PLC Member Weekly Update Jan. 20, 2023

Prevention of Logging Vandalism and Theft

Members, Maine’s Forest Rangers would like to help Maine loggers reduce theft and vandalism. They know how challenging it is for all of you right now and the bottom line is that your profitability can be reduced significantly if parts, equipment, or fuel are stolen or vandalized. 

The Rangers have offered to visit any logging contractor who would like to discuss options for asset security checks. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please CLICK HERE to fill out your contact information and a Ranger will call or email you to set up a time for a visit.

The Rangers have also compiled a list of best practices that can be used to prevent logging vandalism and theft in Maine which we are sharing with you.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact PLC.

PLC Legislative Breakfast March 2

Mark your calendars for the return of the PLC’s annual Legislative Breakfast, being held this year on the morning of March 2 at the Governor Hill Mansion in Augusta! This will the first time the event has been held since 2020 and you don’t want to miss this chance to meet your state Senators and Representatives, includng many new legislators who are unfamiliar with logging and the issues the industry faces. We want a great crowd for this event. Registration will open soon, see you at the breakfast!

Logger’s Voice Winter Edition Now Available!

The winter edition of The Logger’s Voice is now available!

Copies have been mailed out!

READ THE VOICE

Save the Date and Reserve Rooms Now!

PLC Annual Meeting May 4-5 2023

It is not too early to start thinking about the 2023 PLC Annual Meeting and Log A Load Auction! The meeting will be held May 4-5 2023 at the Harborside Hotel in Bar Harbor. Rooms are already available to book so why not reserve a room now?

Click here to book a room or use: https://www.opalcollection.com/harborside/stay/

Group Code: MEPL050423

Steps to reserve a room at the Harborside Hotel:

1. Click on Link (can also type in the group code)
2. At the top of the web site modify the dates of your stay – 1 or 2 nights
3. You will not be charged until the event and the resort fee will be waived

 Questions? Email office@maineloggers.com

New Opportunity to Recruit Veterans For Your Job Openings!

Send Job Openings to PLC

Members,

The PLC is working with the nonprofit organization Boots2Roots to connect your companies with a new pool of potential skilled workers – veterans recently retired from the military or planning to be who are seeking employment in Maine.

Boots2Roots is the only organization in Maine specifically focused on preparing active duty military members up to a year before they begin their transition for immediate success in Maine, while providing a pipeline of new workforce talent to Maine employers.

The PLC has been granted access to post jobs from our members on the Boots2Roots portal. This will put your job openings in front of veterans accessing the site. As most of you are aware, many veterans have skills or experience applicable to the logging industry, and a proven work ethic. This is a great opportunity!

Send your job openings to PLC Office Coordinator Vanessa Tillson at office@maineloggers.com and she will get them posted for you. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office at 207-688-8195.

ALC Annual Meeting 2023 in Maine!

Reserve Rooms Now!

Save the Date for the 2023 American Loggers Council Conference and Membership Meeting at the Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine October 3-6!

American Loggers Council President and long-time PLC Board Member Andy Irish and his wife Kathy look forward to hosting timber industry representatives for the peak “Leaf Peeping” season. More details will be coming soon!

For guests who would like to reserve a room online CLICK HERE

For guests who would like to call to book their reservation lease call 800-207-2365 and refer to Group Code 86B5IN

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

PLC Upcoming Meetings

PLC Executive Board Meeting

Feb. 9  

PLC Office, Augusta ME

Please REGISTER for our online

PLC Safety Committee Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 24!

All PLC Members and PLC Safety Committee Members are invited to join us ONLINE on Tuesday, January 24 at 9 a.m. for our PLC Safety Committee meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to finalize plans for 2023 Spring Safety Trainings.

Please REGISTER BY CLICKING HERE

*A CONFIRMATION EMAIL TO JOIN THE MEETING AND THE AGENDA WILL BE SENT TO ALL WHO RSVP.

Thanks again for your support of the PLC and we look forward to seeing you online for this important meeting.

The purpose of the PLC safety committee is to assist PLC companies in creating and maintaining a safe work environment. A safe work environment will not only increase productivity, but also reduce cost and ensure long-term sustainability.  The safety committee assists with planning for our annual safety training events.

Reminder on Electronic Submission of OSHA Form 300A Data

OSHA is reminding employers to submit their 2022 OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) data by March 2, 2023.

Who is required to submit Form 300A data?

