PLC Supporting Member Weekly Update Oct. 20, 2023

Logger’s Voice Fall Edition

Now Available!

The Fall 2023 edition of The Logger’s Voice is now available! Copies have been mailed out!

PLC Northeast holds first official event in Barre VT!

The Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) was in Barre Vermont Wednesday evening at the Canadian Club giving interested loggers and forest truckers a chance to hear more about the benefits of joining the PLC. We had a great crowd of more than 60 loggers in attendance not including current PLC Board Members who also joined us for the night(thank you!) Interest was strong and we are rapidy gearing up operations in the state following our expansion beyond Maine earlier this month. We want to thank all who joined us for the event including Supporting Members Acadia Insurance and Barry Equipment. Special thanks to our new Vermont board members Sam Lincoln, Gabe Russo, and Jack Bell, and to the loggers of the Vermont steering committee who worked so hard to make this expansion a reality!

MLOFT Graduation Nov. 9 Please RSVP!

Please join us at this important event as we recognize the students who will be graduating from the PLC’s seventh Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program (MLOFT) class after 20 weeks of training in the woods northeast of Old Town and in Passadumkeag! This is a great opportunity to learn about this unique program and the future of our industry, and to show support for the students who have worked so hard for this achievement!

Please RSVP by emailing office@plcloggers.org or calling 207-688-8195.

PLC Online Store

PLC Upcoming Meetings

PLC Executive Board Meeting

 Nov. 9

Location TBD

Acadia Dividend Announced!

Acadia Insurance has announced it will pay $443,597 in premium dividends to eligible policyholder members of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) Safety Group. Since 1999, Acadia has distributed over $14 million in premium dividends to eligible participants of this safety group. 

This is a monumental total and reflects eight straight years where the loss ratio of our group has been low enough to provide a dividend. This is due to the PLC’s membership, our focus on safety, and our efforts toward risk mitigation. A total team effort and a job well done. 

If members have questions on their dividend status, they should contact their insurance agent directly or contact the PLC.

You may read the full announcement by clicking the link below.

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!

Now FREE to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

LEARN MORE

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

Upcoming classes:

Welding/Compressed Gases—

October 23, 2023 | 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This class covers the requirements of the welding standard, in addition to the storage and proper use of compressed gas. Proper inspection techniques of hoses, torches, and regulators will be demonstrated.

Safety & Health Management System—

October 24, 2023 | 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Successful safety and health programs are more than just compliance with the OSHA standards. Injuries and illnesses are reduced when employers possess common elements to identify and address safety and health hazards. This course outlines roles and responsibilities, common principles, required functions and programs of a successful safety and health management system. This course prepares organizations who would like to pursue SHARP/SHAPE.

NEW Cold Illness Prevention—

October 25, 2023 | 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Whether it be outside on a construction site or working in an industrial freezer., some worksites in Maine can be very cold. This half-day class provides recommendations to prevent cold illnesses. Discuss signs and symptoms of hypothermia, trench foot, and other cold stress hazards.

Video Display Terminal Train-the-Trainer—

October 27, 2023 | 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Maine’s Video Display Terminal (VDT) law requires employers to train VDT operators how to work safely at the computer. This class prepares trainers, supervisors, and safety-team members to recognize and eliminate the hazards to which VDT operators are exposed.

Emergency Scene Traffic Control—

October 30, 2023 | 8:30–10:30 a.m., SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Performing duties while working in the roadway is extremely dangerous for emergency responders. This half-day class covers requirements for training, personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers who will be controlling traffic at unplanned motor vehicle accidents. This program will also include setting up a safe work-zone, equipment needed, guidance for day and nighttime operations, blocking to protect the scene, apparatus parking, incident types, signs, communication regulatory text, liability and much more.

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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King, Risch Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Rural Forestry Workforce

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), co-chairs of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve forest industry employment and participation through a grant program aimed at rural and underserved communities. The Jobs in the Woods Act would support developmental programs designed to better equip and train the forest products workforce for careers with the U.S. Forest Service and timber industries. Nationally, the forest products industry employs roughly 925,000 people directly and supports nearly 2 million jobs indirectly. In Maine, the industry supports nearly 14,000 jobs across the state.

Vermont Timber Industry Left with No Flood
Recovery Options

When Sam Lincoln, of Lincoln Farm Timber Harvesting in Randolph Center, started a routine logging job at the beginning of June, it was supposed to take three weeks. After nine weeks, he had completed three days of work, thanks to wet conditions and flooding.

First confirmation of beech leaf disease in Vermont

Beech leaf disease (BLD), caused by the invasive nematode or roundworm Litylenchus crenatae mccannii, has been confirmed for the first time in Vermont. After receiving a report of potential BLD in southeastern Vermont, staff from the Forest Health program of the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) collected symptomatic leaves from American beech (Fagus grandifolia) saplings. Samples were sent to a US Department of Agriculture Forest Service Laboratory for DNA confirmation in early October 2023, and BLD has now been officially confirmed within the state.

Pulp mill workers in Baileyville strike over proposed ‘philosophical shift’

Unionized workers at the Woodland Pulp mill in Baileyville went on strike over the weekend, saying that the mill’s management is trying to dilute the skilled expertise of its employees by introducing a new worker classification.

Maine Loggers – October 18, 2023

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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! 

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