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

Membership Renewal Past Due

Renew Now!

Thank you to all who have renewed already! If you have not already done so, please renew your membership in the PLC for 2024.

The PLC is your voice and advocate and is fighting for your business, your industry, and your future. We need your support to continue standing up for Northeast loggers during these challenging times.

We have also made the online renewal process easier than ever and we encourage you to take advantage of this option. To do so, click on the link below.

Renewals were due by Dec. 1. Don’t delay, renew now!

Renew Here

PLC Christmas Ornaments to Support Log A Load 2023 – New Designs!

Add some extra cheer to your tree with PLC’s very own Logging Christmas Ornaments, this year in new designs crafted by third-generation logger Derrick Hardy of PLC Member Herbert L. Hardy & Son, LLC (doing business as D and K Kreations)!

100% of the proceeds from the sale of these ornaments go to our Log-A-Load for Maine Kids fund-raising efforts to benefit Maine’s Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Don’t wait, PLC ornaments sell out every year, so make sure you order yours TODAY!

Price: 1 for $12 or 2 for $20

To order email office@plcloggers.org, call the office at 207-688-8195, or visit the PLC online store.

Applications Open For Funding Through Domestic Trade Grant Program

New state funding is available through The Domestic Trade Grant Program to help businesses increase their market reach and expand sales activities. This opportunity is open to Maine businesses in these sectors:

- Agriculture – Food and Beverage
- Clean Energy
- Construction
- Fishing, Seafood, and Aquaculture
- Forestry and forest products
- Information Services
- Logistics, Transportation, and Warehousing
- Manufacturing
- Retail (includes wholesale)

The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) is administering the program on behalf of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.

The grants range from $10,000 to $250,000, depending on the size of the business. All applicant businesses and non-profit and tribal organizations must be headquartered in Maine and have a Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number.

Eligible businesses can apply for direct financial support for activities that increase their capacity for sales, such as sales channel support (media campaigns, packaging design, etc.), trade shows, marketing assistance, and technical assistance.

There is an anticipated total of $6 million available, and two rounds of funding are planned. Applications for this first round of funding close on December 15 at 11:59 p.m. Funding for the program is available through Governor Mills’ Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan.

GPCOG will host webinars every Tuesday at 12 p.m. from Oct. 31 to Dec. 12 to give prospective applicants and partners the opportunity to ask questions directly to the Domestic Trade Grants Team.

Go to www.maine.gov/decd/domestic-trade/grants to apply or to learn more. If you have questions, call 207-387-2919 or email DomesticTrade@gpcog.org.

Welcome New Supporting Member!

Cass Insurance Inc. of Newport, VT joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in November of 2023. Cass Insurance is a small agency that has been successfully writing coverage for clients in Vermont and New Hampshire for over 29 years. The majority of the agency’s clients are loggers and truckers. Cass Insurance understands how important loggers and truckers are to our everyday lives and that loggers and truckers don’t work typical 9 to 5 hours. The agency is available to assist clients by 7 a.m. most days and willing to meet with clients on weekends if needed. Clients know that when they call, the same agents will be picking up the phone and will be able provide them with the individualized attention they deserve. To learn more contact Nancy or Michelle at (862)-334-6944 or cassinsurance@myfairpoint.net

Northeastern Loggers’ Association Expo 2024

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

10 ELDs removed from the list of registered Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).

On December 1, 2023, FMCSA removed the following ELDs from the list of registered ELDs due to the providers’ failure to meet the minimum requirements established in 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A.

ELD Name	Model Number	ELD Identifier	ELD Provider
CI ELD LOGS	CILGS	CRS270	CV Options LLC
ELD 2 GO	GOMAX	ERS200	ELD 2 GO
ELD4TRUCKING	ERS	ERS174	ELD4TRUCKING LLC
ELOG365	ERS	ERS127	EZ ELD Solutions Inc
GOLDEN ELD	GRS	GRS199	GOLDEN ELD
POWERTRUCKS ELD	PRS	PRS211	Miran Support LLC
STEER RIGHT ELD	STRID	SRS273	STEER RIGHT LLC
TruckX-ELD	XELD	TRX927	TruckX Inc
TST 1 ELD	TRS	TRS220	TST GROUP INC.
WORLD TRUCKING ELD	WRS	WRS196	WORLD TRUCKING LLC

These ELDs now appear on FMCSA’s Revoked Devices list.

Motor carriers and drivers who use the ELDs listed above must take the following actions:

Discontinue using the revoked ELDs and revert to paper logs or logging software to record required hours of service data.
Replace the revoked ELDs with compliant ELDs from the Registered Devices list before January 30, 2024.

Maine DACF Forestry Related Quarantine Rules Updated

Maine DACF has recently updated rules that govern the movement of two introduced insects and a fungal disease, as well as the products that can carry each of them to new places. Quarantines can help slow the spread of introduced species. If you plan on moving ash, hemlock or larch trees or raw material from these species, such as logs, chips or firewood, become familiar with these rules. You can help slow the spread of these destructive organisms and limit their impacts on Maine’s forests and forest industry.

Let them know if you think you’ve found these and other forest pests in new areas, and feel free to reach out with your questions about these destructive organisms.

To veiw the full update click here or the button below.

Full Update

Donald Burr Shares His Top Safety Tips

Winter is here, and with the cold, snow, and ice forming across the northern US, there is no better time to be reminded of the dangers of working in the woods and what to do to avoid accidents and injuries.

This month on the podcast, we talk to Donald Burr, safety and training coordinator for the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast. He is also the lead instructor and coordinator for the 20-week Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Programcourses, held in the central Maine region.

In addition, Donald Burr is the recipient of the NELA Award for Outstanding Contributions to Safety for 2022.

In this episode, he discusses the fundamentals of staying safe and healthy while working in the woods.

Listen to the podcast →

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.

Cross Ins TPA – December SIG Training – The Manager-Employee Relationship

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

SafetyWorks!

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

Upcoming classes:

Developing and conducting Assessments, Audits, and Inspections –

December 13, 2023 | 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Identifying and analyzing hazards are key elements to an effective safety and health system. This training explores the methods to assess the workplace for hazards and implement controls to effectively control them. This half-day course looks at PPE assessment, behavioral and program audits, as well as equipment-specific and facility inspections.

How to Conduct a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Assessment –

January 9, 2024 / 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM / SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This half-day course is designed to assist you in developing a PPE assessment 1910.132(d). Employers must conduct a hazard assessment prior to requiring employees to use PPE. The assessment provides information needed to select the appropriate PPE for the hazards at the workplace. Learn how to conduct a hazard assessment in this hands-on class.

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!