Member Weekly Update - Nov. 8, 2024

Welcome to this week’s update from the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast! As we head into fall, 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

✔ 2024 MLOFT Graduation!
✔ Logger’s Voice Fall Edition Now Available
✔ Renew your PLC Membership on paper or online
✔ Free CDL Training Nov. 20-22
✔ PLC Launches New Website
✔ Notice of Timber Sale Pillsbury State Park, Washington, N.H.

MAINE NEWS & EVENTS

✔ Rulemaking for Timber Harvesting Standards in Maine’s Unorganized and Deorganized Areas: Public Comment Period: Oct. 18 – Nov. 23
✔ Maine News Clips

VERMONT NEWS & EVENTS

✔ Save the Date, 12/6: VT Legislative Breakfast & Board Meeting
✔ Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report
✔ Working Lands Enterprise Inititiative
✔ Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program – VT
✔ Vermont Low-Interest Loan Opportunity
✔ Vermont News Clips

SAFETY & EDUCATION

✔ Member Alert – Acadia Dividend Announcement
✔ Maine DOL – SafetyWorks! November Classes
✔ Small First Aid Pack
✔ Crew First Aid Pack
✔ Northeast Safe Logger

MEMBER BENEFITS

✔ Cost Calculators
✔ PLC Store
✔ Member Discounts

MLOFT 2024 Graduation!

Congratulations to our 2024 MLOFT Graduates! Students graduated Thursday at the Kennebec Valley Community College Farm in Fairfield. Graduates included Coltran Austin of Norridgewock; Ryan Bean of Troy; Connor Ennis of Millinocket; Daniel Higgins of Masardis; Andrew McDonough of Palmyra; Nick Rowe of New Vineyard; Benjamin Smith of Dexter; Dakota Sutherland of Ashland; Chance Tibbetts of Mercer; and Aliya Cox of Montville. You can read the full story below. Well done!

MLOFT Press Release

The Logger’s Voice Fall Edition Now Available!

The Fall 2024 edition of The Logger’s Voice is now available! Copies have been mailed out!

Read the Voice

Reminder(Maine based contractors only): if at least 50% of your employees attended PLC Spring safety training sessions in 2024, your renewal dues are waived. Must be a Logger or Fleet Training (CPR does not qualify). If dues are waived, we do need the renewal form returned.

Renew Online Here

On November 20-22, the PLC will offer Members its 3rd FREE CDL training class for their employees.

Details:

Employees attend a PLC 3-day class in Central Maine (online is an option but not recommended per the instructor) that covers the 30 topics that FMCSA requires from Regulation 380, App. A. (Theory)

At the end of the class, the PLC certifies the employee’s participation in the Theory class on the FMCSA website. The employee may then apply to take the state permit test (Maine and Vermont) when they are ready. (May need a med card)

With successful completion of the state permit test, and with guidance from the PLC, the contractor/employer will then register as a Training Provider on the FMCSA website to provide (Behind-the-Wheel) and (Range) training for the employee. The Training Provider must have a driver with two years’ experience with a CDL to oversee driver instruction. Once deemed ready, the company/employee can then schedule the state driving test.

To enroll, please fill out the registration link below or reply to this email with the name of your employee / employees that are interested in attending the training. The deadline to sign up for the November CDL Training is November 12th. Space for the class will be limited, so please sign up as soon as possible!

PLC Launches New Website

Exciting news! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our redesigned website: www.plcloggers.org

Our revamped platform is all about YOU, featuring:

✔️User-Friendly Navigation: Easily access important information and resources.
✔️Simplified Member Portal: Streamlined registration and renewal processes.
✔️Enhanced Resources: Discover better tools and information to support your needs.

We invite you to explore the new site and see all it has to offer. Your feedback means the world to us, so let us know what you think!

Just added! Our new Events Page and calendar CLICK HERE to check it out!

Please contact us if you encounter any issues with the new site!

Check out the new site

Notice of Timber Sale, NH

Pillsbury State Park, Washington, N.H.
Project # P1-695 NOTICE OF TIMBER SALE

Learn More

Maine News

Maine Forest Service Proposes Rulemaking for Timber Harvesting Standards in Unorganized and Deorganized Areas: Public Comment Period: October 18, 2024 – November 23, 2024

Augusta – The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Maine Forest Service has announced a proposed rulemaking for Chapter 27: Standards for Timber Harvesting and Related Activities within Unorganized and Deorganized Areas of the State. The proposed amendments aim to align with statewide standards outlined in Chapter 21, which will take effect in unorganized and deorganized areas.

These amendments will eliminate duplicative regulations regarding shoreland areas and ensure consistency with the statewide timber harvesting standards. The public is invited to submit comments on the proposed rule changes until November 23, 2024.

A Public Comment Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, 2024, starting at 9:00 AM, at the MFS Bolton Hill facility at 2870 North Belfast Avenue, Augusta. The meeting is also accessible by MS TEAMS, and online registration is required.

