PLC Member Weekly Update Sept. 29, 2023
In this Issue
PLC Northeast – A new era for the PLC!
MLOFT Students – Now available for Job Shadows and Interviews
ALC Annual Meeting Oct. 4-6 – Starts next Wednesday!
Cost Calculators – Members Only
PLC Store – NEW Small First Aid Pack!
Safety Resources – RSVP for Safety Committee Meeting Oct.11!
Trucking – Latest news
Classified listings – Check them out!
Member Discounts – Many to choose from
Logging News – Latest headlines
Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast
A new era for the PLC!
Members,
On Monday, Oct. 2, the PLC will officially announce that the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine is expanding and changing its name to the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, marking the biggest step for this organization since it was founded in Maine in 1995. Vermont will be the first state that the PLC expands to, but other states could follow, pending interest.
As many of you already know, this expansion has been in the works for more than a year now and was something Vermont loggers sought. The PLC’s membership unanimously supported the move and the changes to our bylaws necessary to accomplish it at the Annual Meeting May 5. We have three new board members from Vermont joining us – Sam Lincoln, owner of Lincoln Farm Timber Harvesting of Randolph Center; Jack Bell, co-founder of Long View Forest of Westminster and Hartland; and Gabe Russo, owner of Southwind Forestry of Pawlet. Please welcome them!
We believe this is a very positive step for the logging industry in the Northeast and that both the industry and the PLC will be stronger as a result.
Meanwhile, the PLC is gearing up operations in Vermont and preparing to add staff and resources there to ensure its support and services in the new territory are equivalent to what members in Maine have come to expect.
As part of this transition you will notice a few changes: The PLC website address will be changing to plcloggers.org and PLC staff email addresses will be changing to end with @plcloggers.org, for example my own email will change from executivedirector@maineloggers.com to dana@plcloggers.org
Please know, the prior website address and email addresses will automatically forward to the new addresses if you use them in error to allow this transition to go smoothly.
You will notice other changes including our new logo, and the name change being made today on the sign in front of our office in Augusta.
There will be no loss or changes to the benefits you recieve from your membership, in fact we anticipate that this expansion will lead to additional benefits for all members, both in Maine and Vermont.
Our voice to speak for loggers and forest truckers is louder and more powerful than ever as a result of this move. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.
Dana Doran, Executive Director
MLOFT Students Available for Job Shadows and Interviews
PLC Members,
Students in this year’s Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program (MLOFT) are seeking opportunities to job shadow with contractors on Fridays this fall. This is not only a great learning opportunity for them, but also a chance for you to meet and evaluate potential future employees for your business.
Students are also now available to meet with contractors to explore possible employment opportunities. If you need employees, we encourage you to reach out to schedule interviews now as students typically are hired even before their graduation (This year’s graduation will be on Nov. 9).
You may view information on each student below. If you are interested in having one or more students job shadow with you on a Friday, please contact Vanessa Tillson at 207-688-8195 or email office@maineloggers.com.
If you would like to visit the MLOFT program to meet students and see the program in action, please contact Donald Burr directly at (207) 356-1541 or email safety@maineloggers.com
ALC 2023 Annual Meeting October 4-6 in Maine!
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From Scott Dane, Executive Director, ALC
Thank you for registering for the American Loggers Council 2023 Annual Membership Meeting and Conference. Next week hundreds of timber industry representatives from across the country will converge at the Sunday River Resort, Grand Summit Hotel, in Newry, Maine to celebrate the “Family Tradition” that is the logging industry.
When you enter the location in your GPS be sure and enter the address for the Grand Summit Hotel (97 Summit Rd., Newry, Maine) and not Sunday River Resort. Otherwise you will wind up at the ski hill and not the hotel.
Transportation from the Portland airport is best via rental cars. The prices have recently come down. Otherwise limited Uber at about $175 one way, or taxi service at about $200 one way are options.
This event has already broken attendance and support records. Let’s break another record with the Log A Load for Kids auction. Each company, state and individual is invited to donate an item for the Log A Load for Kids fundraiser. All proceeds will support the two Maine Children’s Hospitals. *The Log A Load for Kids program is celebrating 35 years of supporting the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals this year.
See you soon.
