PLC Member Weekly Update March 15, 2024

Registration Now Open!

Register for the PLC’s Biggest Event of the Year!

The Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) is excited to invite you to participate in our 29th Annual Membership Meeting and Log A Load for Kids Auction on May 9th – 10th, 2024, presented by Acadia Insurance, Cross Insurance, and United Construction and Forestry. This year’s meeting, which we believe is the PLC’s biggest in history, is being held at a new exciting location, The Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine.

In 2023, we raised over $127,723 for Log A Load for Kids & Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, through our dinner and auction.  Our goal in 2024 is to exceed that total, and we hope that you can help us make miracles happen!  This year, we are also excited to announce a new partnership with the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital in Burlington as we expand our Log A Load reach and look forward to sharing our generosity with children in Vermont.

Registration is now open for the 2024 PLC 29th Annual Membership Meeting, Dinner and Log A Load Auction! Don’t delay, register now by clicking the link below!

May 9th

Splinters and Spirits Tour – Robbins Lumber and Local Brewery, Winery, & Distillery Tours

Evening Social Gathering – The Samoset Clubhouse

May 10th

Full PLC Board Meeting and Elections

Equipment Innovation Panel

Log A Load Auction with NASCAR Driver Ricky Craven

PBS America’s Forests TV Show Premiere Featuring The Mallett Brothers Band

Book Your Room Now!

Hotel discounts available through 04/08/24 while space lasts

Samoset Resort – $169 – $239 (Meeting location, rate for 5/9 & 5/10)

220 Warrenton St, Rockport, ME 04856

(Group Code)—051024plcm

(866) 258-7247 –The resort fee will be waived at checkout.

***If you only plan to stay 1 night, be sure to adjust the dates accordingly***

 Questions? Email office@plcloggers.org 

The Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) is pleased to offer Logger, Fleet and CPR Safety Training to all PLC Members and Master Loggers March 28-May 17 in 2024!

By now you should have received registration forms in the mail and may also register online if you have not already done so. Please review our Logger and Fleet offerings and return registration forms as soon as possible, but no later than March 15, 2024, to ensure there is room for your employees at the chosen location/s. Don’t delay! Register now!

FOR SCHEDULE AND ONLINE REGISTRATION CLICK HERE

IF YOU PREFER TO REGISTER ON PAPER CLICK HERE

Welcome New Members

Contractor Members

Blue Hill Land & Timber, LLC of Stowe, VT joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor Member in February of 2024. The company is Master Logger® Certified and has a professional staff of 1. For more information contact Jed Lipsky at (802) 279-3993 or email lipskyjed@gmail.com.

Hawkes Tree Service of Phippsburg, ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor Member in February of 2024. The company has a professional staff of 23. For more information contact Jarrod Hawkes at (207) 442-7444 or email jarrodhawkes@gmail.com.

JMM & Sons Logging, Inc. of Fort Kent, ME joined the PLC as a new Logging Contractor Member in February of 2024. The company has a professional staff of 9 employees. For more information contact Jerod McBreairty at (207) 436-0696 or email jmmlogging@gmail.com.

Pine Ridge Logging of St. John Plt., ME joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor Member in February of 2024. The company has a professional staff of 2. For more information contact William Nadeau at (207) 398-4130 or email williamnadeau01@gmail.com.

Savage Trucking Inc. of Chester, VT joined the PLC as a new Forest Contractor Member in February of 2024. The company has a professional staff of 5. For more information contact Hanson Savage at (802) 376-6801 or email hansonsavage@hotmail.com.

Rowlee Farms Trucking of Reading, VT joined the PLC as a new Forest Contractor Member in February of 2024. The company has a professional staff of 2. For more information contact Dylan Rowlee at (802) 291-3548 or email rowleefarms@yahoo.com.

Supporting Member

Bob Williams of Laurel Springs, NJ joined the PLC as a new individual member in February 2024. Bob is a forestry consultant. For more information contact Bob Williams at (609) 221-0211, email bob@pinecreekforestry.com or visit www.pinecreekforestry.com.

Do you know a person or business involved in the logging industry who ought to be recognized for service to the community, outstanding professionalism or service to the industry? If you do, please NOMINATE THEM for one of the PLC’s annual awards.

PLC Logging Contractor of the Year Award – The PLC Logging Contractor of the Year award recognizes a PLC Logging Contractor for their commitment to the sustainability of the industry and logging as a profession.

PLC Community Service Award – This Award is given annually to a PLC member, Supporting Member or affiliated organization that has demonstrated a significant commitment to giving back to their community.