Visit the DACF website for more information, including a summary of relevant information considered during rule development, deadlines, contact information, related documents, and online attendance registration.

Maine News Clips

📌 How the Forest Society of Maine Became One of the Nation’s Largest Land Trusts
📌 UMaine’s ‘Fact ory of the Future’ aims to tackle the housing crisis with 3D printing
📌 Fox22: Maine’s only logging operations college training program graduates latest class
📌WABI: Students graduate from Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program

Vermont News

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report Oct. 28-Nov. 1

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

Read the Report

Working Lands Enterprise Initiative

Members,

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is now accepting applications for the Business Enhancement Grant.

This grant is open to Vermont working lands businesses and organizations, which include farms producing food and fiber, as well as forest products businesses. Some food businesses and organizations, as well as agricultural or wood processing and/or distribution businesses may be eligible if they meet certain requirements for local sourcing of raw ingredients or products.

Applicants can apply for grants of $10,000 to $50,000. This year, there is no match requirement.

The application portal is open through December 12th. Applicants will be notified of award decisions in late February 2024, and projects can begin in April 2025.

Learn More and Apply

Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program

Vermont Members,

The application portal for the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program (BEGAP) is now open. Businesses and nonprofit organizations, including landlords and farms, with property damaged by the 2023 and/or 2024 floods are encouraged to visit the BEGAP webpage to learn how the program works and what they need to have on hand before beginning the online application process. A pre-recorded webinar walks applicants through the application process and answers some frequently asked questions. The webinar slides are available on the BEGAP webpage.

The Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) is the statewide technical assistance provider for BEGAP. All applicants seeking assistance in preparing to submit a grant application should submit a BEGAP Support Request Form.

BEGAP ELIGIBILITY AND IMPORTANT DATES

2024 BEGAP grants are available for properties affected by the 2024 flood(s). Grants will cover 30% of the net uncovered damages up to $100,000. Preference will be given to Vermont-based operations. 10% of funds have been set aside for Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color applicants. Applications are due by November 15, 2024.

Non-English speakers needing translation assistance can email ACCD.BizFloodGrant@vermont.gov to be connected with state-contracted translation and interpretation services. For additional questions about the Business Emergency Gap Assistance Program, please email ACCD.BizFloodGrant@vermont.gov.

Visit the FPR Forest Flood Resources page for additional flood recovery information and resources for forest landowners and forest economy businesses.

BEGAP Portal Link

Vermont Low-Interest Loan Opportunity

As a result of legislation that the PLC helped get passed this past legislative session in Vermont, we are pleased to announce that the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) is now offering low-interest financing opportunities for forest products industries in the state, which will benefit our Vermont Member companies and Master Loggers in Vermont.

VEDA, which is Vermont’s economic development finance authority, is now offering loans that will provide a 2% reduction from prime commercial rates for equipment, trucks and other business investments.

The PLC encourages you to click the links below to learn more about this opportunity and other VEDA resources, and/or apply for a loan. You may alsoreach out to VEDA directly with questions. Our contact is Sarah Isham, Director of Agricultural Lending, sisham@veda.org or (802) 828-5463 and tell her the PLC sent you!!

VEDA Loan Options
Forestry Loan Fact Sheet
VEDA Agricultural and Forestry Loan Application

Vermont News Clips

📌 Vermont Climate Action Plan’s update is available to the public
📌 Assistance for Flood Damage to Farmland and Forests | Vermont Business Magazine
📌 New conservation easement helps protect 6250 acres of ‘forever-wild’ lands

Safety & Educational Resources

Acadia Insurance has announced it will pay $419,241 in premium dividends to eligible policyholder members of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) Safety Group. Since 1999, Acadia has distributed over $14.5 million in premium dividends to eligible participants of this safety group.

This is a monumental total and reflects nine straight years when 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 Acadia announcement by clicking the link below.

Read the Announcement

Maine DOL – SafetyWorks! November Classes

Incident Investigation/Injury Analysis –

November 13, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

When work doesn’t go as planned, incidents and close calls happen. Investigating these incidents can prevent similar or even more serious problems from happening. In this half-day class, learn how to conduct a thorough investigation and how to use results to prevent future incidents.

Lifting & Rigging Safety –

November 18, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Lift planning is essential to safe-lifting practices. This program provides a basic understanding or review of your knowledge about lifting safely in the workplace. It will help you determine what you may need for a lift and what type of equipment to use, including communications through signals, written, or verbal plans.

Respiratory Protection –

November 19, 2024 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.

Impairment Detection Training for Employers –

November 20, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

This one-day training session is designed to help owners, managers, and supervisors recognize and respond appropriately to employee-impairment in the workplace to reduce worker accidents and injuries. Participants will be taught procedures to detect impairment regardless of the substance or cause. This class is designed to fulfill the federal DOT requirements for reasonable suspicion training of supervisors. In addition, participants will learn how to develop and implement policies that address impairment in the workplace and are in compliance with Maine’s Substance Use Testing Law.

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 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!

Member Benefits

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.