PLC Member Weekly Update Nov. 5, 2021
In this Issue:
PLC Annual Meeting – Record-setting event!
Logger’s Voice Fall Edition – Now Available
Welcome New Members – 3 New!
Logger Christmas Ornaments – Order now!
Health Premium Support Program – Subsidy Available
PLC Store – Many items for sale
Safety Resources – REGISTER NOW: PLC Safety Committee Meeting – Tuesday, Nov. 9
Trucking – Updates weekly
Classified listings – Check them out!
Member Discounts – Many to choose from
Logging News – Latest headlines
PLC Annual Meeting breaks record for attendance and Log A Load!
The PLC’s 2021 Annual Meeting and Log A Load for Maine Kids Auction held Friday, Oct. 29 drew nearly 200 people to the Cross Insurance Center and set a new record for Log A Load funds raised – $87,498 in our initial count that night, but as additional late donations roll in we are now well over $90,000!
Great job everyone! The full roundup of results, awards, pictures and more is available HERE.
Logger’s Voice Fall Edition
Now Available!
The Fall 2021 edition of The Logger’s Voice is now available!
READ THE FALL EDITION
Welcome New Member: R. Levesque Logging Inc.
R. Levesque Logging Inc. of Fort Kent joined the PLC as a new Affiliated Contractor Member in October of 2021. The company has a professional staff of 2. For more information call Lisa at 207-631-9074 or email lrlevesque@fairpoint.net.
Welcome New Member: Syl-Ver Logging Inc.
Syl-Ver Logging Inc. of Fort Kent joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in October of 2021. The company has a professional staff of 3. For more information call Marty or Ben at 207-834-2126 or 207-398-4105 or email martypelletier@gmail.com.
Welcome New Member: Valcourt and Sons Inc.
Valcourt and Sons Inc. of Fort Kent joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in October of 2021. The company has a professional staff of 2. For more information call Rene at 207-834-2356 or email ReneValcourt10@gmail.com.
Logger Christmas Ornaments and Drink Koozies!
Logger Christmas Ornaments and Log A Load drink koozies are in! Order now from Jessica at jessica@maineloggers.com. New forwarder design this year! Proceeds benefit Log A Load for Kids.
Small Business Health Insurance Premium Support Program
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Members,
Starting in November, the State of Maine will be making available a subsidy for small business health insurance plan providers (less than 50 employees). This program will be funded by federal pandemic relief funds, and will run for 18 months. It is intended to provide temporary premium relief to small employers and their employees. The Maine Bureau of Insurance will be doing rulemaking for it this fall.
A powerpoint that is linked below provides a good summary of the program and we encourage you to review it. The PLC will provide additional information on this program as it becomes available.
Funds for the program are being provided through LD 1733, the bill allocating nearly $1 billion in federal pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
INFORMATIONAL POWERPOINT
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.
CHECK IT OUT HERE
Safety Resources
PLEASE REGISTER & ATTEND!
PLC Safety Committee Meeting – Tuesday, Nov. 9
You are invited to join us ONLINE on Tuesday, November 9th for a PLC Safety Committee (open to ALL PLC members) meeting to develop our safety training programs for 2022. You will also learn about training requirements and online training options that are available in 2021/22.
From 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., join us, along with your local insurance agent and representatives from Acadia and MEMIC, to develop our safety plans for 2021. Following the safety committee meeting, Acadia clients and affiliated agents are invited to stay for a presentation from Acadia Insurance from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to learn about claim trends, rates and areas of focus for 2021.
Please RSVP to: jessica@maineloggers.com or call 207-688-8195 ext. 1
A LINK TO THE MEETING AND THE AGENDA WILL BE SENT TO ALL WHO RSVP.
Spring Trainings Available Online!
Members Only!
GO TO MEMBERS ONLY
NE Safe Logger
Now is a great time for online training!
NE Safe Logger:
Northeast Safe Logger is an entry level safety and workers’ comp. compliance training program for new entrants to the industry. This is a way for your company to create a culture of safety and reduce risk with a program created by loggers for loggers.
· 16 hours of interactive online training
· Complete on a computer, tablet or smart phone
· Done at the users’ own pace anytime day or night
Upon completion participants will get the discounted “certified logger” rate for workers’ compensation insurance in the State of Maine. Visit www.tcnef.org/nesafelogger/ for more information on pricing.
Log-ins are limited and will be awarded on a first come first served basis. Your company will be put on a wait list if all the log-ins are in use.
LEARN MORE about these training options by emailing Jessica at jessica@maineloggers.com or calling (207) 688-8195.
Trucking
As we enter into the fall we enter into the increase of morning and afternoon traffic with schools starting up. Please take time to plan your routes and to be aware of not only the increase in vehicle traffic, but expect an increase in pedestrian traffic and bicycle traffic! EYES UP… JUST DRIVE and BE AWARE.
Mobile carriers are sunsetting 3G soon. Will your ELD be affected?
Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks to make room for more advanced network services, including 5G. As a result, many older cell phones and other mobile devices will be unable to use data services.
Once a 3G network is no longer supported, it is highly unlikely that any ELDs that rely on that network will be able to meet the minimum requirements established by the ELD Technical Specifications, including recording all required data elements and transferring ELD output files.
Therefore, any ELD that requires 3G cellular connectivity to perform its functionality will no longer be in compliance with the technical specifications in the ELD rule after the 3G network it relies on is sunset. When in an area that does not support 3G, a 3G device will register a malfunction. In accordance with 49 CFR 395.34, the carrier has 8 days to get the malfunction resolved, in this case by replacement, unless an extension is granted.
The announced sunset dates are below.* These are dates for completing the shutdowns. Mobile carriers are planning to retire parts of their networks sooner.
- AT&T 3G: February 22, 2022
- Sprint 3G (T-Mobile): March 31, 2022
- Sprint LTE (T-Mobile): June 30, 2022
- T-Mobile 3G: July 1, 2022
- Verizon 3G: December 31, 2022
Note: Many other carriers, such as Cricket, Boost, Straight Talk, and several Lifeline mobile service providers, utilize the AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile networks.
*Sunset dates are subject to change. Contact your mobile carrier for up-to-date information.
Logging Industry News
What you need to know before converting your home to wood heat
Home heating oil is currently averaging $3.10 a gallon statewide and the cost has some people thinking of turning to wood heat.
Member Discounts
TRUCKING DISCOUNTS THROUGH THE ALC!
PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts on truck purchases! Click on the brand names below to learn more!
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Fabian Oil Discount
Traction Heavy Duty Special
Wallingford’s Discounts
Maine Trailer Discounts
Scandinavian Forestry Equipment
Sullivan Tire Discount Skidder Tires
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!
Cross Arena Discounts for PLC!
Classifieds
PLC Classified Section
Check out the equipment and job opportunities our members have listed at the LOGGING ZONE! If you have equipment for sale, are looking to buy, are looking for employees, or
Preferred Supporting Members
Preferred Supporting Members