PLC Supporting Member of the Year Award – The PLC Supporting Member of the Year Award is presented annually to a PLC Supporting Member who has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to logging contractors in the Northeast.

Nominations should be received no later than March 29, 2024.

Awards will be presented at the PLC Annual Meeting on May 10 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME.

A list of previous winners is available HERE

NOMINATION FORM HERE

Blanket work search waiver begins Sunday March 17

Mud season is now upon us, and that means many of you are facing the annual challenges of temporarily laying off employees or being laid off yourself.

Effective March 17, 2024, workers impacted will be granted a work search waiver approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Bureau Director of Unemployment Compensation for 5 weeks (Week ending April 20, 2024). The weeks covered by the waiver are determined by environmental impact such as the water tables and DOT road postings. Prior to the end of the waiver period, the Department will assess the road conditions and take appropriate actions.

The most important steps for logging contractors and employees to follow in order to apply for Unemployment Benefits:

File an unemployment claim by phone or online. DO NOT enter a return to work date when applying. 

Call to File: The employee contacts the Bureau at 1-800-593-7660 selects option 2 between 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. The department is manually putting in a “Director Approved Waiver” for impacted loggers.

Note: Mondays are busiest at the unemployment office and tend to slow down each day following. Currently, the average wait times for phone calls are below 3 minutes, so please be patient and a representative will help you.

File Online: online self-service, click HERE. There are zero wait times, and this option is available 7 days a week. Select “Create ReEmployME Account” if you do not already have an account created from prior years, or “Claimant Login” if you have filed through the ReEmployME system sometime within the last three years. Then select the “Unemployment Claim” tab at the top of your screen and go to “File Unemployment Claim.” Follow the prompts on the screen to file a new claim or reopen an existing claim. The department is manually putting in a “Director Approved Waiver” for impacted loggers.

Any questions may be directed to the Bureau at 1-800-593-7660.

Maine’s Direct Link Loan Program

Are you a Master Logger® in Maine who is buying new equipment? Take advantage of the Direct Link Loan Program and get an interest rate reduction of up to 2% on qualifying equipment. Details of the program and how you can take advantage of it are below:

1. A Master Logger signs an Agreement with the Maine Forest Service (MFS), the bank submits Agreement to MFS, and it is approved by the MFS for the purchase of a new or new to them piece of qualifying equipment. (Cut to Length Harvesters and Forwarders, Tracked Feller Bunchers, Stroke Delimbers, Mulching Machines, Road Graders; also includes retrofitting of existing equipment like Flotation tires, Bogey wheels, harvester and processor heads; and Miscellaneous purchases like Metal and Wooden Bridges, Bottomless arches, and sediment and erosion control products) Purchases are considered on a case by case basis, with eligibility based on whether the equipment facilitates the implementation of Best Management Practices.

**Equipment that is NOT eligible: Grapple Skidders, Pull-Thru Delimbers, Tree-to-Tree Feller Bunchers. 

2. The Master Logger gets a loan from a participating bank. (See list below) Example: Loan is for $500,000 at current bank interest rate (ex. 7.00%). Contractor can have multiple loans but can’t exceed the $800,000 aggregate limit allowed by the program.

3. The Master Logger is given an interest rate subsidy (reduction) of 1.50% (up to 2%) – the same amount as the *CD rate for as long as they continue to qualify for the program.

Example: 7.00% loan interest rate less 1.50% rate subsidy = 5.50 effective rate.

The following banks participate in the direct link loan program.

• Katahdin Trust Company – David Cambridge
• Farm Credit East – Shannon Webber
• Machias Savings Bank – Anita Madden
• Acadia FCU

**Note: Maine Municipal Bond Bank buys a $500,000 CD for up to five years from bank for up to 2.00% less than the bank’s going CD rate matching the term of the loan. Ex. 1.50 % – (up to 2%)

Don’t see your bank on the list? Reach out and encourage them to get involved.

Not yet Master Logger® Certified? Email Sydney at sydney@tcnef.org, call (207)-688-8195, opt. 2 or visit masterloggercertification.com.

 For more information, click here for the Direct Link Loan Program.

Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast and Northern Maine Community College announce recruiting is underway for Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program in 2024

HINCKLEY, ME -The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of the Northeast and Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) today announced recruiting is underway for the Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking (MLOFT) Program, an expanded version of their highly successful logging operations certificate program that now includes Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training.

