Member Weekly Update – Feb. 14, 2025

If you prefer to register on paper, click the button below to download a registration form! If you have questions, please email office@plcloggers.org or call (207) 688-8195!

Join us for a Legislative Breakfast and full PLC Board/Member Meeting on Thursday, March 6 beginning at 7:00 AM. 

• All members are invited to enjoy breakfast and engage in important policy discussions for the 2025 Maine legislative session, free of charge. 
• Following the breakfast, we will hold a PLC Board/Membership Meeting, and luncheon. All members are encouraged to attend. 

Details:

• Date & Time: Thursday, March 6 at 7:00 am
• Location: The Governor Hill Mansion 136 State St Augusta, ME 
• RSVP by February 21 if you have not already!

PLC 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting May 8-9 – Save the Date and Book Rooms Now!

It is time to block off your calendar for the PLC’s 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting, being held May 8-9 at the Samoset Resort in beautiful Rockport Maine! This is a free event for all PLC Members so don’t miss out! Book rooms now!

Hotel discounts available while space lasts

The Samoset Resort – Starting at $179 per night (Rates available for 5/8 & 5/9)
220 Warrenton St, Rockport, ME 04856
(866) 258-7247 

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

 Questions? Email office@plcloggers.org 

Reserve Rooms Here

The Logger’s Voice Winter 2025

The Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Authority will be meeting at 9 a.m. on Feb. 25 to solicit public comments on the experiences of employers and employees with the Paid Family and Medical Leave program and any issues related to paid family leave benefits and paid medical leave benefits.

The meeting will be held at the Maine Department of Labor, Frances Perkins Room, 45 Commerce Dr., Augusta, ME 04330. Individuals may attend the meeting either in person or online. Please click on the link below to register. If state offices are closed due to inclement weather, the meeting will be rescheduled.

A reminder for employers,
If you haven’t already, you must register on the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Portal.

It is the online system for employers to file quarterly wage reports and remit quarterly premium contributions. If you use a payroll company, they can request access to your account and file for you after you register. The portal also allows self-employed individuals and tribal governments to elect coverage.

Any employer with at least one Maine-based employee must have begun payroll withholdings January 1, 2025:

• Employers with 15 or more employees contribute 1 percent of wages and may deduct up to half of the contribution from the employees’ wages.
• Employers with less than 15 employees contribute 0.5 percent of wages and may deduct the entire amount from the employees’ wages.

Employers will begin their first quarterly wage reporting and premium payments April 1, 2025. They are due by April 30, 2025.

Access the portal here.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Weekly Report

Vermont News Clips

To register: please copy and paste the link listed below to your web browser.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAoc‐iurTkqHtNntIHLNON6jxdAQR1JCZGb

Maximum of 80 attendees per session.

COST: $75/pp

If you have any questions or issues with registering, please e‐mail tpa‐trainings@crossagency.com

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Upcoming Classes.

10-Hr. General Industry Standards –
February 20 & 21, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.(Day 1), 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.(Day 2) SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
This one-and-a-half-day course teaches hazard identification and controls on a variety of general industry safety and health topics (29 CFR 1910). This is an entry-level course and attendees who complete this course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate

Public Sector Compliance –
February 26 & 27, 2025 l 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. VIRTUAL
This course reviews the regulatory standards for public sector compliance, the programs, training, and inspection requirements, as well as common hazards identified in public sector workplaces. Also included is an outline of the resources provided by SafetyWorks and the SHAPE program which exempts public sector workplaces from programmed enforcement inspections. February virtual class will be split over two nights.

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 https://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

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

Purchase

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. 

Purchase

Now Free to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

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.

Shop Here

Member Discounts

ALC Member Discounts

PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts!

Fabian Oil Discount

Wallingford’s Discounts

Dirigo Waste Oil

10% Discount on new furnaces. Contact Justin at 207-873-0881

Maine Trailer Discounts

Maine Trailer Discounts

Treeline Discounts

Click Here Discount Pricing on Skidder Bridges and Crane Mats

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

Hale Trailer Discounts

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

Preferred Supporting Members

Enhanced Supporting Members