PLC Member Weekly Update February 9, 2024

Legislative Breakfast Cancelled & Quarterly Board Meeting Rescheduled

The PLC’s Executive Committee has decided to cancel the 2024 legislative breakfast, originally scheduled for March 7, 2024.  The PLC’s legislative agenda is very light this year and with the warm winter and late start for harvesting conditions, they thought it would be best to skip the breakfast this year. 

As a result, the next quarterly board meeting of the PLC/TCNEF will take place on Thursday, March 21st from 9 am to 1 pm at the Governor Hill Mansion, Augusta, ME. 

2024 Safety Trainings

Have you checked out what the PLC has to offer your company for Safety Resources lately? Many of these materials are in the Members-Only section of the PLC website. You will need to create an account HERE to access them if you have not already done so. PLEASE SHARE THIS MATERIAL WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES!

2024 PLC Spring Safety Trainings: The Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) will offer Logger, Fleet and CPR Safety Training to all PLC Members and Master Loggers from March 28-May 17 in 2024!

You will receive registration forms in the mail soon and may also register online. Please review our Logger and Fleet offerings and return registration forms as soon as possible, but no later than March 15, 2024 to ensure there is room for your employees at the chosen location/s. Don’t delay! Register now!

FOR SCHEDULE AND ONLINE REGISTRATION CLICK HERE

IF YOU PREFER TO REGISTER ON PAPER CLICK HERE

PLC to Offer CDL Training – Info. & Survey

Please Fill Out Our Survey Today!

Members, if you weren’t able to attend the webinar on our CDL training last week, you missed the news, but here’s a recap. The PLC is going to offer membership a FREE CDL training class for their employees in 2024. 

 Details:

1. Employees attend a PLC 3-day class that covers the 30 topics that FMCSA requires from Regulation 380, App. A.
2. At the end of the class, the PLC submits the employee’s info for the state permit test (Maine and Vermont).
3. The contractor will provide Behind-the-Wheel training and will schedule the state driving test with guidance from the PLC.

Below is a link to a short video about the training process and a link to complete a survey to help us gauge your interest in the class. 

The deadline to submit your responses for the CDL Training survey is Monday, February 12th, 2024. If you would like to take advantage of it either this spring or sometime in the future please fill out the survey.

Do you know a person or business involved in the logging industry who ought to be recognized for service to the community, outstanding professionalism or service to the industry? If you do, please NOMINATE THEM for one of the PLC’s annual awards.

PLC Logging Contractor of the Year Award – The PLC Logging Contractor of the Year award recognizes a PLC Logging Contractor for their commitment to the sustainability of the industry and logging as a profession.

PLC Community Service Award – This Award is given annually to a PLC member, Supporting Member or affiliated organization that has demonstrated a significant commitment to giving back to their community.

PLC Supporting Member of the Year Award – The PLC Supporting Member of the Year Award is presented annually to a PLC Supporting Member who has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to logging contractors in the Northeast.

Nominations should be received no later than March 29, 2024.

Awards will be presented at the PLC Annual Meeting on May 10 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME.

A list of previous winners is available HERE

NOMINATION FORM HERE

Humpday Safety Video

This year, the PLC Annual Meeting, Dinner, Awards Ceremony and Live Log A Load Auction will be held on May 9 – 10, 2024 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport!  Please be sure to block the dates in your calendars.

We are planning for a fun social event on Thursday, so stay tuned for more updates.

Below is the reservation link for early booking information.

Reservation Booking Link:

Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast

Code: 051024plcm

Northeastern Loggers’ Association Expo 2024

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

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

Upcoming classes:

Improving Your Safety Training Programs –

February 13, 2024 | 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

An effective safety training program will lead to positive effects on safety knowledge and the adoption of safe work practices and behaviors. This one-day training assists safety professionals and safety committees to learn how to analyze their audience, update on new training techniques, and develop top notch training programs.

10-Hr. Construction Standards –

February 15 & 16, 2024 | 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 offers basic information on a variety of construction industry safety/health standards (29 CFR 1926). Attendees who complete the course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate.

Respiratory Protection –

February 27, 2024 | 8:30 a.m. to 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.

Wage & Hour Compliance –

February 28, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Lewiston CareerCenter, 5 Mollison Way, Lewiston

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

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 www.maine.gov/labor/bls/.

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. 

To order Click HERE

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 2024, contact Jessica at Jessica@plcloggers.org 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

       FAME approves financing for TimberHP, American Unagi – Mainebiz

       Forestry fund looks for environmental, financial returns in purchase of 3,000-acre Greenville forest – Mainebiz

       This Maine-made wood insulation is starting to catch on – Bangor Daily News

       Sonora woman named Associated California Loggers‘ first-ever Lady Logger of the Year | News

       Ag department encourages producers to consider forest management incentive

       Madison-based TimberHP aims to be fully open this year as more public financing arrives

       Sappi CEO Michael Haws Recognized as a 2023 Top CEO in Maine – Yahoo Finance

       Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast raise a record-setting amount of money for kids

       Vt. law would tighten ‘timber trespass’ rules – WCAX

       A Proposed Plan for the Worcester Range in Vermont

       Forestry experts meet to discuss industry issues – WCAX

       Sonora woman named Associated California Loggers‘ first-ever Lady Logger of the Year | News

       State partners with researchers on forest project | News | eagletimes.com

       Zack Porter: Hanging in the balance — the uncertain future of the wild Worcester Range

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!

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Cross Arena Discounts for PLC!