• Establishments with 250 or more employees that are required to keep OSHA injury and illness records.
• Establishments with 20 to 249 employees in designated industries.
• Establishments under Federal OSHA jurisdiction can use the ITA Coverage Application to determine if they are required to electronically report their injury and illness information to OSHA. Establishments under State Plan jurisdiction should contact their State Plan. 

How to submit Form 300A data:

As part of the Department of Labor’s IT modernization and security enhancement efforts, the Injury Tracking Application transitioned its login procedure to Login.gov — a secure sign-in service used by many government agencies. Current and new account holders need to create a Login.govaccount to submit their 2022 injury and illness data. Detailed guidance on how to carry out this change is available as a job aid and video.

If you have questions, visit the FAQs webpage. If the FAQs don’t address your questions, complete the Help Request Form located on the page. Thank you for your cooperation. 

Office of Statistical Analysis 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
U.S. Department of Labor

NEW Featured HumpDay Safety Video – Grinder Safety

NEW Featured Unsafe Zone Video – Dan Qualey: Battery Explosion

Register by Jan. 24: In the Era of Can’t Ask and Won’t Tell – How Do We Handle Interviewing?

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 2023, contact Jessica at Jessica@maineloggers.com 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

Mills’ two-year budget allocates $400 million for transportation — triggering $1 billion from feds

Transportation funding would receive a big influx in funding under the two-year budget proposed by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, as well as a new revenue stream.

FMCSA Pre-employment Requirement Goes Into Effect January 6, 2023

On November 4, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse published information titled “Pre-employment Investigations for Drug and Alcohol Program Violations.”  The Clearinghouse notice (re-posted below) is a reminder to certain employers regarding a change requirement that will go into effect January 6, 2023. Learn more

‘Mud season’ conditions keeping Maine loggers out of the woods

The warm winter weather is not just a problem for snowmobilers and skiers, it’s also keeping loggers out of the woods.

New wood product could allow Ashland mill to reopen

ASHLAND, Maine — Ashland is one step closer to giving a shuttered mill a second life manufacturing a new wood construction product.

Webinar Invitation

Trans-Atlantic Bright Black Future Biochar Collaboration

January 20, 2023
9:00AM – 12:00PM EST

Registration Required (The program is still accepting registrations)

https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/brightblackfuture/en

You will receive a link to join the event in your email prior to the event.

Erosion Control Training and Certification Updates Maine DEP Nonpoint Source Training Center

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is making 10 hours of new online video trainings in various topics available for both certification credits and simply for interest. Anyone can view the videos for free, although a fee would apply for applying certification credit. CEOs can obtain credits and view any of these online training videos for free https://www.maine.gov/dep/training/npstrc-schedule.html (online trainings are at the bottom of the page).

Register: Upcoming Wage & Hour Compliance Classes

Dear Employer,

      Labor laws can be complex – join the Maine Department of Labor for a Wage and Hour Compliance Assistance class!

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. It will cover wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, and paid or unpaid leave requirements. It will also address commonly asked labor-related questions.

Upcoming classes – choose whichever date and location works best for you:

• January 18, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Tri-County CareerCenter, 45 Oak Street, Suite 3, Bangor
• January 25, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
• February 1, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Rockland CareerCenter, 91 Camden Street, Suite 201, Rockland
• February 8, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Portland CareerCenter, 151 Jetport Blvd, Portland
• February 15, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Presque Isle CareerCenter, 66 Spruce Street, Suite 1, Presque Isle

Register and browse more classes here: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/training/scheduled_classes/register.shtml

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/.  

Thermal Energy Investment Program Now Live

The Thermal Energy Investment Program (TEIP) provides financial incentives to businesses, municipalities, educational institutions, and nonprofit entities located in the state of Maine for the installation of new thermal energy derived projects. A thermal energy derived project is defined as;  a project that produces thermal energy and thermal renewable energy credits including but not limited to, (1) conversion of fossil fuel-fired boilers to wood-fueled boilers or boilers using biofuels derived from wood, and (2)  installation of new wood-fueled boilers or boilers using biofuels derived from wood. TEIP requires program participants to substantially share in the cost of projects. To learn more and for documents including teh pre-approval application CLICK HERE.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Populations Continue to Expand in Maine

Woods Wise Wire – January 17, 2023

Trends in the Northeast Forest Industry, 2023

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!

PETERBILT

WESTERN STAR

INTERNATIONAL

—

Fabian Oil Discount

Traction Heavy Duty Special

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!

Cross Arena Discounts for PLC! 

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