored in a machine or pickup, the PLC has created a new Operator/Driver First Aid Pack.

Contains “must have in an emergency” bleeding control items
One pack is recommended per machine/truck
Detachable velcro panel ideal for mounting in a machine or truck
Meets OSHA requirements for a logging first aid kit
Supplements PLC’s larger first aid back pack but is not a replacement

The PLC Member price is $69 plus tax and shipping (if it is not picked up by the contractor or delivered by the PLC). Color RED

More information on the pack and its contents is available HERE.

Get yours now by clicking HERE!

PLC Crew First Aid Backpack

Still available – This first aid pack was designed for the PLC members to provide you with the supplies you need for a crew in the woods. PLC Member Price – $299 plus tax and shipping (Free Pick-up available) – Color – RED

To order Click HERE

CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens certification: Did you know your employees are required to have this training every two years? If your employees need this training in 2023, contact Jessica at Jessica@maineloggers.com or 207-688-8195 and the PLC will schedule training in your area. THIS TRAINING IS FREE TO MEMBERS!