The program will run for 20 weeks, from June 24 to November 7. Classes will take place at an active timber harvest site on the Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) Alfond Campus on U.S. Route 201 in Hinckley. Tuition remains free for qualified students.

“This program has a proven track record of addressing Maine’s shortage of qualified logging operators and forest truckers in an efficient and affordable way,” PLC Executive Director Dana Doran said. “Thanks to Maine’s Congressional delegation the program has secured Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) support, and with planned new equipment purchases to support forest trucking for this year’s program, we are well positioned to provide top-notch instruction and hands-on experience for the incoming class.”

“This short-term training is the opportunity of a lifetime for people looking to learn equipment operation and earn a CDL,” stated NMCC Assistant Dean of Continuing Education Leah Buck. “To be able to learn both in a 20-week span is incredible, and thanks to a grant from the USDOL supported by Senators King, Collins, and Rep. Golden we can offer this training at no cost to the 16 students selected to join us this summer. I encourage anyone interested in the program to reach out and fill out the online application without delay. A career working in the woods of Maine is waiting.”

Northeastern Loggers’ Association Expo 2024

Are your logging employees CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogen certified?  Did you know that evidence of training is required every two years for OSHA and Master Logger compliance?

This spring, the PLC currently has four classes scheduled that are FREE to members and their employees.

To date, we have scheduled training for: 

March 29^th – Porter, ME

April 5^th – Milford, ME

April 10^th – Mexico, ME

April 19^th – Strong, ME

Wait, there’s more…..

If these locations don’t work for your company or you have more than 15 employees and would like to schedule a company specific training, we can work with you and companies in your area to schedule an alternative date for free training.

Again, if your employees need this training in 2024, the PLC is offering the course, and it is free to members and their employees.  If you would like to schedule or sign up for an existing training, contact Jessica at Jessica@plcloggers.org or 207-688-8195.

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

Upcoming classes:

Wage & Hour Compliance –

March 20, 2024 I 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

Impairment Detection Training for Employers –

March 21, 2024 I 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This one-day training session is designed to help owners, managers, and supervisors recognize and respond appropriately to employee-impairment in the workplace to reduce worker accidents and injuries. Participants will be taught procedures to detect impairment regardless of the substance or cause. This class is designed to fulfill the federal DOT requirements for reasonable suspicion training of supervisors. In addition, participants will learn how to develop and implement policies that address impairment in the workplace and are in compliance with Maine’s Substance Use Testing Law.

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/

PLC Crew First Aid Backpack

PLC First Aid Pack: In response to widespread interest from members, we have created a PLC First Aid Pack that has everything you need for emergencies in the woods. This Military Elite Tactical Trauma First Aid Backpack was designed for the PLC by Paul Stewart – EMT Houlton, ME. 

To order Click HERE

Now FREE to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

LEARN MORE

Governor Mills Announces Plans for Construction of Manufacturing Facility at Former Jay Mill Site

Hundreds of trees to be removed in Portland to help protect others – WMTW

Using fire to manage forests in Maine | newscentermaine.com

TimberHP’s TimberBatt Helps Answer National Shortage of Construction Insulation – Morningstar

Portland will remove hundreds of trees to manage spread of invasive beetle | newscentermaine.com

Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, NMCC announce recruiting is underway for Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program – The County

This forestry practice makes ugly scenery on Maine hiking trails – Bangor Daily News

Timber company reopens shuttered Aroostook County mill – Bangor Daily News

Vermont loggers looking for financial relief from wetter weather patterns – Rutland Herald

SHC awarded nearly $1 million NBRC grant | Vermont Business Magazine

Community Tree Planting Grants – Vermont Urban & Community Forestry Program

Telephone Gap project second comment period opens | Local News | rutlandherald.com

Danielle Fitzko: Striking the balance, managing Vermont’s state lands – Brattleboro Reformer

GMALL: Vermont Forest Bird Stewardship 101 | Community News | benningtonbanner.com

2024 NORTHEASTERN FOREST PRODUCTS EQUIPMENT EXPO RETURNS TO ESSEX … – Timberline Magazine

New grant funding to lead to thousands of trees being planted in Vermont – WPTZ

Maine Trailer – Member Discount

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

ALC Member Discounts

PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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Fabian Oil Discount

Wallingford’s Discounts

Maine Trailer Discounts

PLC Members get a 5% discount on culverts purchased at Treeline and Frank Martin & Sons

Hale Trailer discounts for PLC Members on new trailer purchases! Call Neal at 207-232-7969 for details!

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Cross Arena Discounts for PLC! 

PLC Classified Section