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*We are excited to include a Log A Load For Kids fundraising auction to support the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and invite each of you to donate an item for the event. There are already many generous donations and impressive sports memorabilia items such as a;
-Steve Young autographed football
-Roger Clemens autographed collage of the four teams he played for
-Kurt Werner autographed Sports Illustrated magazine (1999) – Super Bowl CHAMPS!
Just to name a few. Bring or send something to represent your state or company. Let’s make this a record-breaking event!
Auction donations can be shipped to: Grand Summit Hotel, Sunday River Resort, 97 Summit Road, Newry, ME 04261, Attn: American Loggers Council Conference
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
PLC Upcoming Meetings
PLC Executive Board Meeting
Nov. 9
Location TBD
Safety Resources
Please RSVP!
PLC Safety Committee Meeting – Wednesday, Oct. 11
Please join us at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Wednesday, October 11 for a PLC Safety Committee (open to ALL PLC members) meeting to develop our safety training programs for 2024. You will also learn about training requirements and online training options that are available in 2023/2024.
From 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., join us, along with your local insurance agent and representatives from Acadia and MEMIC, to develop our safety plans for 2024. Following the safety committee meeting, Acadia clients and affiliated agents are invited to stay for a presentation from Acadia Insurance from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to learn about claim trends, rates and areas of focus for 2024.
Please RSVP to: office@plcloggers.org or call 207-688-8195 ext. 1
Logging and Timber Harvesting Underwriting Update for PLC Members who are with Acadia Insurance
New Small PLC Operator/Driver First Aid Pack!
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PLC Crew First Aid Backpack
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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!
Communicating with Confidence
Presented by: Career Management Associates
October 12th
VIA ZOOM
9:00am – 11:00am
Trucking
FMCSA has removed four ELDs from the list of registered Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
Motor carriers and drivers using ALL TRUCKERS ELD, GOLDEN ELD, PRIMELD, and SECURE ELD devices have 60 days to replace the revoked devices with compliant ELDs.
On July 25, 2023, FMCSA removed the four ELDs from the list of registered ELDs due to the companies’ failure to meet the minimum requirements established in 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A.
Motor carriers and drivers who use the ELDs 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 September 23, 2023.
Motor carriers and drivers who continue to use the revoked ELDs listed above on or after September 23, 2023, will be in violation of 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)—“No record of duty status” and drivers will be placed out-of-service in accordance with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) OOS Criteria.
If the ELD providers correct all identified deficiencies, FMCSA will place the ELDs back on the Registered Devices list and inform the industry and the field. However, FMCSA strongly encourages motor carriers to take the actions listed above now to avoid compliance issues in the event that these deficiencies are not addressed in time.
Questions?
Contact ELD@dot.gov.
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FMCSA has reinstated GOLDEN ELD and KSK ELD to the list of registered Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).
As of July 25, 2023, the following device is now listed on the list of registered ELDs. The ELD was previously revoked but has been reinstated.
ELD Name: GOLDEN ELD
ELD Model number: GRS
ELD Identifier: GRS199
ELD Provider: GOLDEN ELD
As of September 18, 2023, the following device is now listed on the list of registered ELDs. The ELD was previously revoked, but has been reinstated.
ELD Name: KSK ELD
ELD Model number: KSK1.0
ELD Identifier: KSKA01
ELD Provider: KSK Group, Inc.
Logging News
Biden vetoes resolutions targeting endangered species protections
President Joe Biden on Tuesday vetoed two resolutions that would have nullified key endangered species listings for the lesser prairie chicken and the northern long-eared bat.
King Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen and Protect Maine Forests
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, has introduced legislation to protect and restore Maine’s forests, aiming to bolster both the economic success and environmental health of the state. The bipartisan bill, America’s Revegetation and Carbon Sequestration (ARCs) Act of 2023, would work to restore ecosystems, boost carbon sequestration through tree planting, improve fire risk reduction and expand forest products and wood innovation. The forestry and forest products sector is one of Maine’s strongest industries, producing 2.5 times the concentration that would be expected for the state’s size.
Member Discounts
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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!
Cross Arena Discounts for PLC!
Classifieds
PLC Classified Section
Check out the equipment and job opportunities our members have listed at the LOGGING ZONE! If you have equipment for sale, are looking to buy, are looking for employees, or
Preferred Supporting Members
Enhanced Supporting Members
