Member Weekly Update – July 18, 2025

Watch your mailboxes and let us know if you don’t see your copy!

Log A Load Golf Tournaments – Register Now! Teams Selling Out Fast!

It is time to register teams for the PLC’s 2025 Log A Load for Kids Golf Tournaments! These important fund-raisers are critical to PLC’s efforts on behalf of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and families served by them, and they are a lot of fun as well! Don’t wait, team spots are going quickly, mark your calendars and register now!

PLC Hires Certification Coordinator

The Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) has hired Maggie Rideout of Augusta, ME as its new Certification Coordinator. 

Maggie started her new position in mid-July and is looking forward to working with loggers and landowners through the Master Logger® Certification and Forest Stewardship Council certification programs to meet their professional needs. 

“Maggie brings great experience and a strong professional background to her role, and her strong organizational skills and experience working in a team environment make her a valuable member of the PLC.” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the PLC, said. “She is looking forward to supporting and growing the Master Logger Certification and Forest Stewardship Council certification programs as both expand throughout the Northeast.” 

She previously worked as a Subcontractor Onboarding Specialist and Risk Coordinator for Tilson Technologies, a telecommunications construction company. 

Maggie grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from Eastern University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration & Entrepreneurial Studies. She currently lives in Augusta, ME with her husband. 

Maggie may be reached at (207) 688-8195 or maggie@plcloggers.org 

The Master Logger® Certification Program was created by the PLC in 2001 as the first in the world point-of-harvest certification program, offering independent third-party certification of logging companies’ harvesting practices.  

The PLC also administers an FSC®-certified group of family forest landowners throughout New England and New York. Under this arrangement, forest landowners can inexpensively gain access to FSC® group certification.  

Welcome aboard Maggie!

MLOFT Feller Buncher Instructor Needed

Members, the MLOFT program is seeking a feller buncher instructor for the 2025 Class! This could be a 3-4 day per week position if desired for the right candidate. Anyone with feller butcher experience interested in learning more about the position is encouraged to contact Donald Burr at 207) 356-1541 or ndburr@nmcc.edu immediately! Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

New Online Portal for PLC Training:
Northeast Professional Logger

All Northeast Professional Logger Training is Free for PLC Members & Master Loggers

Dirigo Business Incentives Program – Do You Qualify?

Maine Members, 

The Dirigo Business Incentives program, which started on January 1, 2025, offers eligible businesses the opportunity to greatly reduce state taxes for up to 5 years when they make significant capital investments or provide qualified employee training in certain business sectors. 

Eligible sectors are: 

·Agriculture, forestry and fishing 

·Manufacturing 

·Long-distance freight transportation 

·Software publishing, data processing and computer design services 

·Engineering, architecture and scientific research and development services 

Benefits 

·10% capital investment tax credit (5% capital investment tax credit in Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and York counties) 

·$2,000 per employee provided a qualified employee training program annually  

This credit is capped at $2 million per business per year and can be taken over 5 years. This credit is refundable up to $500,000 per tax year. The qualified business must exceed $50,000 in eligible capital investment to claim annual tax credit.  More on eligible capital investments below.   

Program Will Be Available to All Logging Companies on September 24, 2025  

In the original law, passed by the Legislature in 2023, logging and trucking companies that have more than 20 employees were ineligible for Dirigo if they laid off employees seasonally.  The only way to correct this issue was to amend the statute.  The PLC worked with the Mills Administration and the Legislature for the last year to correct this issue.    

The PLC worked with Senator Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) to amend his bill, LD 1664, An Act to Repeal the Dirigo Incentives Program. Originally, this legislation was an attempt to eliminate the program, which was created in 2023 to replace the Pine Tree Development Zone program and is targeted toward natural resource-based industries in the state.  Once it appeared that Senator Tipping’s bill was going nowhere, the PLC then worked with him to amend the bill and strip everything out of it and amend it to include language to correct the issue for logging companies with 20 or more employees that must lay off their employees during mud season.  This change is vital to seasonal businesses, like logging companies, that want to reinvest in their businesses with new equipment upgrades and the hiring of new employees.  

This law will officially go into effect on September 24, 2025.  

Qualified Investments 

Eligible business property of the qualified business that is: 

1.      Tangible personal property or real property (other than land) 

2.      Purchased on or after the date of the letter of certification issued by the DECD; 

3.      Placed in service in Maine during the taxable year beginning after December 31, 2024; 

4.      Used exclusively in the qualified business activity described in the letter of certification; and 

5.      Subject to an allowance of depreciation of 5 years or more, or would be subject to an allowance of depreciation of 5 years or more if the property had not been expensed under Section 179 of the Code.  

