PLC Member Weekly Update Dec. 3, 2021
In this Issue:
PLC Contractor Membership Renewal Reminder – Members must renew by December 17th!
USDA Issues Final PATHH Payments – For Timber Harvesters and Haulers
Maine Forestry Recovery Initiative – Applications open
Health Premium Support Program – Subsidy Available For Employees
PLC Logger Christmas Ornaments – Order now to support Log A Load!
Social Media for Loggers – Videos of presentation from Annual Meeting available
PLC Store – Many items for sale
Safety Resources – Humpday Videos return!
Trucking – Updates weekly
Classified listings – Check them out!
Member Discounts – Many to choose from
Logging News – Latest headlines
Membership Renewal Reminder
Time to Renew!
Members, now is the time to renew your membership in the PLC for 2022 if you have not already done so. Thank you to all who have renewed already!
The PLC is your voice and advocate and is fighting for your business, your industry, and your future. We need your support to continue standing up for Maine loggers during these challenging times!
We have made the online renewal process easier than ever this year, and we encourage you to take advantage of this option. To do so, click on the link below.
You should also have received renewal information in the mail. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica at (207) 688-8195 or email jessica@maineloggers.com
Don’t delay, renew now!
RENEW NOW
USDA Issues Final Pandemic Payments for Timber Harvesters and Haulers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday it will begin issuing final pandemic assistance payments to timber harvesters and timber hauling businesses through the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) program starting next week. In total, $200 million will be provided to loggers and log trucking businesses who experienced a gross revenue loss of at least 10% during the period of Jan. 1 through Dec. 1, 2020, compared to the period of Jan. 1 through Dec. 1, 2019. This support is part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.
READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT
Forestry Recovery Initiative Phase 1 Grant Applications Now Being Accepted!
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Governor Janet Mills announced last week that the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is now accepting applications for Phase 1 of the Forestry Recovery Initiative, a multi-phase grant program to support Maine’s forest products industry and the people it employs, create and sustain jobs in rural Maine, and strengthen the state’s economy.
The Governor announced the creation of the $20 million grant program through her Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan earlier this month. MTI is putting forward $10 million in Phase 1 and Phase 2 grants to provide immediate financial relief to forest products industry businesses that have experienced negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible uses of Phase 1 grant funds may include but are not limited to:
- payroll costs and expenses;
- rent or mortgage payments for business facilities (unless otherwise waived by the lessor or lender);
- utility payments;
- purchase of personal protective equipment required by the business;
- business-related equipment;
- investments that strengthen the business’s ability to mitigate pandemic-related market disruptions;
- expenses incurred to replenish inventory or other necessary reopening expenses;
- necessary operating expenses.
The deadline to apply is January 31, 2022.
For more information, including how to apply, click HERE.
Small Business Health Insurance Premium Support Program
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Members,
Starting in November, the State of Maine is 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.
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 Logger Christmas Ornaments and Drink Koozies to support Log A Load!
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.
Social Media for Loggers Videos Now Available!
Members, for those who missed the Social Media for Loggers presentation at the morning business meetng at the PLC Annual Meeting or who would like to review it again, videos of the majority of the presentation (small portions of the beginning and middle are missing) are linked below. Thank you to Chrissy Kimball of Kimball and Sons Logging and Cary Weston of Sutherland Weston for the presentation!
Social Media for Loggers Part 1
Social Media for Loggers Part 2
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
HumpDay Safety Videos Return! Check out the featured video this week below – Battery Safety!
Keep the focus on safety: PLC Safety Group Dividend Program on track for another year of dividends!
Members who are part of the PLC Safety Group Dividend Program, let’s keep our focus on safety going forward as we are currently running a positive loss ratio for 2021! This means if we can hold the line on safety we are on track to receive an 8th straight year of dividends!
Since 1999, Acadia Insurance has returned over $12 million in premium dividends to members.
This is all due to your efforts and the focus on safety adopted by the PLC. Let’s keep it up!
Trucking
Excerpt below from Dec. 1 2021 article, Preparing your fleet for 2022
Entry-Level Driver Training Change coming Feb. 2022
Strict new driver training requirements will arrive on February 7, 2022. While this removes a burden from motor carriers — they won’t have to perform their own FMCSA-mandated entry-level driver training anymore — it places another hurdle in front of drivers who want a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or specific endorsements.
- Ensure that your existing and potential drivers — including employees thinking of becoming drivers — are aware of the new requirements. They will need to obtain training from an FMCSA-registered training provider before acquiring or upgrading to a Class A or B CDL or a passenger, school bus, or hazardous materials endorsement.
- Talk to affected employees about their concerns with the new rules. Consider paying for your drivers’ training and help them navigate the process.
- Decide now if your company intends to register as a training provider. You’ll need to get added to the FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry if you want to perform entry-level training in the new year.
- Even if you’re not on the Registry, don’t stop performing training — for new and existing drivers alike. Ongoing training will remain a critical part of any compliance and safety program.
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
Maine Voices: Wood also a solution to Maine’s high heating costs, fossil fuel dependence
The cheapest and most reliable option available for many Mainers, heating with wood now includes modern and highly efficient boilers.
Switching to a pellet stove helps Maine in more ways than one
If Maine is going to achieve zero emissions by 2050, the state is going to have to change how it thinks about fuel.
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
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
