Welcome to this week’s update from the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast! We have important news and events to share that are vital for your business and the logging community. Let’s dive into what’s happening this week:

GENERAL NEWS & EVENTS

âś” RSVP for Maine Legislative Breakfast and full PLC Board Meeting March 6
âś” PLC 30th Anniversary Annual Meeting – Reserve rooms now!
âś” Log A Load for Kids effort raises record $297,519 in 2024!
âś” Logger’s Voice Winter Edition!
âś” CDL and Distracted Driving Classes Survey

MAINE NEWS & EVENTS

âś” Maine Paid Family & Medical Leave – Update
âś” Maine News Clips

VERMONT NEWS & EVENTS

âś” Report on Timber Trespass Enforcement
âś” Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report
âś” Vermont News Clips

SAFETY & EDUCATION

âś” MDOL Safety Classes
âś” Small First Aid Pack
âś” Crew First Aid Pack
âś” Northeast Safe Logger

MEMBER BENEFITS

âś” Cost Calculators
âś” PLC Store
âś” Member Discounts


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

Mark the 6th of March in your calendars! We look forward to seeing you there! 


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 


Log A Load for Kids effort raises record $297,519 in 2024!

The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of the Northeast raised a record $297,519 for Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals in 2024 through its annual Log A Load for Kids fundraising efforts.

The total shattered the previous record set in 2023 of $287,691, with the PLC’s two Log A Load golf tournaments and the Log A Load live auction at the PLC’s 2024 annual meeting raising most of the funds.

“It is remarkable that in a year which brought unprecedented weather and market challenges to the Northeast’s logging industry that the PLC’s Members, Supporting Members, friends, and families still rallied to raise a record amount for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said. “This group never wavers in its support for these children and their families, and everyone should take great pride in this accomplishment.”


The Logger’s Voice Winter 2025


CDL and Distracted Driving Classes Survey

Please answer the two quick questions in this survey to help the PLC determine when to schedule our next CDL classes and whether any contractors need a Distracted Driving course for their drivers. We appreciate your input!


The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) announced on January 6, 2025 that the new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Portal, the online system for employers to register, designate a payroll processor, file quarterly wage reports, and remit quarterly premium contributions, has launched.

The State Family Medical Leave Insurance Plan

All employers must register on the portal in order to begin wage reporting in April 2025.  Employers will begin their first quarterly wage reporting and premium payments starting April 1, 2025, and they are due by April 30, 2025.

The portal can be accessed here or by clicking the button below: 

Every employer will be required to register and remit payroll premium to the State for the first 3 months of 2025. Employers with less than 15 employees, .5% paid by employees; 15 or more employees .5% paid by employees and .5% paid by employer.

The Private Insurance Plan (Best for companies with 15 or more employees)

If you use a state approved private plan, then as of April 1, 2025, you remove your obligation of remitting additional payroll premium to the state.   The private insurance plan becomes effective 5/1/2026. At that point, you will begin paying premiums to the private insurance company you have selected.

Benefits of a Private Insurance Plan:  

  • Cost Savings:  Reduce the duration of payroll contributions significantly.
  • Flexibility:  Tailor benefits to align with your employees’ needs and your business goals.
  • Streamlined Administration: â€ŻAvoid navigating the complexities of the state’s program.
  • Contact your insurance agent for more information if you have 15 or more employees.

How to Receive More PFML Information

The Department launched a PFML-specific call center, which can be reached at (207) 621-5024 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The number can also be found under the “contact us” tab on the PFML webpage.

You can stay up to date by signing up for the PFML Get Notified List and learn more in our FAQ, employer resources, recorded demonstrations, and step by step guides on our website: https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/

In the meantime, if you have any questions, we are here to help.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Dana Doran
Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast

*These two documents below were added this week as information for companies that are getting alternate plans – they would only apply to companies with 15 or more employees.

https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/docs/2025/employerresources/ErGuideFullyInsured.pdf

https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/docs/2025/employerresources/ErGuideSelfinsuredPlan.pdf


Report on Timber Trespass Enforcement

In accordance with Section 5 of Act 153 (2024), the Vermont Attorney General’s Office has submitted its Report on Timber Trespass Enforcement. Copies have been submitted to the House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry; House Committee on Judiciary; Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy; Senate Committee on Judiciary; and the Senate Committee on Agriculture. You may read a copy of the report by clicking the button below.


Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Weekly Report

Click below to read the latest weekly Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report from the Vermont Motor Vehicle Police.


Vermont News Clips

Upcoming Classes

Mine Safety & Health Administration: Refresher
February 3, 2025 l 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requires all surface mining (i.e., stone crushing, gravel pit, etc.) employees to receive an eight-hour annual training. This one-day course will cover generic MSHA training. However, site-specific training will also need to be conducted once you return to your respective job sites.

Respiratory Protection –
February 4, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta 
Where workers are required to wear respirators to do their jobs, employers need a respiratory protection program. This course helps you determine your respiratory protection needs and covers all the elements of a written respiratory protection program.

Monitoring & Evaluating for Air and Noise Hazards –
February 6, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
Employers are required to identify and evaluate air and noise hazards in the workplace. This course provides the terminology, screening and monitoring equipment and techniques, and compares data to standards to determine appropriate control measures.

Mine Safety & Health Administration: Refresher
February 10, 2025 l 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive,
Augusta
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requires all surface mining (i.e., stone crushing, gravel pit, etc.) employees to receive an eight-hour annual training. This one-day course will cover generic MSHA training. However, site-specific training will also need to be conducted once you return to your respective job sites.

NFPA Program Training Operations in Small Fire Departments –
February 11 & 12, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (both days) SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
This 2-day course is designed to provide students with some basic tools and skills to coordinate training in a small fire/emergency medical services organization. A training function in a smaller department typically may include conducting training drills and coordinating training with a nearby larger city or state training function.

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

PLC Crew First Aid Backpack

PLC First Aid PackIn 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. 


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.


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!