Eligible business property does not include: 

1.  Property purchased or transferred from an affiliated business; 

2.  Property located at a retail sales facility and used primarily in a retail sales activity; 

3.  A vehicle upon which an excise tax under 36 M.R.S., chapter 111 has been imposed; 

4.  A watercraft upon which an excise tax under 36 M.R.S., chapter 112 has been imposed; 

5.  Property used to calculate the credit for rehabilitation of historic properties under 36 M.R.S. § 5219-BB; or 

6.  Real property placed in service in Maine prior to the taxable year for which the DTC under 36 M.R.S. § 5219-AAA is sought.  

The business must intend to place eligible business property into service or begin training as part of a qualified worker training program within two years of filing their application for certification. Capital investment or worker training begun prior to the issuance of a letter of certification will not be eligible for the credit. 

A qualified employee training program is defined as: 

·An apprenticeship program registered under the Maine Apprenticeship Program 

·An on-the-job training contract through a Local Workforce Board 

·A training provided by or approved for funding from the Maine Community College System.  PLC’s training is funded by the Maine Community College System and does qualify for this provision.   

·Education or training provided by the University of Maine System or other accredited university or college in this State 

How to Apply  

Businesses that meet the requirements of the program will receive the Dirigo Business Incentive. 

DECD is now accepting applications for the Dirigo Business Incentives. Apply Here.  

Incentives Calculator - Get an estimate of the value of Dirigo and other key tax incentive programs for your business  

If you need help determining if you qualify for the Dirigo Business Incentives or need guidance on navigating the system, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Notice of Timber Sales – Ashenden SF, Blackwater FCA and Cape Horn SF

Below are the notices for the upcoming timber sales for Ashenden State Forest, Blackwater Flood Control Area, and Cape Horn State Forest

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@plcloggers.org, call (207)-688-8195, opt. 2 or visit masterloggercertification.com.

The SLoCAMP Grant Program launches Monday, July 21 to support logging work in Vermont.

If you missed the live webinar Tuesday, now’s the time to catch up. The recording walks through who qualifies, what types of projects are funded, and how to prepare your application materials.

Be ready when applications open next week.

Five Important Topics Related to Commercial Trucks in Vermont

Members, here is an update on five important topics related to commercial trucks in Vermont which we are providing after consulting with Vermont’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Many of these topics were discussed at our recent PLC Safety Training in Vermont, and questions raised by members there are answered below.

1. Registrations of large pickups that haul trailers: The bottom line is that you need to register the pickup for the total weight of that pickup and trailer when loaded. The example I sent to Vermont was: How much do I register my F350 with a GVWR of 14,000 lbs. for when I haul my excavator (CAT 304) on a trailer, which weighs 9,867 lbs. The answer I received was that I need to register my pickup for 24,000 lbs. 

2. When do you need a CDL to drive a large pickup with a trailer: The answer is sometimes. This is a federal rule; See this flow chart. The bottom line is you need a CDL “A” if your truck & trailer weighs more than 26,001 lbs. 

Lt. Cuttita of the Vermont DMV discussed issues from our Vermont safety trainings with the commercial enforcement unit troopers. The following is a summary of their responses: 

1. When a truck hooks onto some lowbeds, it activates the ABS light on the dashboard of some trucks. Lowbeds that have a GVW greater than 120,000 lbs. are not required to have ABS, and they trigger the light even when there is no problem, so it should be ignored during the roadside inspection. (See attached Inspection Bulletin) 

2. There was a question about where to measure an overlength load of logs. Multiple drivers complained that they were measured from the point where the wood last made contact with the trailer.  

The rule is to measure from the furthest point of the trailer (the DOT bumper). Once you exceed four feet from the furthest point, you need a minimum of one flag.  If there is more than two square feet of overhang, or if there are two different pieces sticking out separately (ie. if you have one stem on the bottom right of the trailer and you have another stem mid-level on the left sticking out further than 4 feet) then you would need two flags.  

3. They added that if the truck is involved in interstate commerce, and the driver is required to have a CDL A, then in most cases the company will need to have an International Registration Plan (IRP) registration and an International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) permit. (See attached Vermont manual for IRP & IFTA)

Please do not hesitate to reach our the PLC if you have further questions.

Notice of Timber Sales – Ashenden SF, Blackwater FCA and Cape Horn SF

Below are the notices for the upcoming timber sales for Ashenden State Forest, Blackwater Flood Control Area, and Cape Horn State Forest

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit Reports

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

Vermont News Clips

📌 Immersing in the Wilderness of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom – The North Star Monthly
📌 Groups warn rescinding roadless rule risks Maine national forest | VermontPublic
📌 Explore New England’s Tree Species with Charles Fergus – The North Star Monthly
📌 European Union Pumping the Brakes on the Misguided EUDR

Free CPR Classes – Schedule Your Class Today!

Now Free to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

PLC Members Only! Equipment Cost Calculators Available

All PLC Contractors have access to the Members Only section of the website, simply use your email address to login and if you do not know your password for the Members Only account hit “lost password” and you will be emailed a link to add one.  Then to get to resources simply click “Contractor resources” at the top.

PLC Online Store

Member Discounts